Troodos nature trails: Artemis, Atalante and Caledonia

Where you are

All three trails are in the Troodos National Forest Park, a state forest managed by the Department of Forests and a Natura 2000 area. Its highest peak, Chionistra (also called Olympus), is 1,952 m, the highest point in Cyprus. The park has 15 nature trails, and an environmental information centre near Troodos Square. In winter the Chionistra area becomes a ski centre.

The trail names are spelled in more than one way. The Department of Forests writes Atalanti and calls the third trail both Kalidonia and Caledonia; visitcyprus.com uses Atalanti and Kalidonia. We use the names most people search for.

The three trails side by side

Difficulty is the official grade on a scale from 1 (easiest) to 3 (hardest). Times and heights are from the Department of Forests' 2025 leaflets and visitcyprus.com; where they differ, we give both.

Artemis: the loop around the summit

Start and finish

300 m up the road to Chionistra from its junction with the Troodos Square–Prodromos road

Parking

At the start and at Troodos Square; the start is about 2.4 km on foot from the square

Path

Described as a smooth path; watch for slippery surfaces

Best season

March to November

Artemis circles the top of Chionistra at about 1,850 m, through black pine forest with views in every direction. On the way are two black pines over 500 years old, and the ruins of makeshift Venetian fortifications from 1571. Information signs name the plants and rocks; many of the plants grow only in Cyprus or only in Troodos. Bring your own water: there is none on the route.

Atalante: the long loop below it

Start and finish

Troodos Square

Parking

The parking area at Troodos Square

Path

Uphill and downhill, with panoramic views; watch for slippery surfaces

Best season

March to November

Atalante goes round Chionistra lower than Artemis, at about 1,700–1,750 m, through dense black pine and Troodos juniper. One of the junipers is about 800 years old. After 3 km there is a drinking-water fountain with benches; at about 5 km you pass the entrance of an old chromium mine tunnel, closed since 1982. At 9 km the trail meets the Troodos–Prodromos road: cross it, walk about 200 m along the forest road towards Agios Nikolaos tis Stegis until a wooden sign shows the way, and the trail runs roughly parallel to the road back to Troodos Square. The views reach over the Limassol, Paphos and Nicosia districts. You may see the mouflon, the wild sheep found only in Cyprus: watch from a distance.

Caledonia: down the river to the waterfall

Top start

Off the Troodos Square–Platres road, at the turn signed Caledonia Trail; a narrow asphalt road leads to small parking areas at the trail's highest point

Bottom start

Psilo Dentro, above Pano Platres: park near Psilo Dentro and walk about 300 m uphill to the trail's kiosk

Path

Steps, downhill or uphill all the way, and river crossings; the leaflet warns of a high risk of slipping

Best season

March to November

Caledonia is short but graded 3, the hardest grade. It follows the Kryos Potamos ("cold river"), one of the few rivers in Cyprus with water all year, through dense forest of plane, alder, black pine and golden oak. Many river crossings have built passages, but at some you step on wet, slippery stones: wear non-slip shoes. About two thirds of the way down from the top is Caledonia Falls, where the water drops 13 m over gabbro rock. You may see trout in the pools; fishing is prohibited. There are three kiosks to shelter in if it rains.

The trail is linear, so plan the way back before you start: walk back up, or arrange a lift at the other end. The leaflet says the only other way out is a dirt road at the waterfall, closed to traffic.

Before you go

The Department of Forests asks every walker in the park to:

• Check the weather forecast. Troodos can have high winds, storms and lightning; don't walk in them.
• Tell someone when you start and when you expect to finish. A phone can save your life in an emergency.
• Stay on the trail. Off the path, and especially on rocks, you risk falling rocks, slips and falls. Wear proper non-slip footwear.
• Never light a fire, and avoid smoking: the fire risk is extremely high. If you see smoke or fire, call 1407.
• Leave plants, rocks and wildlife alone: cutting plants, damaging rocks and harassing wildlife are prohibited by the Forest Law.
• Take your litter home.

The leaflets give March to November as the best period for all three trails. Outside that period Chionistra is a ski centre, so expect winter conditions, and check with the Troodos Forest Division (22 608512) before you set out. Troodos Square has shops, restaurants, public toilets and hotels.

Sources

All read on 14 October 2026. Where sources disagree, we give both figures or say "about".

1. Nature trails in the Troodos Forest Division (leaflets: Artemis, Atalanti and Kalidonia, 2025), Department of Forests
2. Artemis (Circular), Troodos Forest Nature Trail, Deputy Ministry of Tourism, visitcyprus.com
3. Atalanti (Circular), Troodos Forest Nature Trail, Deputy Ministry of Tourism, visitcyprus.com
4. Kalidonia (Linear), Troodos Forest Nature Trail, Deputy Ministry of Tourism, visitcyprus.com
5. Nature trails, Department of Forests (difficulty scale)