Colle della Luna Trail (402): Route, Difficulty and Map

The Route of the Colle della Luna Trail

The start is in San Giacomo, at about 1,105 m, near the lower station of the old gondola lift, out of service for years. The route climbs up the bottom of a small valley to the first trees. There a path turns left and, after a short stretch, crosses a dirt track. Beyond the track it continues on a faint path, always heading east.

The trail passes a first caciara with the typical tholos (corbelled dome) construction, at about 1,190 m, and reaches a small lake at about 1,303 m. After the lake the path bears right and climbs through a dense beech forest. At about 1,390 m, at a junction, the route turns right toward Tre Caciare, at about 1,430 m, where the Monte Piselli chairlift starts.

The route is not a loop. To return to San Giacomo, the same path can be retraced. An alternative is to descend along the broad ridge of the Costa del Prevosto, which leads all the way to the village.

Colle della Luna Trail Technical Data

• Trail number: 402
• Start and finish: from San Giacomo to Tre Caciare
• Length: 2.1 km
• Difficulty: E (CAI scale)
• Route type: linear, not a loop
• Maximum elevation: about 1,433 m
• Minimum elevation: about 1,102 m
• Elevation difference: about 330 m, uphill when starting from San Giacomo

There is a parking lot near the start, about 200 m away. As with any mountain hike, it is advisable to check the weather before setting out.

Colle della Luna Trail Map

The map shows the linear route of trail 402, which climbs from San Giacomo toward Tre Caciare. It helps with orientation along the path and the landmarks described above, from the caciara to the lake and the junction in the beech forest.

Points of Interest Along the Colle della Luna Trail

Drinking water is marked along the route. The starting point, the hamlet of San Giacomo, can be reached from Ascoli Piceno via Colle San Marco. It can also be reached from Teramo and from Civitella del Tronto via Le Ripe.

The caciare are stone huts used by shepherds as shelters in the summer months. They are typical of the Montagna dei Fiori, and one of them, with a tholos construction, appears shortly after the start of the climb.

The small lake at about 1,303 m is known for its newts: with a little luck, northern crested newts and Italian newts can be spotted.

From the junction at about 1,390 m, it is possible to continue straight on to the Belvedere, a natural balcony overlooking the Tronto valley, the Adriatic coast and the hills around Teramo. From the Costa del Prevosto, in good visibility, the peaks of the Sibillini Mountains, Monte Conero and Monte dell'Ascensione can be seen.

Those looking for a circular route can browse the loop hikes in the Sibillini. The full list of routes is on the page on Sibillini Mountains hiking.