Gran Sasso d'Italia · 3 days · EE
From Campo Imperatore to Prati di Tivo sleeping at altitude: three historic huts, the summit of Corno Grande and the crossing of the Sella dei Due Corni.
Before you go
Off season: from October to May the high trails are snowy or icy: the loop is only for equipped mountaineers who check the avalanche bulletin.
Where to sleep
Monte Portella ridge, above Campo Imperatore
View of Corno Grande and Campo Imperatore; famous sunsets. Book by phone or email (not via Facebook).
Campo Pericoli, below the west face of Corno Grande
The first mountain hut in the Apennines (1886). Bring dinner, breakfast and a sleeping bag; the staffed part requires a booking.
Vallone delle Cornacchie, below Corno Piccolo
Restaurant, showers and card payment. No WhatsApp.
Next to the upper cable car station
Starting point of the loop and of the trails to Duca degli Abruzzi and Garibaldi.
Day by day
From the Campo Imperatore hostel (2,130 m) climb along the Monte Portella ridge to the hut (2,388 m). A short stage that leaves time to acclimatise and enjoy the sunset on Corno Grande.
From the hut descend to Sella di Monte Aquila and follow the normal route to the Western Summit of Corno Grande (2,912 m): rock and scree sections, views over the Calderone glacier. Return to the saddle and descend to Campo Pericoli and Rifugio Garibaldi (2,231 m). Garibaldi has no food service: if it is closed, go back to the Duca (1 hour).
From Campo Pericoli climb to Sella dei Due Corni (2,547 m), between Corno Grande and Corno Piccolo, and descend to Rifugio Franchetti (2,433 m) for lunch. The Vallone delle Cornacchie then leads to the Madonnina and Prati di Tivo (chairlift when open). Easy variant: from Garibaldi return to Campo Imperatore in about 1 hour.
Bars proportional to each day's ascent (green) and descent (orange).
Indicative times
| Section | Time | Difficulty |
|---|---|---|
| Campo Imperatore → Rifugio Duca degli Abruzzi | about 1 h | E |
| Campo Imperatore → Rifugio Garibaldi (Sella di Monte Aquila) | 45 min – 1 h | E |
| Sella di Monte Aquila → Corno Grande, Western Summit (normal route) | about 2 h 30 | EE |
| Rifugio Garibaldi → Sella dei Due Corni → Rifugio Franchetti | about 2 h | EE |
| Rifugio Franchetti → Madonnina → Prati di Tivo | 1 h 30 – 2 h | E |
| Rocca Calascio → Santo Stefano di Sessanio | about 1 h 30 | T/E |
One-way times for a fit hiker, in good weather and without snow.
If you have an extra day
After the trek, about 40 minutes by car from Campo Imperatore, you reach Rocca Calascio (1,460 m), with the highest castle in Italy, and the medieval village of Santo Stefano di Sessanio (1,251 m). An easy trail of about 1 h 30 links the two villages.
For places to stay in the villages (albergo diffuso, B&B) see our page on the villages of Campo Imperatore.
Safety
Emergencies: 112 or 118: mountain rescue is activated through these numbers.
Opening periods, contacts and services may change: always check with the hut before leaving. Data checked in October 2026.
Three days from hut to hut on the Gran Sasso d'Italia, in the Gran Sasso and Monti della Laga National Park: start from Campo Imperatore, sleep at Rifugio Duca degli Abruzzi and Rifugio Garibaldi, climb the Corno Grande and descend to Prati di Tivo via Rifugio Franchetti. It is a route for experienced hikers (EE): otherwise hire a mountain guide.
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The most popular ski resorts, the updated snow report and useful information on how to find lifts or book accommodation for your winter holiday
Vai
View the webcams in Abruzzo and check real‑time weather conditions. Some webcams belong to www.abruzzoparchi.it, others are located throughout the region
Vai
Weather forecasts for the coming days in Abruzzo. Live weather via our webcams and temperatures recorded in several mountain areas
Vai
Maps for trekking, mountain biking, ski touring, running and horse riding. You can also download the GPX track of each route
Vai
Walks, diving, climbing, mountain biking, horse riding — all outdoor activities available in Abruzzo
Vai
Choose between sea or mountains, summer or winter, a sporty holiday or a relaxing one — Abruzzo has it all
Vai
Abruzzo is famous for its cuisine, both mountain and coastal, with traditions that vary from area to area
Vai
Abruzzo’s villages are famous for their fortresses, mountains and the traditional trabocchi along the southern coast
Vai
One of Italy’s most famous and oldest national parks
Vai
One of Italy’s wildest parks, with typical Apennine landscapes and Dolomite‑like peaks
Vai
Located in the heart of the Apennines, home to the beautiful villages of the Rocche Plateau
Vai
One of the snowiest places in Italy, a unique mountain massif rising close to the sea
Vai