Suttaterra trekking route – Dorgali hiking

The Suttaterra trekking route is an excursion in Dorgali’s territory on an unusual and little known path that start from the highway SS 125 and allow us to admire the Stone Arch of Suttaterra, wonderful views towards the Valle di Oddoene and Su Gorropu and towards the Codula di Luna along the ridges on the mountain relief, reaching Punta Dogana and Punta Onnunanziu.

The start should take place near the 195.5 km of the highway SS 125 where the path starts, climbing towards the place called Suttaterra but, because of the landslide that interrupted the same highway at km 193, we are forced to travel this additional stretch and face the climb on the cart track after a kilometer and a half of highway hiking.
(NOW THE ROAD DOESN’T HAVE ANY PROBLEM AND YOU CAN LEAVE THE CAR NEAR THE PATH START.)

The ascent is short and intense and immediately we notice that there are many broken branches and some felled trees that clutter the passage, result of recent and intense snowfall that occurred up in central Sardinia but we manage without too many problems to reach the summit of the mountain and the intersection which, signaled by a pair of handmade tiles, leads us towards the cuili (shepherd huts) of Suttaterra, the arch of Suttaterra and Ghivine.

We head towards the escarpment and immediately we see the magnificent natural rock arch through which you can admire the gorge of Su Gorropu, as framed in a majestic rock frame.

After the countless photos to remember this wonderful place we walk along the ridge, on a path not too difficult to follow, in the direction of the distant mountaintopand that will be our goals.

Immediately after the arch we reach the remains of a nuragic settlement (megalithic wall on a spur of rock) from which we can admire the entire valley of Oddoene. Surely an ancient point of sighting and control of the territory.

We continue along the ridge and the path that is very easy to follow until you reach the first and spectacular peak, Punta Dogana, from which you can admire, as well as the aforementioned western part with Su Gorropu, the eastern side with the beautiful Codula di Luna.

The path goes further and further inside a forest, becoming more and more difficult to follow because it become very unclear as very few people venture to this place and because of the large amount of branches and trees felled.

After a lot of difficulties, trying to maintain the same altitude throughout the forest, we can reach Punta Onnunanziu, which is located on open and rocky terrain.

After a short stop to recover the energy spent in the bush we head in a descent along the stony ground that will meet the cart track that we will leave immediately after a hairpin turn to take a path that leads us to the top of Fruncu Farruzzu and near it again becomes again a large and easily accessible driveway.

We turn into a crossroads on the right to visit, a few hundred meters away, the Cuile (sheperd hut) Marzane and the homonymous cave entrance.

We go back to the comfortable cart track and after a short ascent we reach the beautiful Cuile (sheperd hut) Sa Tuora.

Not so far away there are the cuili and goats fence of Suttaterra but, as they are currently still in use and protected by several guard dogs, it is not advisable to get too close.

Finally, we reach the path intersection with the decorative tiles we encountered at the start of the hiking day and we walked downhill until you reach the car parked on the Highway SS 125.