Le Marche Hiking: Trails and Walks

Marche Italy hiking: parks and protected areas

On the coast, the regional parks of Monte San Bartolo, between Gabicce Mare and Pesaro, and Monte Conero, south of Ancona, combine sea views with Mediterranean scrub and woods of holm oak. Inland, in the north, are the park of Sasso Simone and Simoncello, the Gola del Furlo national nature reserve and the gorges and natural arches of Monte Catria and Monte Nerone. The province of Ancona has the Gola della Rossa e di Frasassi regional park, home of golden eagles and peregrine falcons. In the province of Macerata are the beech woods of Canfaito on Monte San Vicino, the Montagna di Torricchio reserve and the Abbadia di Fiastra reserve around the Cistercian abbey.

Le Marche walks on the coast

On Monte Conero, the Passo del Lupo trail leads to a belvedere at about 500 m with a view over the Due Sorelle beach. Since a 2009 ordinance, access beyond the marked point toward the beach is banned. In the Monte San Bartolo park, a route through the hills reaches the medieval village of Fiorenzuola di Focara, built on the cliff, and then descends by steps to the beach. In spring, when Monte Conero is covered with broom, Marche Italy walks on the coast are at their most colorful.

Le Marche trails in the Apennines

Many short Le Marche trails lead to gorges and hermitages. In the Gola del Furlo the path along the Candigliano river is easy and can also be used with strollers and wheelchairs. Near Monte Nerone, a walk from a small village leads to the Arco di Fondarca, a rock arch, and another reaches the Balza Forata. On Monte Catria a trail climbs through beech woods to the cross on the summit ridge, and a walk of under an hour leads to the cave of San Pier Damiani. Near Genga, a short path climbs to a natural cave below Monte Frasassi with two places of worship inside.

Longer routes cross the whole region. The Sentiero Italia CAI, the national trail of the Italian Alpine Club, enters Le Marche in the province of Ascoli Piceno, and the pilgrim routes include the Lauretani Paths and the Franciscan Way of the Marca.

Le Marche hiking in the Sibillini Mountains

The highest trails are in the Sibillini, which reach 2,476 m at Monte Vettore. The best-known hikes are to Lago di Pilato, the only natural lake in Le Marche, at 1,941 m below the summit; through the Gola dell'Infernaccio, a gorge carved by the Tenna river; and to the Lame Rosse, red pinnacles above Lago di Fiastra. The Grande Anello dei Sibillini is a loop of about 124 km in nine stages from Visso, recommended from May to October.

For shorter outings, the National Park has 18 nature trails starting from the villages, two of them suitable for strollers and wheelchairs: see Sibillini Mountains walks. The full trail index is on Sibillini Mountains hiking.

Le Marche guided hike and practical tips

A Le Marche guided hike can be booked with qualified guides: the Collegio delle Guide Alpine della Regione Marche organizes outings, and in the Sibillini the Park's official guides and licensed hiking guides lead groups, as described on Sibillini Mountains guided hike. Even on easy routes, the regional tourism board advises carrying a trail map, enough water, snacks and a rain cape, and checking the forecast before leaving. Many trails are not suitable for strollers, so a child carrier is a better choice for families. The regional selection of easy hikes describes eight short routes across the provinces.