Central greece: Elikonas hiking and mushroom photography

Helicon: A mushroom paradise!

Mount Elikonas, also known as the "Mountain of the Muses", is one of the most beautiful and popular mountains in Greece. It is located in the prefecture of Boeotia and is known for its lush fir forests, hiking trails and picturesque locations.

The ideal climatic conditions, with cool weather and plenty of rainfall, favour the growth of a wide variety of mushrooms! If you are a lover and especially a connoisseur of mushrooms, Helicon is another ideal destination....

On the hiking trail Agia Anna - Paliovouna peak (22) especially at the beginning of the hike, with a little searching you will find several varieties.

It is worth mentioning that a characteristic feature of the forests of Helicon (as well as the route in question) is that the soil has limited biomass. On the one hand this reduces to some extent the occurrence of fire, on the other hand it gives the hiker the opportunity to walk relatively easily in the forest and off the trail in search of more mushrooms. So if you decide to walk in the forest in search of mushrooms off the trail, don't stray too far away because there is a risk of losing your bearings or having an accident! So be careful and have company on your excursion!

Mushrooms

Mushrooms

The route at the beginning has a gentle uphill through a fir forest, friendly for a beginner hiker and for mushroom hunters, but as we ascend the climb becomes demanding with a steeper slope!

Beginning of the hiking route (O22)

The route (O22) is very well marked all along the route

From 1.150m and above, there are always points with a view of the.... wind turbines and the opposite peaks of the mountain (Kapsala, Megali Loutsa).

View to Paliovouna

Due to lack of time I did not reach the top of Paliovouna. Therefore the hiking route on the map ends a little further down. The signage to the top seemed to be good, but with rocky terrain.

Before the summit

Lone fir tree.....