{"id":9172,"date":"2026-02-22T09:27:29","date_gmt":"2026-02-22T08:27:29","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.palazzodalessandro.it\/?page_id=9172"},"modified":"2026-03-13T09:03:28","modified_gmt":"2026-03-13T08:03:28","slug":"maiella-hiking-tours","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/www.palazzodalessandro.it\/en\/itineraries\/maiella-hiking-tours\/","title":{"rendered":"Maiella hiking tours"},"content":{"rendered":"\t\t
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Maiella hiking tours<\/h1>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t
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The Maiella presents completely different scenery from the Gran Sasso, which is worth getting to know<\/h2>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
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Depending on the starting point chosen for the hike, it is about an hour to an hour and a half drive from Caporciano. Again, we simply mention a couple of possible routes, referring you to the many printed and online guides. <\/p>

Orfento Valley<\/strong><\/p>

Near Caramanico Terme is the Orfento Valley, which boasts a rich biodiversity heritage, so much so that it is recommended by “Nature” magazine. The Orfento Valley offers trails for all levels and ages, lasting from 2 to 8 hours. <\/p>

STAIRWAY TRAIL<\/strong><\/p>

One of the most famous hikes in the entire Majella National Park. The Orfento Gorges present wonderful natural environments that are absolutely worth seeing, but also very special places of historical interest. <\/p>

Rather long route but can be divided into 2 variants: a shorter one to Vallone Bridge, the other longer one to Pietre Bridge.<\/p>

Trail always obvious and marked, easy terrain, plenty of shade. The trail explores the deep gorge carved by the stream over millions of years. <\/p>

Start from the Park Visitor Center, following the always clear and obvious signs. First part, up to the Vallone Bridge, on a fairly monotonous path, first uphill then semi-flat. From the Ponte del Vallone we continue to the Ponte delle Pietre, first on a common stretch with the trail we will take on the way back, then deviating to the right on the Ponte di San Benedetto. Here begins the most beautiful part of the hike, through a beautiful cool and quiet beech forest that runs alongside the Orfento creating spectacular gorges and waterfalls. <\/p>

You pass through the Grotto of St. Nicholas, where you will need to help yourself to a steel cable (an easy passage, but one that could pose some problems for those who suffer from vertigo) and continue up through the forest on sometimes rough but always fairly easy terrain to the Bridge of Stones.<\/p>

Here you cross the Orfento with an overlook to a spectacular, deep rift where at the bottom you can hear the stream flowing. Continue after the bridge, climbing for a few dozen meters, then deviating to the left on a small path that climbs in the opposite direction. Continue climbing among beech trees and rocks in fairy environments until you reach the fork for the ruins of the hermitage of Sant’Onofrio. Continue downhill and rejoin the section of trail already taken on the outward journey, continuing to the Vallone Bridge. <\/p>

From here we continue on the same side, without crossing the stream, on a path that makes one somewhat regret the previous environments. Fortunately, you soon reach the “Scalelle” area, where the Orfento returns to draw spectacular environments with waterfalls, rocky gorges and several crossings over beautiful wooden bridges. <\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t

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Maiella - Trail Le Scalelle<\/figcaption>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/figure>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
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Caramaico Bridge<\/strong><\/h4>

A fork in the road allows us to turn left to return to the Visitor Center, or continue to the Caramanico Bridge. I recommend this second choice: the route gets a little longer but you will be able to visit the most characteristic environments.
We will know we have reached the end when, looking up, we see the Caramanico Bridge above us. <\/p>

From here a long and strenuous flight of steps will take us back to the paved road, from which it will (unfortunately) be necessary to take a left to re-enter the town and reach the starting point.<\/p>

Total length: about 18 km (full version; half for the “short” version)
Maximum altitude: 1092 mt<\/p>

Elevation gain: about 500 mt (ver.complete; 150 for “short” version)
Cumulative elevation gain: about 1000 mt (ver.complete; 350 for “short” version)<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t

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Maiella - Hermitage San Giovanni Trail<\/figcaption>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/figure>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
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Hermitage of St. John<\/strong><\/h4>

Departure is from Decontra, not far from Caramanico, the center of Maiella Park, following path B1, which, after passing two drinking fountains, climbs up the cart track and enters the beech forest, reaching a barrier. From the barrier there are two possibilities: <\/p>

  1. Take the Spirit Path, marked S, immediately to the right and walk for about 40 minutes before reaching the hermitage.
    Warning.<\/strong> This section of the trail, at one point, is very exposed over a cliff, so it is not recommended for those who are not used to heights, suffer from vertigo or for kids who are too young;<\/li>
  2. pass the bar, continue for a very short distance on B1 and then deviate to the right always on the path marked as S. This second possibility allows you to reach l\u00b4eremo in about twenty minutes, avoiding the most exposed section. However, care must be taken in the last section, when you will have to descend some steep steps carved into the rock. If you do not have problems with training or vertigo, you can walk both loop trails.

    Entry into the hermitage involves a belly-to-belly passage on a narrow rock ledge several meters above the ground, after crossing a stone staircase and a narrow passageway<\/strong>. The interior rooms were all carved out of the rock. Surprising is the chisel work that allowed compartments, altar and stairs to emerge from the stone. Especially ingenious is the system of canals and tanks for collecting rainwater. <\/p>

    The total distance is 14 km for about 8 hours, with 900 meters of elevation gain.<\/p><\/li><\/ol>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t

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    \n \n \t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tDOWNLOAD PDF BROCHURE<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t <\/a>\n <\/div>\n \t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
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    USEFUL INFO.<\/h4>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
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    1. Trail directions here are purely for guidance, to give an idea of the type of hike. Do not venture out without the necessary equipment, which includes a detailed trail map <\/li>
    2. The trail along the Orfento is to be avoided in the high season, PARTICULARLY on weekends, if you don’t want to get stuck, in the first section, behind cheerful outing families<\/li>
    3. At the visitor center it is possible:<\/li><\/ol>