Cascata de lu Cugnuntu: How to Get There and Trails

Where the Cascata de lu Cugnuntu is

The waterfall is in the territory of Preci, about 8 km from the village, in the Valloncello valley, above the locality of San Lazzaro. Along the SS209, the road from Triponzo toward Visso, the turnoff for San Lazzaro comes shortly after Belforte.

How to get to the Cascata de lu Cugnuntu

Drive as far as San Lazzaro, setting the GPS to that locality. From the SS209, continue for a short stretch following the signs for the waterfall and for Benedictine trail 505, to a small pull-out with a few parking spaces. Just before it, on the right, a junction marks trail 505 and the waterfall. The area has no equipped parking lots and no places to eat.

Alternatively, start from Corone, on the SP476. Turn left toward Cerreto-Visso and after a few kilometers leave the car near the Corone mill.

Trails and hikes to the Cascata de lu Cugnuntu

From the pull-out, ford the stream, dry at that point, and walk up the Valloncello through thick vegetation. The stream gradually carries more water and the path often coincides with its bed. In the last stretch you walk in the stream, sometimes hopping from rock to rock and with a few passages through shallow water. From the parking area the route is short. Starting from the village of San Lazzaro, the waterfall is about half an hour's walk away, and the route is suitable for families too.

The route from Corone is longer. It first follows the Campiano river and then the Nera, crosses the countryside of the Val Castoriana and reaches San Lazzaro. It is a moderate hike that takes several hours.

Waterproof shoes with a good sole are needed. In the gorge a helmet is recommended, because of the slight risk of rockfall. Wet rocks are slippery.

When to go to the Cascata de lu Cugnuntu

In summer the route is entirely in the shade and the coolness is felt above all in the last stretch. Anyone who goes right up to the waterfall gets wet, which on hot days can be pleasant. In summer, however, water can be scarce. For a stronger flow, spring and fall are recommended. Before setting out, it is wise to check the condition of the stream.

What to see near the Cascata de lu Cugnuntu

Along the road you pass through the small village of San Lazzaro, where the leper hospital stands out, built in 1218 and today partly altered. Those who choose the route from Corone walk instead along the Campiano and Nera rivers, through the countryside of the Val Castoriana.