Monte San Michele (Molare): mountain hike from Positano
Overview
The summit intended in this guide is Monte San Michele, also called the Molare, in the Monte Sant'Angelo a Tre Pizzi group. CAI identifies it as the highest summit in the Monti Lattari at 1,444 m. It is different from Monte Comune. Reaching it from Hostel Brikette via Santa Maria del Castello would be a demanding mountain day, with the whole descent and hostel return to plan.
Access review, 26 October 2026: CAI's 350 route sheet warns of a dangerous landslide on the final Molare section. A separate dated local report relays municipal advice against excursions around the lower Tese–Fiume Valle Pozzo approach after a fire. We have not confirmed current clearance for this complete itinerary. Do not treat the planning notes or old photographs below as permission to attempt it.
On this page
Check both the lower approach and the summit warning
The [CAI 350 route sheet](https://www.caimontilattari.it/sentiero/350/) carries an ALERT status and warns that a widening landslide makes the passage between the base and summit of the Molare dangerous. The warning itself is not dated on the sheet. Do not use this article to attempt that final section while the issue remains unresolved; an old photograph, a worn track or another walker's report is not current clearance.
For the lower approach, [Il Quotidiano della Costiera reported on 1 October 2026](https://iqdc.eu/positano-allerta-caduta-massi-sui-sentieri-dopo-lincendio-della-notte/) that the municipality strongly discouraged excursions around Tese–Fiume Valle Pozzo in the Aquolella–Acqua del Dragone area after fire and rockfall risk. This is an explicitly attributed report of municipal advice, not an independently retrieved legal closure order.
Before planning this itinerary, ask [Positano's municipal tourism office](https://comune.positano.sa.it/amministrazione/uffici/ufficio-del-turismo) about current advice and the appropriate authority for each intended section. Check notices, barriers and actual conditions, and seek qualified local mountain advice where needed. Neither the lower approach nor a different access route clears the summit warning. If suitable, permitted passage cannot be established, choose a different activity.
Which mountain does this guide describe?
Use Monte San Michele / Molare as the destination when checking maps and asking for advice. The old Monte Comune link label referred to another mountain, while the original summit description and elevation diagram pointed towards the Molare. Those names must not be used interchangeably.
Read the [CAI 300 description](https://www.caimontilattari.it/en/sentiero/300-2/) alongside the final CAI 350 section. The [regional park's Monte Comune page](https://parcoregionaledeimontilattari.it/index.php?action=index&p=378) describes a different onward route towards the Sorrento side. Neither a shared village start nor a distant view of Capri makes the routes equivalent.
| Place | Published reference | Meaning for this plan |
|---|---|---|
| Monte San Michele / Molare | CAI 350: 1,444 m; highest summit of the Monti Lattari | The intended summit, with a specific warning on its final approach |
| Croce della Conocchia | CAI 300: 1,314 m | A distinct point on the upper mountain route, not the Molare summit |
| Monte Comune | CAI 300: 877 m, on a different continuation from Santa Maria | A separate destination, not another name for this summit |
Choose the mountain day that actually fits the conditions
When a route is confirmed suitable and permitted, the appeal is a sustained mountain walk above the coast. Choose it for the actual terrain, navigation and full return you can manage, rather than a guaranteed panorama or a fitness challenge that obliges you to reach the top. Cloud, wind and changing access can alter the day.
Compare the Santa Maria route planning, the Path of the Gods options or other day trips from Positano. A lower endpoint or another activity can be the better choice; none is certified safe simply by appearing in a comparison.
| Choice | What it involves | Decision before departure |
|---|---|---|
| Molare via Santa Maria | Lower approach, upper mountain network, summit decision and the complete return | Resolve each access issue and assess the mountain experience, daylight and return required |
| Santa Maria without an upper summit | A shorter objective that still uses a steep mountain approach | Check that actual approach separately; it is not automatically suitable or open |
| Another Positano day out | A different activity that can avoid this affected route | Check the conditions and access of the alternative itself |
Who should reconsider this mountain day?
Reconsider if you lack mountain experience, fitness, balance or confidence on exposed and uneven ground. The descent matters as much as the ascent: fatigue, loose rock and steep steps can change what you can complete. Being fit does not replace route-finding ability or remove an access warning.
Do not choose this demanding itinerary for a hot summer day. Heat increases the effort and the amount of water to carry; starting at dawn does not cancel those concerns or clear a restricted section. At other times, check wind, rain, storms, visibility, ground stability and the daylight available for the whole return. A spring or autumn afternoon is not automatically enough time.
Do not continue merely because the summit is the original goal. Set a turnaround deadline before departure and reassess earlier if conditions, footing, navigation or the group's condition deteriorate. Ask a qualified local mountain professional about a suitable plan if you are unsure.
Treat the Santa Maria approach as a separate checked leg
Read the reviewed Santa Maria del Castello guide before choosing the lower approach. CAI 333, Le Tese, runs from Corvo off the Positano–Montepertuso road to the CAI 300 junction at Santa Maria. Its published 2 km and 424 m of ascent describe that trail, not the whole hostel-to-summit trip.
Confirm the actual pedestrian route from Brikette to Corvo, including stairs and road crossings, and resolve the reported Tese warning first. The old claim that the village completes roughly one third of the day's elevation has not been verified for a measured complete itinerary and should not determine the day's pacing.
A village stop is a chance to reassess, not proof that the upper route is open or that a bar, refill or toilet is available. Confirm any service you intend to use. Leave enough resources and daylight to return without relying on an unplanned transport escape.
Read the existing elevation diagram correctly
The image below is an elevation profile, not a directional photograph. Its labels show Santa Maria del Castello, Forestale, Conocchia and a 1,444 m endpoint, with side branches. It helps explain why the original summit intent was the Molare rather than Monte Comune.
The diagram is an existing undated reference. It is not a current navigation map, a surveyed hostel-to-hostel itinerary, proof of permitted access or a reliable basis for reversing a turn. Match a current route map and official descriptions to your chosen journey; do not follow the diagram's branches as improvised alternatives.
Identify the upper route without guessing turns
At Santa Maria, distinguish the CAI 300 continuation towards Caserma della Forestale and Conocchia from the separate continuation towards Monte Comune. The CAI 300 description connects the upper network with the Molare branch of CAI 350. Identify every actual junction on a current map before committing; these notes are route-planning context, not fresh field-verified turn-by-turn directions.
The [CAI 300 sheet](https://www.caimontilattari.it/en/sentiero/300-2/) rates its complete second part EE and shows an ALERT. Its 47 km and 18/21-hour figures refer to that much longer trail, not this selected ascent or a hostel round trip. The description also runs in the opposite direction through this area, so do not reverse individual turns by guesswork.
The old directions through private-looking houses, automatically choosing the steep uphill branch and seeking unspecified rock-cut stairs have not been freshly verified. Confirm the public permitted line locally, respect private property and barriers, and turn back if you cannot identify it. A visible track is not permission to enter.
The final Molare section belongs to a separate summit decision under CAI 350's explicit warning. Do not treat reaching Conocchia or the base of the peak as an obligation to continue, and do not improvise a bypass around unstable ground. Current official advice and actual suitability must be resolved before any attempt.
Plan the entire descent back to Brikette
Choose the return before setting off. An out-and-back means retracing the confirmed upper route to Santa Maria, then the separately checked lower approach and final hostel stairs. Add breaks, fatigue, uneven ground and road crossings; finishing at the village is not the end of a hostel-to-hostel day.
The old 6–7-hour total was not confirmed against a measured complete itinerary in this review. Do not replace it with the full CAI 300 time or the Quisisana-to-Molare time on CAI 350: those have different starts and scopes. Use a current route-specific plan, your group's pace, conditions and daylight, with a turnaround deadline that leaves a realistic descent.
Do not descend through a different village just because an old paragraph mentions a bus or ferry. [CAI 329](https://www.caimontilattari.it/sentiero/329/) is a separate Bomerano–Montepertuso route, not a generic escape; its sheet also carries an ALERT. Any alternative descent, line, stop, ticket, last departure and connection must be checked as a complete plan. For the hostel's actual final approach, see the arrival guide.
Carry provisions and verify services and costs
Carry enough food and water for the entire selected journey, return and possible delay. A fixed two-litre minimum is not a universal quantity for every walker, temperature or duration. A water point listed on an old diagram or route sheet is not confirmation of usable water today; confirm intended refills, toilets and meal stops before depending on them.
If you want a stop in Santa Maria, check the actual business, opening, menu, prices and any booking directly. The former €5–€10 allowance was not verified for a current business or purchase. For food closer to your accommodation, use the Positano food guide.
Budget for provisions, any confirmed transport or private alternative and optional qualified guiding. Verify access requirements separately: the old blanket statement of free trail access is not a current permission check, and a commercial tour price does not establish a compulsory trail ticket. Never use a price or booking as proof that a warned section is passable.
Arrange luggage around the whole return
For a hike after checkout, enrol in storage through the hostel's guest app. The hostel must receive your agreement to the terms and conditions, and storage is subject to availability. It is free until 15:00. Bags not collected by then automatically transfer to the porters, who charge.
Read the full storage conditions and compare collection with the entire return to the hostel. A long mountain plan may not fit free storage; choose another activity or arrange the appropriate porter service rather than assuming bags can stay free into the evening.
For a walking-focused visit, check Brikette's actual rooms and stay information and leave flexibility for access and weather changes. A room booking does not guarantee that the summit route will be usable.
Before committing to the upper mountain route
Resolve the final Molare landslide warning and any restriction on the lower approach; another entry point or old elevation diagram is not current clearance.
Do not confuse Molare, Conocchia and Monte Comune, follow unverified house-side turns, enter private land or take every uphill branch.
Allow the complete daylight return with provisions and a mapped plan; turn back before the group's condition, visibility or remaining time makes the known descent unsuitable.
What to bring
- Suitable mountain footwear with grip and weather protection for steep, uneven ground.
- Enough food and water for your complete selected return and delays; verify any planned refill or meal separately.
- A charged phone, offline route map, current access advice and a route and return plan shared with someone staying behind.
- Sun protection and layers for the forecast and upper mountain; equipment does not remove exposure, an access restriction or the need for suitable experience.
What to budget for
- Provisions for the whole day and a village meal only if the actual business and prices are checked.
- Any confirmed approach or return transport, with the actual operator, route and connection verified.
- Optional qualified guiding or a confirmed private alternative, plus luggage arrangements under the actual hostel and porter conditions.
Timing and route reminders
- Treat the lower approach, upper route, final summit section and hostel return as separate checks within one complete plan.
- Keep Molare / Monte San Michele as the intended destination; Monte Comune is a different mountain.
- Use a route-specific daylight plan rather than the old 6–7-hour promise or the time for a different CAI starting point.
- Tell someone your route and expected return; recheck conditions before using saved notes on another day.
- For stored bags, allow the full return before 15:00 or the automatic chargeable porter transfer after that time.
Step by step
- Check current access before choosing the day: Resolve the CAI 350 summit warning and the reported Tese–Valle Pozzo advice for the lower approach; do not set off on a restricted or unsuitable plan.
- Choose the actual summit and full return: Identify Molare, CAI 300 and the final CAI 350 branch on a current map, with daylight, provisions and a turnaround deadline.
- Confirm the lower approach: Check Brikette–Corvo and CAI 333 to Santa Maria separately; do not treat the village as a verified one-third milestone.
- Identify the upper junctions: Distinguish the Forestale/Conocchia direction from Monte Comune, using current mapped public paths instead of unverified house-side turns.
- Respect the final summit warning: Reaching the upper network is not permission to enter the warned Molare section or improvise a landslide bypass.
- Retrace the checked return in daylight: Return by the planned suitable route without improvising a different-village descent or assuming transport will be available.
- Finish the hostel return and luggage plan: Include road connections and entrance stairs, and collect stored bags according to the agreed conditions.
FAQs
How long does the full hike from Hostel Brikette take?
The old 6–7-hour hostel round-trip estimate was not verified for a measured complete route. CAI 300's full-trail times and CAI 350's Quisisana-start figures describe different journeys. Build a current route-specific plan including the hostel approach, all ascent and descent, pauses, conditions and return stairs. Check access first and set a daylight turnaround deadline.
Is the trail marked?
CAI 300 reports unclear horizontal marking and vertical information under update for its full second part. Other sections have their own descriptions and conditions. Carry a current offline map and identify the actual junctions; a worn trail or the existing elevation diagram does not prove a permitted continuation. Turn back if the selected route cannot be identified.
Can I turn back early?
Yes, plan that option before departure and turn back while the known return remains suitable and possible in daylight. A village-only visit may be enough, but the lower approach still needs its own access check. Reaching Conocchia or the summit base does not oblige you to enter a warned section or find a new way around it.
Which summit is this guide about?
Monte San Michele, known as the Molare, in the Monte Sant'Angelo a Tre Pizzi group. CAI lists it at 1,444 m and identifies it as the highest summit of the Monti Lattari. The old Monte Comune label named a different mountain; Conocchia is also a distinct point rather than the summit itself.
Is the complete Molare route currently open?
This review on 26 October 2026 did not confirm current clearance for the complete itinerary. CAI 350 warns of a dangerous landslide on the final summit section. A separate 1 October report relays municipal advice against Tese–Fiume Valle Pozzo excursions on the lower approach. Check current official local advice and notices. These warnings are not converted here into an unverified formal closure order or a promise of reopening.
Is Monte Comune another way to reach the Molare?
No. It is a separate mountain and a different continuation from Santa Maria del Castello, described in the CAI 300 and regional park material. Do not use its route, height, timing or landscape photograph as if they described the Molare summit. A different outing requires its own access, navigation and return checks.
What should I bring for the full mountain day?
Appropriate mountain footwear, weather and sun protection, a charged phone and offline route map. Carry enough food and water for your whole selected route and possible delay, confirming any planned services first. Two litres is not a universal allowance, and equipment or fitness does not remove a landslide warning or make every route suitable.
Can I refill water or eat in Santa Maria?
Check the specific water point or business, opening and prices for your day before relying on it. Bring adequate provisions regardless and leave time for the whole descent. This guide does not confirm a particular bar's current service, a fixed snack budget or water availability from an old profile.
Can I leave luggage at Brikette after checkout?
Enrol through the guest app. The hostel must receive your agreement to the terms and conditions, and storage is subject to availability. It is free until 15:00. Uncollected bags then automatically transfer to the porters, who charge. Plan around the entire journey back to the hostel; a long summit day may not fit that collection time.
