Valle Chiarino Monte Ienca Walk

Start: Ex Masseria Cappelli

Start from ex Masseria Cappelli, in the Chiarino valley. You can arrive at the Masseria by car on a reasonably well maintained dirt road, crossing the reservoir dam of Lake Providenza, next to the strada statale (state road) nr. 80.

It might be nicer to walk up to Rifugio Fioretti, the day before, from the reservoir dam, staying the night there (call the warden, Domenico, +39 3386756890 Italian!) and do the walk from the Rifugio.

Great views on the Chiarino Valley, Monte Corvo, Campotosto lake and the Laga Mountains!

The walk is a rather strenuous - hillwalking experience is needed - but not technical. Some navigation experience might be needed, even in fair weather, from Rifugio Fioretti up to the Lago di Camarda and going down from the Belvedere. With low cloud or bad visibility even the path below Monte Ienca might become harder to follow.

Adding about 200 metres in hight, after arriving at the Lago di Camarda, it is easy to add Monte Ienca to the walk and descend on the other side to the Belvedere

Rifugio Fioretti

A well maintained shepherds refuge in a really superb setting. In the summer months Domenico also offers simple hospitality to small groups of walkers. Do call ahead if you'd like to stay: +39 338 675 6890 (italian!).

Water Fountains

In the wooded day-camping area there are several water fountains with lovely cold drinking water

Directions A

Ascent through the woods, keeping the steep gully on the right.

There's also supposed to be a path on the right of the gully, that this route picks up later, but this side is more interesting.

Exit the woods, going a bit to the left, before you come up to a rockface in the steep pasture.

Directions B

Go up on grassy tracks, well over the rockface, turning left, entering the green mountain bowl below the high rockfaces of the Stazzo di Camarda.

Aim for the steep spur with on the other side of the scree slope, where you can pick up the yellow-red signed path.

This path first zigzags up the spur and then turns right, clinging to the side of the mountain.

Directions C

The path that clings to the side of the mountain becomes a bit steeper, but is still easy to follow. Keep the rocks on your immediate left and, follow the path when it turns left.

Directions D

After stepping over a steep gully, the path comes out on the open pastures of the saddle of the Stazzo di Camarda.

You can either walk on in the same direction until you arrive at the Lago di Camarda, or, as this route does, follow one of the little valleys on your right, until you cross an obvious track that slowly climbs to the right and on the left exits on the saddle of the Stazzo di Camarda.

At least go and see the lake, where usually a lot of cattle lingers to cool down and drink.

Directions E

Just follow the obvious track to the right, that later on becomes an obvious path, to petre out into less obvious cattle tracks, but remains easy to follow.

It is about 3,2 km to the Belvedere, the last bit on the ridge that descends from Monte Ienca.

For those with more energy left that want to add Monte Ienca and roughly 200 altitude metres to the walk, just climb the grassy spur left of the scree bowl. Once you're up Monte Ienca (2218 metres), just follow the ridge on the other side to ascend to the Belvedere.
It'll take you half an hour more if you add Monte Ienca.

Monte Ienca, 2208 m

Monte Ienca, 2208 m

Directions F

Keep to the left mountain side.

The mountain top on the right is the Morrone (2067 m).

Belvedere, 1789 m

Belvedere, 1789 m

Small hut with electric panels

Pass the small hut with electric panels on the right.

Directions G

After coming down from the spur, on the path that turns left, the obvious continuation would be to follow the path that crosses the valley, and to climb up to the metal Antonella Panepucci mountain hut, up on the next spur.

However, it is better to follow the valley down, a little higher and left of the valley floor.

Rifugio Antonella Panepucci

The metal structure on the spur.

Directions H

Find the path that enters the woods, about 50 to 100 metres to the left of the valley floor. The path is not very well maintained, but it is obvious, because of the level ramp in the otherwise steep forest. There are also sporadic red and white signs.

Directions I

The paths meanders over a spur with old trees, goes down on the right and, picks up a path that exits on an open pasture with a lot of trees that were left after an avalanche

Directions J

From here the route follows an obvious forest track, almost level, with 2 more easy climbs, before it exits in the Chiarino valley, where you go left onto the dirt road to the Masseria.

Finish: Ex Masseria Cappelli

Finish: Ex Masseria Cappelli