Circuito Pico do Pião

Description

The Pico do Pião Circuit is one of the three trail circuits in the Ibitipoca State Park, featuring beautiful scenery and a challenging hike. Pico do Pião is the endpoint of the trail, and this is not a circular path like the Circuito das Águas. You go and return along the same route.

Activities

Activity Hiking

Time 5h 0m

Guidelines

Extension: 11 Km

Difficulty Moderate

Orientation Easy

Signaling Level Complete

Conservation Excellent

Risk Exposure Low

Sun Exposure High

Hydration Point Available

Climbing No climbing required

Minimum Altitude: 1328m

Maximum Altitude: 1721m

Negative Unevenness: 816m

Positive Unevenness: 816m

Attractions that the trail offers

Cave

Peak

Viewpoints

Ruins

Visitor Center

Avifauna

Mountain Range

Waterfall

Circuito Pico do Pião is a segment of the following Long-Distance Trail

Trilha Transmantiqueira

São Paulo, São Paulo

Extension 1114 km

Difficulty Moderate

The trail is located in the following protected area

Parque Estadual do Ibitipoca

Lima Duarte, Minas Gerais

14.9 km²

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Tips

Best times to visit the Parque Estadual do Ibitipoca: fall and spring, as the weather is more stable and pleasant. But nothing prevents a visit in summer or winter; you just need to be prepared for the characteristics of these seasons: heat and heavy rain, and intense cold, respectively. The climb to the end point, the summit of the Pico do Pião, is up a long wooden staircase, which can be demanding for some people.

Map

Guidelines

Extension: 11 Km

Difficulty: Moderate

Orientation: Easy

Signaling Level: Complete

Minimum Altitude: 1328m

Maximum Altitude: 1721m

Negative Unevenness: 816m

Positive Unevenness: 816m

Route

The attractions of the Circuito Pico do Pião are the Gruta do Monjolinho, the Gruta do Pião, the Gruta dos Viajantes, and the Pico do Pião itself, with the ruins of a chapel on its summit. This loop can be combined with another: on the Circuito Janela do Céu, the return route ends 2 km before the climb to the Pico do Pião. The hike can be tiring, as there are steep uphill sections, although with no technical difficulty. The trail is very wide and open, practically a dirt road, and on clear days, the strong sun and heat can be exhausting. The path runs through the region's typical vegetation, the campos rupestres (rocky grasslands). The Gruta do Monjolinho is the first attraction after the Prainha. It is a small cave behind a pool bounded by a rock wall, where the water that collects enters through an underwater crack. The next turnoff is for the Gruta do Pião, in the middle of a beautiful grove. The cave is long, with a low ceiling, and its passages narrow, so you have to squeeze through very small openings. The Gruta dos Viajantes is one of the largest and most beautiful caves in the park and is near the end of the trail. Wooden stairs make it easier to reach the entrance to a large chamber, and you can walk through the entire length of the cave, coming out on the other side. Remember to bring a flashlight to explore the caves!