Val di Rose - Forca Resuni Mountain Hut (1,952m)
Trail markers - Park Trail - I1
Val di Rose is one of the most famous and busiest walks of Abruzzo, Lazio and Molise National Park.
The tour combines the beauty of an uncontaminated beech wood to the possibility to meet one of the rarest animals of the Italian wildlife: the Chamois of the Apennines.
Rupicapra pyrenaica ornata is an exclusive subspecies of the Apennines of Abruzzi. This species risked the extinction and survives today only in the mountains of Abruzzo Park and the summits of Majella and Gran Sasso, where it has been reintroduced with specimens coming from here. More closely related to the subspecies living on the Pyrenees and Cantatrici Mountains, it distinguishes itself for behavior, horn size (bigger and more slender), and color of the coat. Thanks to its characteristic dark winter coat with a light spot and a dark outline on its chest, as well as its big trophy, it has been defined the most beautiful chamois of the world.
The trail leaves from the town of Civitella Alfedena. After a first stretch developing next to the town with a wonderful panoramic view over Barrea Lake, you enter a wonderful beech wood.
After about one hour of walk, you will be out of the wood and find yourself in front of a wonderful rocky amphitheater delimiting Monte Boccanera Valley and Cavuto Pass.
Here, surrounded by wonderful rocky walls and huge screes, you can sight the chamois and, above all in autumn, herds of deer.
From here, go ahead along a gully reaching Cavuto Pass (1,980m). This is the point where it is most frequent to sight the chamois. Beautiful the panorama with Mt. Petroso, Iannanghera Valley, and the Camosciara. In a few minutes, you will reach the pass and the mountain hut of Forca Resuni (1,952m), in the surroundings of which it is also possible to admire Mugo Pines, glacial relicts witnessing the past glacial periods, situated here in the southernmost point of their European distribution area.
Go down along Val Jannanghera, following a beautiful but long route, following trail K6. After entering the beech wood, go ahead in the valley bottom and beyond some charming clearings. After touching Sorgente Jannanghera (1,305m), turn left to the trail cut into the mountainside (trail marker I4) leading you back to Civitella Alfedena. The ring-route requires 6 hours.
In July and August, the access is for a limited number of hikers and the tour is a guided tour, therefore it is necessary to book it by contacting the Park Authority Offices in Civitella Alfedena or in Pescasseroli.
Val di Rose
(photo by: Romano Visci)
Chamois in Val di Rose
(photo by: Valentino Mastrella)
