28.4
PDI
17.9 mi
DISTANCE
5,287 ft
GAINED
5.4 %
AVG. GRADE
FULL CLIMB STATS
Page Contributor(s): Ard Oostra, Switzerland
INTRO
Mount Ainos climbs 28.8 km (17.9 mi) from the port village of Poros, on Kefalonia's southeast coast, gaining 1,611 m (5,287 ft) at a 5.4% average grade - a rare sea-to-near-summit ride that starts at essentially 0 m and finishes around 1,586 m, just short of the mountain's 1,628 m high point.
The upper mountain is Mount Ainos National Park, established in 1962 as one of Greece's earliest national parks to protect the endemic Kefalonian fir (Abies cephalonica) that blankets its slopes. The firs grow so dark that Venetian sailors once called the peak Monte Nero, or Black Mountain. A small population of semi-wild Ainos ponies still roams the upper slopes, and on a clear day the summit road looks out over Zakynthos and, further still, the Peloponnese mainland.
In early August 2026, a large wildfire burned an estimated 10,000 hectares of forest and several villages in southeastern Kefalonia - Kremmydi, Markopoulo, Katelios, and Mavrata - in the same general region as this climb's start near Poros. Check current conditions and any park access advisories before riding, particularly later in a dry summer.
PLAN YOUR ROUTE
We've partnered with Sherpa-Map.com to bring you the best route planning tool. With a PRO Membership you can use this climb as a reference when creating your route. The climb averages 5.4% over 28.8 km (17.9 mi), gaining 1,611 m (5,287 ft) from sea level. The steepest kilometer averages 10.2%, the steepest 500 meters averages 11.9%, and the single steepest 100-yard (91 m) stretch hits 14.8%. The grade builds gradually through the lower miles out of Poros before the steepest pitches arrive on the switchbacks into the national park.
Roadway: Paved the entire way, including the final stretch to a radio mast just below the true summit, though the road narrows and clings to the mountainside with some steep, exposed sections higher up - posted speed limits drop to 30 km/h (18 mph) on the tightest switchbacks. In early August 2026 a large wildfire burned roughly 10,000 hectares in southeastern Kefalonia, including the villages of Kremmydi, Markopoulo, Katelios, and Mavrata near this climb's start - check current road and park-access conditions before riding, especially later in a dry summer.
Traffic: Light. Poros itself sees ferry-related traffic near the port, but the climb quickly leaves that behind for quiet inland roads and then the national park, where vehicle traffic is minimal outside the occasional park visitor. Nighttime access to the park is generally restricted as a wildfire-prevention measure.
Parking: Poros has public parking near the port and town center, an easy spot to start from.
Provisions: Poros has the last reliable shops, cafes, and tavernas before the climb heads into the mountains - there's nothing along the route itself once you leave town.
Gear: Bring enough water for the full distance, since there's no reliable resupply on the mountain, and a light layer for the summit, where it's noticeably cooler and windier than the coast.
Before heading out on any cycling adventure check out our Things to Bring on a Cycling Trip and use our interactive check list to ensure you don't forget anything.
Poros is a working ferry port on Kefalonia's southeast coast, with regular sailings to Kyllini on the Greek mainland - a practical, low-key base rather than a resort town, with a handful of tavernas near the harbor.
Mount Ainos National Park's fir forest and its semi-wild Ainos ponies are worth building extra time around - the upper mountain looks nothing like the rest of Kefalonia's beaches and olive groves, and on a clear day the summit views reach Zakynthos and the Peloponnese.
See our Routes in the Area tool for other Kefalonia climbs worth combining with this one.
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