F. Individual Geosites 

Psiloritis could be considered a vast geosite on its own. All the previously presented geosites are part of the greater whole that is the mountain, each representing a small page in its long history. The subregions described correspond to chapters in this complex story.
Just as there are many geosites of minor significance that were not presented in this guide—or others that may not yet have been recognized—there are also certain isolated geosites whose unique value deserves mention. These will help close the final page in Psiloritis' geological narrative.

F1. The Gonies Nappes 

The hills above the village of Gonies represent a miniature version of Crete’s geological structure. Most of the island’s rock groups appear here in a small area, stacked atop one another in the form of nappes. A short dirt road of about 1.5 km, climbing from the asphalt behind the village toward the mountainous zone, offers an excellent opportunity for observation.

At the top of the hill lie the ophiolitic rocks, with their distinctive reddish hues from oxides and green tones due to atmospheric alteration of the serpentinites. The alkaline soil supports rare plants such as Alyssum baldaccii.Alyssum baldaccii)).
Beneath the ophiolites are the clay-rich sediments of the upper Cretan units, and next to the old windmill begin the rocks of the Pindos Zone: first the sandy and clayey flysch, then the platy limestones, and deeper still, the red radiolarites. A visible fault, which vertically displaces the rocks, marks the boundary with the underlying Tripolis formations. The flysch of this unit extends to the first mountain pass, where visitors can enjoy a panoramic view of the Sklavokampos basin and the surrounding area.

Beyond this point, and for a considerable distance, the exposed rocks belong to the Tripolis limestones. The dirt road continues either toward the Mygia Gorge or the Evdomos plateau, a small yet beautiful plateau formed by faulting within the Tripolis limestones.

F2. Nature’s Sculptures 

One of the most impressive areas where the action of water on carbonate rocks has created “works of art” is in the village of Chonos. There, the Miocene (13 million years old) brecciated limestones are rapidly eroded by rainwater, forming various shapes and forms. This is also aided by their separation into parallel surfaces due to the layering of the rocks.
As a result, towers with pointed peaks, wild drops and torches, finger-like patterns and many surface cavities are formed. Visitors can walk through this stone forest as well as the wild vegetation filled with plants and wildflowers. On the adjacent grey limestones and dolomites of the Tripolis unit, one can observe intense folds, which do not often appear in these types of rocks.

F3. Margarites Gorges 

Margarites is a village well known for its beautiful architecture and traditional pottery workshops. However, the wider area including the villages of Margarites, Orthe, and Eleftherna features a series of small, parallel gorges. Small streams like the Margaritianos flow northwards and are tributaries of the Geropotamos River. These gorges have formed within the white-yellow marly limestone of the Upper Miocene (8–10 million years ago),
as a result of the gradual uplift of the region and water erosion.

The most impressive feature of the gorges is their rich flora and the unique natural landscape they create. Small clusters or groves of horizontally branched cypress trees (Cupressus sempervirens var. horizontalis)Cupressus sempervirens var horizontalismix with low shrubs, wildflowers, and aromatic plants.

Short hiking trails, designed by the local municipal authorities, help visitors explore and enjoy the area more thoroughly.

 

F4. The Marathos Fault 

The Cretan Detachment Fault is also visible in the northern part of the park, along the villages of Damasta and Marathos. However, in this area, the Phyllite–Quartzite rocks lie beneath the Tripolis limestones. This has resulted in the formation of numerous smaller faults and folds within the phyllites and schists. A clear detail of the fault zone, with many indicators of movement direction and sense of displacement, can be observed in a small abandoned quarry after the village of Marathos, on the provincial road towards Heraklion.

F5. The “Stone Cheese” of Aidonochori 

A similar case of karstic weathering to the “Sculptures of Nature”, developing in the same brecciated rocks and in a nearby area, is found near Aidonochori. A large limestone block dominates the grazing lands, full of holes and fractures—resembling cheese.
Small cavities and cracks at the edges of the rock allow entry into its impressive interior. The landscape is eerie and otherworldly, a miniature of a massive canyon, but with a remarkable variety of erosion and dissolution forms. Lateral caves, narrow horizontal galleries, vertical spear-like rocks, sharp towers, deep fissures, and round cavities often filled with rainwater
All around, a rich biodiversity of plants, invertebrates, and reptiles.

F6. Stroumpoulas Plateau 

The Stroumpoulas Plateau lies to the south of the narrow mountain ridge of the same name, which, when seen from the city of Heraklion, resembles a volcanic cone. This elongated plateau is formed on Tripolis limestones and has relatively sparse vegetation, with only a few kermes oaks (Quercus coccifera) and other low shrubs.Quercus coccifera).

In the wider area around the plateau, there are numerous sinkholes and caves, as well as smaller lateral plateaus. On one of them, at the western edge of the plateau, karstic erosion has sculpted a large limestone rock into countless vertical spikes. Between them, one can see narrow hollows and fissures. The rock surfaces are carved with numerousfinger-like grooves (rillenkarren).

From the plateau, one can easily hike up to the summit of Stroumboulas and the small chapel of the Holy Cross, which offers a breathtaking view over the entire Heraklion region.

F7. Summit of Timios Stavros 

Timios Stavros, the summit of Psiloritis and the highest peak in Crete, rises 2,456 metres above sea level. For both visitors and locals, it is not just a mountain but a symbol — a personal challenge and an inner calling, a duty to be fulfilled.
The elongated mountain range offers an unparalleled panoramic view from its peak, reaching every corner of the island. The steep cliffs to the south and west bring the plains of Mesara and the Amari Valley to the feet of the hiker. The peaks of Kedros and Kouloukonas appear like smaller siblings, while the Lefka Ori and the Lasithi Mountains rise like natural walls to the west and east.

The ascent to the summit can be made from all directions: from the Nida Plateau, from Fourfouras and Kouroutes via the E4 mountain trails, from Zoniana and Livadia to the north, and from the Arkadi area to the west.
At the top stands Timios Stavros, a small chapel built in the form of a traditional mitato (a shepherd’s stone hut). It serves as shelter from the strong winds and the freezing cold at night, and is a beloved destination for mountaineers throughout the year.