Quick Hiking Guide – Majella National Park

Useful Numbers – Majella National Park
Office	Address	Contacts
Registered Office	Via Occidentale 6, 66016 Guardiagrele (CH)	Tel: 0864 25701 Fax: 0864 2570200 Email: info@parcomajella.it PEC: pnm@pec.parcomaiella.it Official website
Operational Office	Via Badia 28, 67039 Sulmona (AQ)	Tel: 0864 25701 Fax: 0864 2570450
Scientific Office	Via del Vivaio, 65023 Caramanico Terme (PE)	Tel: 0864 2570331
Electronic invoicing	—	Email: fatturepnm@legalmail.it

Events and Appointments – Majella National Park
📌 Event	📅 Period	📍 Location	🔗 Source
Guided excursions of the Park (Official guides)	All year round	Various locations in the Park	Parco Majella
Geo Summer / Geo Trek – UNESCO Geopark	Summer	Geosites of the Park	Parco Majella
The Farchie of Fara Filorum Petri	16 January	Fara Filorum Petri	SullaMajella
Majella Ethnofestival	Late July	San Valentino in A.C.	SullaMajella
Majella Literary Prize	Mid July (18 July 2026)	Abbateggio	SullaMajella
Spelt Festival	Mid-August	Abbateggio	SullaMajella
Feast of Saint Bartholomew	25 August	Roccamorice	SullaMajella
Adventure Park, Via Ferrata, Orienteering, Bike Park	Seasonal (spring–autumn)	Guardiagrele	Parco Naturale Majella

Short hiking guide to the Majella National Park: a three-day itinerary, useful numbers, events, points of interest and trekking routes, with GPX files and trail maps. Do not venture alone into areas you do not know.

View the map online

Practical summary to plan and tackle the main trails of Majella National Park safely. The map includes the routes we have walked and links to their dedicated pages.

Three Days in the Majella National Park

A 3-day hiking itinerary through valleys, gorges, hermitages and villages of the eastern and northern Majella, with short drives between one day and the next.

Route suitable for hikers with basic experience in mountain environments (grade E).

Duration: 3 days Difficulty: Hiking (E) Area: Eastern and northern Majella

Itinerary Overview

The Majella is a “mother” mountain: wild, spiritual, full of hermitages carved into the rock and deep valleys. In three days you visit some of the most famous places in the Park: each day is a separate hike, linked to the next by a short drive (the stages are not one continuous walking route).

Day	Hikes	Suggested overnight stay
1	Pennapiedimonte → la Croce (trail G1) · Palombaro → Sant’Angelo Cave	Stay around Palombaro or in Fara San Martino (15 minutes), the starting point of day 2.
2	Fara San Martino → Gorges → San Martino in Valle Monastery (trail H1) see the dedicated page	Stay in Fara San Martino or, to shorten the day 3 drive, already on the Caramanico Terme side.
3	Roccamorice → San Bartolomeo in Legio Hermitage · Caramanico Terme → Orfento Valley see the dedicated page	End of the itinerary in Caramanico Terme.

Day 1 – Pennapiedimonte and Sant’Angelo Cave at Palombaro

Day 1

Pennapiedimonte → la Croce (trail G1) · Palombaro → Sant’Angelo Cave

Walking time: about 3 h 30 in total

Elevation gain: about +450 m

Grade: E (hiking)

Transfer: Pennapiedimonte → Palombaro: about 15 minutes

Route description

From Pennapiedimonte (Balzolo, 710 m), a village set into the rock, you climb among old terraces to la Croce (1,055 m) on trail G1, overlooking the Avello Valley and the peaks of the eastern Majella. Return the same way (about 3 hours round trip, +350 m). Trail G1 continues to Rifugio Pomilio (1,890 m): a long climb for fit hikers only.

In the afternoon drive to Palombaro (Sterparo picnic area, 750 m): a 20-minute walk with a short, steep staircase leads to the Sant’Angelo Cave (850 m), an ancient rock sanctuary. The path is easy and suitable for everyone.

What to see

The village of Pennapiedimonte and its viewpoints.
The Avello Valley, one of the wildest valleys of the massif.
The Sant’Angelo Cave at Palombaro.

Day 2 – Fara San Martino Gorges and Santo Spirito Valley see the dedicated page

Day 2

Fara San Martino → Gorges → San Martino in Valle Monastery (trail H1)

Walking time: about 3 h (basic loop); up to 6 h with the Santo Spirito Valley

Elevation gain: about +150 m; +650 m to Bocca dei Valloni

Grade: E (hiking)

Route description

From the centre of Fara San Martino (440 m), trail H1 enters the San Martino Gorges: a narrow canyon whose vertical walls close in to a few metres. Just beyond are the remains of the San Martino in Valle Monastery, set into the rock. The basic round trip takes about 3 hours and is suitable for families too.

Fit hikers can continue up the Santo Spirito Valley to Bocca dei Valloni (1,050 m, about 2 h 30 from the village): a day of about 6 hours. Going on to Monte Amaro (over 9 hours, more than 2,300 m of ascent) is for experienced hikers only.

What to see

The San Martino Gorges, one of the Park’s iconic canyons.
The remains of the San Martino in Valle Monastery.
The Verde springs and the pasta-making village.

Day 3 – San Bartolomeo Hermitage and Orfento Valley see the dedicated page

Day 3

Roccamorice → San Bartolomeo in Legio Hermitage · Caramanico Terme → Orfento Valley

Walking time: 3–6 h in total (depends on the Orfento route)

Elevation gain: about +300 / +750 m

Grade: T/E

Transfer: Fara San Martino → Roccamorice: about 1 h 15; Roccamorice → Caramanico: about 25 minutes

Route description

Change side of the massif: drive to Roccamorice, on the north side of the Majella. A short path with steps cut into the rock leads down to the San Bartolomeo in Legio Hermitage, one of the best-known Celestinian hermitages, under a large rock ledge (less than an hour round trip). On 25 August the saint’s statue is carried in procession.

Then on to Caramanico Terme for the Orfento Valley, a strict nature reserve: access is regulated and you must register at the Visitor Centre before entering. From Ponte di Caramanico to Ponte della Pietra takes about 2 hours round trip (T); the Orfento loop takes about 5 hours with 600 m of ascent (E).

What to see

The San Bartolomeo Hermitage, a symbol of Celestinian spirituality.
The Orfento Valley, with footbridges, clear water and sheer walls.
The old town and spa of Caramanico.

Recommended Equipment

The Majella is an exposed and windy mountain: even on clear days, it is essential to have adequate equipment for the three days of trekking.

Technical Equipment

Trekking boots with good soles.
Telescopic trekking poles.
25–30 L backpack.
Windproof/rainproof jacket.
Light fleece + thermal layer.
Hat and sunglasses.
Light gloves (it can be cold at higher altitude).

Water, Food and Navigation

1.5–2 L of water per day.
Energy snacks, dried fruit, bars.
Packed lunch for all stages.
Paper map or offline app with trails.
GPX tracks of the route (if available).
Power bank for smartphone/GPS.

Safety

Small first aid kit.
Emergency whistle.
Headlamp with spare batteries.
Light emergency blanket.
ID card and health insurance card.

Practical Notes

Always check weather conditions, trail status and regulations of the Majella National Park before starting the itinerary. Some sections may be closed or subject to seasonal restrictions.

Download Some Park Trails

The trails were downloaded from the Majella National Park: always follow their indications as reported on this page. Other routes from different areas of the Majella are also available.

Download KML routes here
Download PDF routes here
Download GPXSee to view the tracks here

3-day trek – summary
📅 Day	📍 Hikes	📏 Technical data	🌄 Highlights
Day 1	Pennapiedimonte → la Croce (trail G1) · Palombaro → Sant’Angelo Cave	about 3 h 30 in total about +450 m	Village in the rock, Avello Valley, rock sanctuary.
Day 2	Fara San Martino → Gorges → San Martino in Valle Monastery (trail H1) see the dedicated page	about 3 h (basic loop); up to 6 h with the Santo Spirito Valley about +150 m; +650 m to Bocca dei Valloni	Canyon, rock monastery, Santo Spirito Valley.
Day 3	Roccamorice → San Bartolomeo in Legio Hermitage · Caramanico Terme → Orfento Valley see the dedicated page	3–6 h in total (depends on the Orfento route) about +300 / +750 m	Celestinian hermitage, Orfento strict reserve, spa village.

Quick Hiking Guide – Majella National Park

Practical summary to plan and tackle the main trails of Majella National Park safely. The map includes the routes we have walked and links to their dedicated pages.

Three Days in the Majella National Park

Itinerary Overview

Day 1 – Pennapiedimonte and Sant’Angelo Cave at Palombaro

Route description

What to see

Day 2 – Fara San Martino Gorges and Santo Spirito Valley see the dedicated page

Route description

What to see

Day 3 – San Bartolomeo Hermitage and Orfento Valley see the dedicated page

Route description

What to see

Recommended Equipment

Practical Notes

Download Some Park Trails

Skiing in Abruzzo – snow report

Webcams in Abruzzo

Abruzzo weather

Abruzzo trail maps

Outdoor activities

Holiday in Abruzzo

Traditional Abruzzese cuisine

Experience Abruzzo

Abruzzo, Lazio and Molise National Park

Gran Sasso and Monti della Laga National Park

Velino‑Sirente Regional Park

Majella National Park

Quick Hiking Guide – Majella National Park

The Gorges of Fara San Martino

Orfento Valley — Caramanico Terme

Skiing on the Majella: Passo Lanciano

Passo San Leonardo

Skiing in Campo Felice

Ovindoli/Monte Magnola Lifts

Skiing in Campo Imperatore

Skiing in Roccaraso

Skiing on the Majella: Passo Lanciano

Skiing in Abruzzo – snow report

Webcams in Abruzzo

Abruzzo weather

Abruzzo trail maps

Abruzzo, Lazio and Molise National Park

Gran Sasso and Monti della Laga National Park

Velino‑Sirente Regional Park

Majella National Park

Experience Abruzzo

Holiday in Abruzzo

Traditional Abruzzese cuisine

Outdoor activities

Practical summary to plan and tackle the main trails of Majella National Park safely. The map includes the routes we have walked and links to their dedicated pages.

Itinerary Overview

Day 1 – Pennapiedimonte and Sant’Angelo Cave at Palombaro

Route description

What to see

Day 2 – Fara San Martino Gorges and Santo Spirito Valley see the dedicated page

Route description

What to see

Day 3 – San Bartolomeo Hermitage and Orfento Valley see the dedicated page

Route description

What to see

Recommended Equipment

Practical Notes

Download Some Park Trails

Skiing in Abruzzo – snow report

Webcams in Abruzzo

Abruzzo weather

Abruzzo trail maps

Outdoor activities

Holiday in Abruzzo

Traditional Abruzzese cuisine

Experience Abruzzo

Abruzzo, Lazio and Molise National Park

Gran Sasso and Monti della Laga National Park

Velino‑Sirente Regional Park

Majella National Park