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Hard Hiking Trails in Italy

2,566 routes in Italy qualify, ranked below by how much walkers rate them. They average 25.1 km and 862 m (2,828 ft) of ascent, with the longest running to 580 km.

That is 20 percent of the 12,574 routes we map in Italy. They run noticeably longer than average for the area, 25.1 km against 9.0 km, so budget more daylight than a typical outing here. The climbing is steeper too: 862 m (2,828 ft) on average versus 326 m (1,070 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

Via Romea - Part Tuscany - Alternative la Verna

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

Distance
24.3 km
/ 15.1 mi
Elevation gain
535 m
Typical duration
6 hr 9 min
  • Mountain
  • Pilgrimage route
  • Waymarked route
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
  • Mountain
  • 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
  • Mountain
  • Waymarked route
  • Long-distance path
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
  • Mountain
  • 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
  • Mountain
  • 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
  • Mountain
  • 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
  • Mountain
  • 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
  • Mountain
  • Waymarked route
Hard

P14 - Pogallo - Cima Marsicce

Val Grande National Park · Piedmont

Distance
5.2 km
/ 3.2 mi
Elevation gain
1,400 m
Typical duration
3 hr 10 min
  • Mountain
  • Summit push
  • Alpine meadow
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
  • Panoramic viewpoint
Hard

P11 - Cicogna - Cima Sasso

Val Grande National Park · Piedmont

Distance
5.4 km
/ 3.4 mi
Elevation gain
1,210 m
Typical duration
2 hr 56 min
  • Mountain
  • Summit push
  • Panoramic viewpoint
Hard

Cammino del Salento - Via del Mare (Tappa 3)

Parco Naturale Regionale Costa Otranto - Santa Maria di Leuca e Bosco di Tricase · Apulia

Distance
21.7 km
/ 13.5 mi
Elevation gain
477 m
Typical duration
5 hr 26 min
  • Coastal
  • Forest
  • Waymarked route
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
  • Mountain
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

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
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
  • Mountain
  • Waymarked route
  • Long-distance path
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

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
  • Panoramic viewpoint
  • Waymarked route
Hard

Senter de le Greste

Parco alto Garda bresciano · Lombardy

Distance
2.8 km
/ 1.7 mi
Elevation gain
1,020 m
Typical duration
2 hr 7 min
  • Mountain
  • Summit push
  • 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
Expert

Alta Via Camuna

Stelvio National Park · Lombardy

Distance
41.7 km
/ 25.9 mi
Elevation gain
918 m
Typical duration
10 hr
  • Mountain
  • Waymarked route
Hard

Cammino dei Cappuccini - Tappa 11

Sibillini Mountains National Park · Marche

Distance
23.4 km
/ 14.5 mi
Elevation gain
605 m
Typical duration
6 hr 2 min
  • Mountain
  • Waymarked route
Hard

Cammino dei Cappuccini - Tappa 13

Sibillini Mountains National Park · Marche

Distance
23.9 km
/ 14.8 mi
Elevation gain
820 m
Typical duration
6 hr 28 min
  • Mountain
  • Waymarked route
Hard

Cammino di San Vicinio: Tappa 4

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

Distance
19.0 km
/ 11.8 mi
Elevation gain
1,242 m
Typical duration
5 hr 57 min
  • Mountain
  • Waymarked route
Expert

La Via del Bitto

Parco delle Orobie Valtellinesi · Lombardy

Distance
34.6 km
/ 21.5 mi
Elevation gain
761 m
Typical duration
8 hr 56 min
  • Mountain
  • Waymarked route
Expert

Sentiero Flavio Tasca - Tappa 5

Parco delle Orobie Bergamasche · Lombardy

Distance
37.5 km
/ 23.3 mi
Elevation gain
826 m
Typical duration
9 hr 44 min
  • Mountain
  • Waymarked route
Expert

Sentiero delle Creste

Parco alto Garda bresciano · Lombardy

Distance
21.1 km
/ 13.1 mi
Elevation gain
2,275 m
Typical duration
7 hr 59 min
  • Mountain
  • 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

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
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
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
Great Sibylline Ring Stage 7Sibillini Mountains National Park18.4 km650 m4 hr 55 minHardOctober to May
Great Sibylline Ring Stage 8Sibillini Mountains National Park20.2 km449 m5 hr 3 minHardOctober to May
Il Cammino di Sant'Antonio: Tappa 21Casentinesi Forests, Monte Falterona, Campigna National Park15.7 km345 m3 hr 48 minHardOctober to May
P14 - Pogallo - Cima MarsicceVal Grande National Park5.2 km1,400 m3 hr 10 minHardOctober to May
Chiesa medioevale di San Martino - La Croce - Fonte Moro - Monte Cima LepriParco Nazionale del Gran Sasso e Monti della Laga4.9 km1,319 m3 hrHardOctober to May

If you only have time for one, start with Via Romea - Part Tuscany - Alternative la Verna, Bassa Via del Garda, Alta Via n. 10 - Garda Brenta. 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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