Macéra della Morte: how to get there and trails

Where Macéra della Morte is located

The summit is in the Marche, in the municipality of Arquata del Tronto, within the Gran Sasso and Monti della Laga National Park. To the north lies the wooded valley of the Fosso della Montagna and to the south that of the Castellano stream. To the north the mountain is bounded by the valley of the Tronto River. The Tronto valley separates the Laga range from the Sibillini Mountains.

How to get to Macéra della Morte

The most used approach starts from the Salaria (SS 4), near Arquata del Tronto. Take the road that passes Faete and Spelonga. About a kilometer after Spelonga, a gravel road branches off to the left, marked by a sign for Passo il Chino. Follow it to a pass before a barrier. The gravel road is rather rough but drivable without major difficulty. In snow it cannot be driven.

Spelonga lies in the area of the crater of the 2016 earthquake and still bears its marks. From Collalto, a road that is damaged in places climbs to a mountain hut near the Malpasso. Parking is there, already at altitude.

Trails and hikes on Macéra della Morte

The most popular ascent follows the ridge from Passo il Chino. From the pass where the car is left, the route drops on foot to Passo il Chino (1,581 m) and continues along the small ridge road, first southeast and then south. At 1,800 m, on the high meadows, are the hut and the Fonte della Pedata spring. Just past 1,900 m the road ends and the route continues along the crest to the summit. The climb takes about two and a half hours and the return about two hours. The whole route is about 18 km and takes 4-5 hours. It is graded E. The stated elevation gain ranges from about 570 to 750 m, depending on the starting point.

Other options:

• From Colle d'Arquata, an EE route climbs to the summit. The descent can go via Costa della Pedata, Costa Cornillo and the Vargo ditch.
• From the Malpasso, the route is graded E with about 500 m of elevation gain. It is the shortest way. It climbs to the Termine (2,022 m), the boundary stone, and from there to the summit.
• From Macchie Piane there is an EE loop. It is 16 km long, with 1,200 m of elevation gain.
• From Umito, a hamlet of Acquasanta Terme, a shaded route starts where the ground can be slippery.

On some routes waymarking is scarce. The route from Colle d'Arquata, graded EE, has little waymarking. It is wise to carry a map and GPS and to check the weather before setting out.

When to visit Macéra della Morte

The ascent from Passo il Chino is recommended all year round. The practical limit is snow, which closes the dirt road to cars. Passo il Chino is a very muddy area. Where the sun rarely reaches, the ground stays muddy and slippery.

What to see near Macéra della Morte

Continuing south along the ridge leads to Monte Pizzitello (2,221 m), about 45 minutes from Macéra della Morte. From the Umito side, the trail reaches the Prata waterfalls. From the Rio della Prata, a path of about 20 minutes leads to their base. The Valle del Chiarino holds Lago Secco, now a WWF reserve. Other summits in the area are gathered on the page the peaks of the Sibillini Mountains.