The Wolf’s Lair
Abruzzo | ITALY
HIGH POINT
1702 m
DIFFICULTY (1/10)
5
DISTANCE
388 Km
DAYS
5
% SINGLETRACK
2%
% UNPAVED
70%
TOTAL ASCENT
8594 m
% RIDEABLE TIME
99%
A rugged bikepacking loop through Abruzzo, Italy, this route takes you deep into the wild heart of the Apennine Mountains, where gravel doubletrack, breathtaking scenery, medieval villages, and incredible food define the experience. Welcome to The Wolf’s Lair, a journey through one of Italy’s most remote and untamed regions.
The goal behind The Wolf’s Lair was to connect Abruzzo’s three National Parks and one Regional Park into an epic ride that showcases the region’s rich landscapes, history, and traditions. The result? A 388km loop of gravel, doubletrack, and tarmac, with a staggering 8,500 meters of climbing. Starting at the ancient ruins of Amiternum, just outside L’Aquila, the route wastes no time diving into Gran Sasso National Park, climbing via a remote doubletrack road to the surreal Campo Imperatore plateau. Here, you’ll ride beneath the towering Corno Grande (2.912m), the highest peak in the Gran Sasso d’Italia Massif.
Heading south, the scenery transforms. Lush forests give way to the dramatic karst canyon carved by the Orta River, leading to the San Leonardo Pass (1.282m) and the Maiella Massif. Deep in the Maiella National Park, you’ll come across centuries-old shepherd shelters known as "tholos"—ancient stone huts once used to escape the elements. Beyond the Cinquemiglia Plateau, the route enters the legendary Abruzzo National Park—Italy’s oldest and most wildlife-rich. This is a land where wolves still roam, and if you’re lucky (or unlucky), you might witness nature’s brutal beauty firsthand—like a pack of wolves taking down a pregnant deer, as seen in the chilling photo below. Finally, the route reaches Sirente Velino Regional Park, where Mount Sirente looms over the trail. The final stretch leads to Pagliare di Tione, a ghostly, ancient village where time seems to have stood still for millennia.
The Wolfs Lair 2.0 (ROUTE UPDATE)
After three and a half years, we decided to update The Wolf’s Lair to explore more amazing places, replacing asphalt with singletrack, gravel, and doubletrack roads. This means there are about 65 kilometers of updated roads, 95% of which are off pavement. The new stretches are on the west side of the route. Watch the film here.
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Amiternum, starting point of the route, is an archaeological site where you can admire ruins of an ancient roman theatre and amphitheatre dating back to the 1st century BC.
Epic doubletrack road that leads to Campo Imperatore plateau in the shadow of Corno Grande peak.
Santo Stefano di Sessanio, one of the most beautiful fortified villages in Italy. The medieval atmosphere and the graceful architecture worth the visit.
Rocca Calascio, the highest mountaintop fortress in Italy (1460mt) and among the 15 most beautiful castles in the world by National Geographic.
Civitella Alfedena and its narrow alleys, where traditions are still alive, and the amazing view of Barrea Lake at his foot.
La Camosciara, a Nature Reserve within the Park and a natural amphitheatre whose rugged peaks have allowed the survival of chamois of Abruzzo and the Marsicano Bear, today symbol of Abruzzo National Park.
Sperone, a ghost town in the Marsica area.
Post-ride beers on the veranda of “Ristoro degli Elfi” in Santo Stefano di Sessanio.
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The Wolf’s Lair is mostly rideable and not very technical. It does contain a few rough sections but they can be walked if needed.
We rode gravel bikes to cover the loop. The bike choice was ok for tarmac and offroad track, although a monster-cross or a 29er mtb could work better for the roughest and steepest sections.
The ideal riding season is between mid-May and mid-September. The weather conditions can change quickly near mountains areas (especially in the Gran Sasso range), prepare yourselves accordingly.
In the National Parks and the surrounding areas lives the Apennine wolf and the Marsican brown bear. To date no case of attack by bear has been reported, but be careful of the wolves, especially in packs.
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Single night wild camping is tolerated in the parks. Just some tips: set up late – strike early – stay out of sight of the main roads – #leavenotrace.
Great wild campsite near Passo San Leonardo with water fountain. (noted on the GPX).
Lodging is possible in some villages along the route.
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Drinking water is never an issue, there is plenty of water fountains along the route. (a few are noted on the GPX).
A “must-stop” is at Ristoro Mucciante, on the Gran Sasso plateau, for tasting pecorino cheese, salumi nostrani and the delicious arrosticini (barbecued lamb skewers).
Food can be bought from grocers in Tocco da Casauria, Campo di Giove, Villetta Barrea and Secinaro. (noted on the GPX).
You can satisfy your huge caloric deficit at Lo Scoiattolo, a rifugio-restaurant placed at Passo Godi. Their traditional Abruzzo cuisine is simply delicious, and the portions are massive!
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The singletrack in the Camosciara reserve, just after Civitella Alfedena village, can change in a river of sticky mud in wet weather.escrizione elemento
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Additional Resources
parcoabruzzo.it – the official webpage for the Abruzzo National Park.
gransassolagapark.it – the official webpage for the Gran Sasso e Laga National Park.
parcomajella.it – the official webpage for the Majella National Park.
parcosirentevelino.it – the official webpage for the Sirente Velino Regional Park.
Route Difficulty: 5/10
With its relentless elevation gain and remote, rugged terrain, The Wolf’s Lair is no casual ride. The 8.500 meters of climbing are spread over rolling gravel roads, steep doubletracks, and technical descents—demanding both endurance and skill. But for those who take it on, the reward is an unparalleled journey through the wild soul of Italy.
!! WARNING !!
We STRONGLY DISCOURAGE anyone without the necessary skills and mindset for extreme environments—such as mountains, deserts, river crossings, and remote water and food resupply—to follow the routes on this site. These routes are designed primarily for EXPLORATION and are not intended for traditional bike touring. If your experience is solely in cycling, without a solid background in outdoor survival and self-sufficiency, you are STRONGLY ADVISED AGAINST attempting these routes. They demand an adventurous spirit, adaptability, and the ability to handle unforeseen challenges in the field. Proceed entirely at your own risk. While every effort has been made to provide accurate GPS tracks and route information, we cannot guarantee their reliability over time due to factors such as land access changes, property rights restrictions, and the closure of supply points. All the information provided on this site is more than sufficient to ride these routes. Please do not email us requesting additional info about the routes, as you will not receive a response - sorry for that. Further information for every route can be found in the comments on Bikepacking.com (click on “Check it on Bikepacking.com” button). The route creators are in no way responsible for personal injuries, damage to property, or any other incidents that may occur while riding or following these routes.