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In the wider region of Mt Grammos one can find many sub-alpine lakes, decorating the wild and rough landscape like turquoise jewelry. Among them, one is the most well-known and most frequently visited. This is Gistova lake, the highest in elevation lake of Greece, located at 2350m, at the northernmost edge of the ridge on the borders with Albania.

The ascent to the lake starts from the village of Grammosta and follows a sequence of livestock farming paths on the open and wavy landscape of meadows. After we cross a plateau with smaller alpine lakes, we continue on another hardly clear trail section heading towards the ridge.

In order to reach the basin of the lake we need to walk shortly downwards. From the slopes around us, we can enjoy the majestic view to the Albanian countryside but also to the northernmost mountains of Ipirus, ie Mt Smolikas and Mt Gamila.

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Lake Gistova is one of the three major alpine lakes of Greece. It is located in the eastern part of Grammos, above the village of Grammos or Gramosta and close to the highest peaks of the mountain, Perifanos and peak 2520.

From the village of Grammos (or Gramosta), we take the country road toward Lefka. At an elevation of 1,850 m, where there is a stone wayside shrine, the road forks: the right fork leads to the Barouga Pass, while the left fork leads to the Fagou meadow. We can also reach this point via the trail that leads up to Gistova.

At the fork, we take the left branch and walk along the dirt road until we reach the first prominent ridge, where there is a sturdy red tin shack.

At the hut, we leave the road and head uphill along a small ridge, following an indistinct path. Turning left, we wind through beautiful meadows with streams and orchids. From the end of the meadow, we can choose the best route among the various indistinct trail traces: we select the path with the gentlest slope, which bypasses a steep slope and leads us to the middle of the three ravines in this area. Through the gentle ravine, we reach the vicinity of the Gistova Pass, where we join the trail from the 2520 and descend into the lake basin.
When there is still snow on the mountain, it is best to stay closer to the ridge line.

We’ll find water in the area’s streams.

Although the dogs on Grammos are not dangerous, it’s best to avoid the herds—and especially the sheepfolds—by taking a wide detour outside the animals’ range of concern.

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If we take one look at the broad basin of Grammosta village we can clearly say that it’s a wide grazing pasture. Back in time, this extensive meadow used to be covered by stock-farming infrastructure where the farmers and breeders spent their summer, following a nomadic way of life.  One of their most preferable spots was the meadow Friga, well known for its rich springs.

The condition of the old trail which starts from Grammosta village and leads to the meadow of Frigka was improved after the end of the WWII, since it served as the connection to the first aqueduct of the settlement. This aqueduct was a pipe of clay tubes which transferred the fresh potable water to the houses.

From the spring Friga, follow sentle slopes to Gistova lake.

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The high and glorious peak «2520», or as the locals used to call, Tsouka Petsik, is the summit of Mt Grammos and the fourth highest peak of Greece. In the shape of a pyramid, it stands in the middle of a large complex of peaks and ridges of eastern Grammos and it can be reached with at least four different ways. 

The route which is going to be described here starts from the village of Grammosta, climbs up to the location Lefka and passes by the famous alpine lake Gistova.

From Gistova lake we walk along the ridge on the borders with Albania. Scrambling along this unpredictable terrain of steep slopes, snowy hillsides, rocky raised strips and scree slopes, we reach the peak Anonimi ( 2414m). Soon, we reach the northern crest of the peak “2520” where we start the main ascent on the sharp rocky edge. This ascent includes some basic knowledge of scrambling. We follow the red marks. There is also another much easier choice which follows a clearer trail at the western part of the peak.

In order to return back to the village of Grammosta we cross the meadow of Leventiko where we see a small group of concrete huts.

Elevation profile

Starting – ending point and maximum elevation