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Hard Hiking Trails in Italy

1,791 routes in Italy qualify, ranked below by how much walkers rate them. They average 27.3 km and 864 m (2,835 ft) of ascent, with the longest running to 580 km.

That is 29 percent of the 6,268 routes we map in Italy. They run noticeably longer than average for the area, 27.3 km against 11.7 km, so budget more daylight than a typical outing here. The climbing is steeper too: 864 m (2,835 ft) on average versus 389 m (1,276 ft) across the wider area.

Hard routes mean sustained ascent, long descents and a real need to watch the clock and the forecast. These lean toward the demanding end, so plan for a full day and check the forecast before you commit.

Trails

Hard

B401 - Oliena - Monte Corrasi

Parco nazionale del Golfo di Orosei e del Gennargentu · Sardinia

Distance
6.6 km
/ 4.1 mi
Elevation gain
1,050 m
Typical duration
2 hr 57 min
  • Mountain
  • Summit push
  • Panoramic viewpoint
Expert

Alta Via n. 10 - Garda Brenta

Parco alto Garda bresciano · Lombardy

Distance
75.8 km
/ 47.1 mi
Elevation gain
1,668 m
Typical duration
20 hr
  • Waymarked route
  • Long-distance path
Expert

Bassa Via del Garda

Parco alto Garda bresciano · Lombardy

Distance
72.5 km
/ 45.0 mi
Elevation gain
1,594 m
Typical duration
19 hr
  • Waymarked route
  • Long-distance path
Hard

CNP - 07 - Livata - Camerata Nuova

Parco Naturale Regionale dei Monti Simbruini · Lazio

Distance
18.0 km
/ 11.2 mi
Elevation gain
397 m
Typical duration
4 hr 27 min
  • Waymarked route
Hard

CNP - 09 - Cineto Romano - Orvinio

Parco Regionale Naturale dei Monti Lucretili · Lazio

Distance
18.1 km
/ 11.3 mi
Elevation gain
399 m
Typical duration
4 hr 28 min
  • Waymarked route
Hard

CNP - 20 - Accumoli - Amatrice

Parco Nazionale del Gran Sasso e Monti della Laga · Lazio

Distance
15.9 km
/ 9.9 mi
Elevation gain
350 m
Typical duration
3 hr 52 min
  • Waymarked route
Hard

Great Sibylline Ring Stage 1

Sibillini Mountains National Park · Marche

Distance
13.0 km
/ 8.1 mi
Elevation gain
800 m
Typical duration
3 hr 54 min
  • Waymarked route
Hard

Great Sibylline Ring Stage 6

Sibillini Mountains National Park · Marche

Distance
14.0 km
/ 8.7 mi
Elevation gain
800 m
Typical duration
4 hr 7 min
  • Waymarked route
Hard

Great Sibylline Ring Stage 7

Sibillini Mountains National Park · Marche

Distance
18.4 km
/ 11.5 mi
Elevation gain
650 m
Typical duration
4 hr 55 min
  • Waymarked route
Hard

Great Sibylline Ring Stage 8

Sibillini Mountains National Park · Marche

Distance
20.2 km
/ 12.6 mi
Elevation gain
449 m
Typical duration
5 hr 3 min
  • Waymarked route
Hard

Il Cammino di Sant'Antonio: Tappa 21

Casentinesi Forests, Monte Falterona, Campigna National Park · Emilia-Romagna

Distance
15.7 km
/ 9.7 mi
Elevation gain
345 m
Typical duration
3 hr 48 min
  • Waymarked route
Hard

Way of St. Benedict - Stage 09

Parco Regionale Naturale dei Monti Lucretili · Lazio

Distance
20.3 km
/ 12.6 mi
Elevation gain
446 m
Typical duration
5 hr 3 min
  • Waymarked route
Hard

Way of St. Benedict - Stage 11

Parco Naturale Regionale dei Monti Simbruini · Lazio

Distance
16.9 km
/ 10.5 mi
Elevation gain
371 m
Typical duration
4 hr 7 min
  • Waymarked route
Hard

Via Alpina Blue D24

Gran Paradiso National Park · Piedmont

Distance
11.3 km
/ 7.0 mi
Elevation gain
814 m
Typical duration
3 hr 35 min
Hard

Via Alpina Blue D26

Gran Paradiso National Park · Piedmont

Distance
13.5 km
/ 8.4 mi
Elevation gain
1,696 m
Typical duration
5 hr 21 min
Hard

Via Alpina Blue D28

Gran Paradiso National Park · Piedmont

Distance
10.7 km
/ 6.6 mi
Elevation gain
1,021 m
Typical duration
3 hr 46 min
Hard

Via Alpina Red R142

Parco Naturale delle Alpi Marittime · Piedmont

Distance
15.7 km
/ 9.7 mi
Elevation gain
345 m
Typical duration
3 hr 48 min
Hard

Via Alpina Red R32

Naturpark Rieserferner-Ahrn - Parco Naturale Vedrette di Ries-Aurina · Trentino – Alto Adige/Südtirol

Distance
19.3 km
/ 12.0 mi
Elevation gain
424 m
Typical duration
4 hr 47 min
Hard

Via Alpina Yellow B29

Naturpark Texelgruppe - Parco naturale Gruppo di Tessa · Trentino – Alto Adige/Südtirol

Distance
16.4 km
/ 10.2 mi
Elevation gain
360 m
Typical duration
4 hr
Hard

Cammino della Pace - Tappa 29

Gargano National Park · Apulia

Distance
22.5 km
/ 14.0 mi
Elevation gain
420 m
Typical duration
5 hr 33 min
  • Mountain
  • Summit push
  • Forest
Hard

A34 - Vogogna - Pizzo Lacina

Val Grande National Park · Piedmont

Distance
4.9 km
/ 3.1 mi
Elevation gain
1,704 m
Typical duration
3 hr 35 min
  • Mountain
  • Panoramic viewpoint
  • Waymarked route
Hard

Limone sul Garda - Cima di Mughera

Parco alto Garda bresciano · Lombardy

Distance
5.4 km
/ 3.3 mi
Elevation gain
1,145 m
Typical duration
2 hr 50 min
  • Mountain
  • Summit push
  • Waymarked route
Hard

JK15

Friuli – Venezia Giulia · Italy

Distance
27.4 km
/ 17.0 mi
Elevation gain
45 m
Typical duration
6 hr 8 min
  • Mountain
  • Alpine meadow
  • Waymarked route
Hard

JK18

Friuli – Venezia Giulia · Italy

Distance
23.5 km
/ 14.6 mi
Elevation gain
45 m
Typical duration
5 hr 14 min
  • Mountain
  • Alpine meadow
  • Waymarked route
Hard

JK19

Friuli – Venezia Giulia · Italy

Distance
21.2 km
/ 13.2 mi
Elevation gain
45 m
Typical duration
4 hr 40 min
  • Mountain
  • Alpine meadow
  • Waymarked route
Hard

JK20

Friuli – Venezia Giulia · Italy

Distance
22.4 km
/ 13.9 mi
Elevation gain
45 m
Typical duration
4 hr 57 min
  • Mountain
  • Alpine meadow
  • Waymarked route
Hard

JK21

Friuli – Venezia Giulia · Italy

Distance
32.2 km
/ 20.0 mi
Elevation gain
45 m
Typical duration
7 hr 18 min
  • Mountain
  • Alpine meadow
  • Waymarked route
Hard

JK22

Friuli – Venezia Giulia · Italy

Distance
18.9 km
/ 11.8 mi
Elevation gain
45 m
Typical duration
4 hr 8 min
  • Mountain
  • Alpine meadow
  • Waymarked route
Hard

JK23

Friuli – Venezia Giulia · Italy

Distance
22.0 km
/ 13.7 mi
Elevation gain
45 m
Typical duration
4 hr 52 min
  • Mountain
  • Alpine meadow
  • Waymarked route
Hard

Sentiero dei Laghi Alto - Tappa 11

Parco delle Orobie Bergamasche · Lombardy

Distance
17.9 km
/ 11.1 mi
Elevation gain
1,275 m
Typical duration
5 hr 43 min
  • Lake
  • Waymarked route
Hard

Sentiero dei Laghi Alto - Tappa 5

Parco delle Orobie Bergamasche · Lombardy

Distance
10.6 km
/ 6.6 mi
Elevation gain
1,206 m
Typical duration
4 hr 1 min
  • Lake
  • Waymarked route
Hard

Sentiero dei Laghi Alto - Tappa 6

Parco delle Orobie Bergamasche · Lombardy

Distance
15.5 km
/ 9.6 mi
Elevation gain
983 m
Typical duration
4 hr 43 min
  • Lake
  • Waymarked route
Hard

Sentiero dei Laghi Alto - Tappa 8

Parco delle Orobie Bergamasche · Lombardy

Distance
10.5 km
/ 6.5 mi
Elevation gain
880 m
Typical duration
3 hr 31 min
  • Lake
  • Waymarked route
Expert

Meraner Höhenweg - Alta Via di Merano

Naturpark Texelgruppe - Parco naturale Gruppo di Tessa · Trentino – Alto Adige/Südtirol

Distance
91.7 km
/ 57.0 mi
Elevation gain
2,018 m
Typical duration
24 hr
  • Waymarked route
  • Long-distance path
Hard

Cammino del beato Enrico - Tappa 3

Naturpark Trudner Horn - Parco Naturale Monte Corno · Trentino – Alto Adige/Südtirol

Distance
29.7 km
/ 18.4 mi
Elevation gain
653 m
Typical duration
7 hr 36 min
Hard

Con le ali ai piedi - 13

Parco Nazionale della Majella · Abruzzo

Distance
19.1 km
/ 11.8 mi
Elevation gain
130 m
Typical duration
4 hr 17 min
Hard

Con le ali ai piedi - 13 var

Parco Nazionale della Majella · Abruzzo

Distance
17.6 km
/ 10.9 mi
Elevation gain
387 m
Typical duration
4 hr 19 min
Hard

Con le ali ai piedi - 24

Gargano National Park · Apulia

Distance
14.3 km
/ 8.9 mi
Elevation gain
490 m
Typical duration
3 hr 42 min
Hard

Con le ali ai piedi - 25

Gargano National Park · Apulia

Distance
24.7 km
/ 15.4 mi
Elevation gain
480 m
Typical duration
6 hr 10 min
Hard

Dolomites World Heritage Geotrail 13

Naturpark Fanes-Sennes-Prags - Parco Naturale Fanes-Sennes-Braies · Trentino – Alto Adige/Südtirol

Distance
17.0 km
/ 10.5 mi
Elevation gain
373 m
Typical duration
4 hr 9 min

The shortlist, side by side

The ten highest scoring routes on this page, so you can compare effort before opening any of them.

Distance, ascent, walking time and difficulty for the top routes
RouteDistanceAscentTimeDifficultyBest season
Via Romea - Part Tuscany - Alternative la VernaCasentinesi Forests, Monte Falterona, Campigna National Park24.3 km535 m6 hr 9 minHardOctober to May
B401 - Oliena - Monte CorrasiParco nazionale del Golfo di Orosei e del Gennargentu6.6 km1,050 m2 hr 57 minHardOctober to May
Alta Via n. 10 - Garda BrentaParco alto Garda bresciano75.8 km1,668 m20 hrExpertOctober to May
Bassa Via del GardaParco alto Garda bresciano72.5 km1,594 m19 hrExpertOctober to May
CNP - 07 - Livata - Camerata NuovaParco Naturale Regionale dei Monti Simbruini18.0 km397 m4 hr 27 minHardOctober to May
CNP - 09 - Cineto Romano - OrvinioParco Regionale Naturale dei Monti Lucretili18.1 km399 m4 hr 28 minHardOctober to May
CNP - 20 - Accumoli - AmatriceParco Nazionale del Gran Sasso e Monti della Laga15.9 km350 m3 hr 52 minHardOctober to May
CNP - 24 - Rifugio Fioretti - San Pietro della IencaParco Nazionale del Gran Sasso e Monti della Laga16.1 km354 m3 hr 55 minHardOctober to May
Great Sibylline Ring Stage 1Sibillini Mountains National Park13.0 km800 m3 hr 54 minHardOctober to May
Great Sibylline Ring Stage 6Sibillini Mountains National Park14.0 km800 m4 hr 7 minHardOctober to May

If you only have time for one, start with Via Romea - Part Tuscany - Alternative la Verna, Alta Via n. 10 - Garda Brenta, B401 - Oliena - Monte Corrasi. Those are the routes people come back to. Every route on this page links through to a full guide with the map, elevation profile, seasonal advice and what to bring.

Frequently asked questions

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