Nature Reserve Guide
Riserva Naturale Crete Dell'Orcia is a nature reserve situated within the Val d'Orcia UNESCO World Heritage cultural landscape in Tuscany. This area is characterized by unique geological formations, including clay soil shaped by ancient seas, which have resulted in distinctive ravines (calanchi) and dome-shaped hillocks (biancane). The landscape features rolling hills, gentle ridges, and riverbeds from the Orcia River and its tributaries, providing varied terrain for outdoor activities. The reserve offers opportunities for several sports like hiking, road cycling, touring…
96
Routes
4.4
(292)
Average rating
2089
People visited

3.9
(94)
581
hikers
23.7km
06:35
260m
650m
Hard hike. Very good fitness required. Easily walkable paths.

1
hikers
25.6km
07:45
770m
880m
Hard hike. Very good fitness required. Easily walkable paths.

3.1
(21)
84
hikers
7.59km
02:16
250m
260m
Moderate hike. Good fitness required. Easily walkable paths.

4.3
(18)
57
hikers
Moderate hike. Good fitness required. Mostly walkable paths. Sure-footedness required.
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5.0
(4)
49
riders
Hard road ride. Very good fitness required. Mostly well-paved surfaces and easy to ride.

5.0
(3)
39
riders
78.8km
03:50
1,140m
1,140m
Hard road ride. Very good fitness required. Mostly well-paved surfaces and easy to ride.

5.0
(1)
43
riders
85.6km
04:57
2,010m
2,010m
Hard road ride. Very good fitness required. Mostly well-paved surfaces and easy to ride.

5.0
(2)
25
riders
35.7km
01:53
660m
670m
Moderate road ride. Good fitness required. Mostly well-paved surfaces and easy to ride.
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5.0
(2)
54
riders
Hard bike ride. Very good fitness required. Mostly paved surfaces.

4.2
(9)
49
riders
42.4km
02:46
510m
520m
Hard bike ride. Very good fitness required. Mostly paved surfaces.

4.8
(8)
62
riders
144km
09:34
1,770m
1,770m
Hard bike ride. Very good fitness required. Mostly paved surfaces.

23
riders
47.1km
03:21
810m
810m
Hard bike ride. Very good fitness required. Mostly paved surfaces.
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4.5
(6)
52
riders
58.4km
04:32
880m
880m
Moderate mountain bike ride. Good fitness required.

5.0
(3)
14
riders
32.4km
02:47
820m
830m
Moderate mountain bike ride. Good fitness required.

4.0
(3)
14
riders
41.4km
03:36
910m
910m
Hard mountain bike ride. Very good fitness required.

5.0
(1)
10
riders
38.3km
02:55
680m
680m
Moderate mountain bike ride. Good fitness required. Advanced riding skills necessary.
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4.0
(1)
18
riders
86.5km
06:23
1,620m
1,620m
Hard gravel ride. Very good fitness required. Mostly paved surfaces.

9
riders
114km
08:06
1,940m
1,940m
Hard gravel ride. Very good fitness required. Mostly paved surfaces.

3.0
(1)
9
riders
64.5km
04:23
1,050m
1,060m
Hard gravel ride. Very good fitness required. Mostly paved surfaces.

9
riders
53.1km
04:15
1,610m
1,620m
Hard gravel ride. Very good fitness required. Mostly paved surfaces.
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4.0
(1)
13
runners
13.2km
01:36
390m
390m
Hard run. Very good fitness required. Mostly paved surfaces.

5.0
(1)
7
runners
11.9km
01:26
390m
390m
Hard run. Very good fitness required. Mostly paved surfaces.

5.0
(1)
8
runners
16.1km
01:51
480m
480m
Hard run. Very good fitness required. Mostly paved surfaces.

5
runners
9.98km
01:08
260m
260m
Moderate run. Good fitness required. Mostly paved surfaces.
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Riserva Naturale Crete Dell'Orcia offers a variety of outdoor activities including hiking, road cycling, touring cycling, mountain biking, gravel biking, and jogging. The reserve features diverse terrain, from eroded clay formations to forested areas, providing varied experiences for different sports. Komoot lists 89 routes within the reserve.
Riserva Naturale Crete Dell'Orcia is a popular destination on komoot, with more than 1,400 visitors recording activities. The 89 available routes have an average rating of 4.4 out of 5 stars from 160 ratings. This indicates a high level of satisfaction among users.
Popular hiking trails include the "The Boulders of the Stream – Rifugio Capovetra loop from Vivo d'Orcia," a moderate 8.3-mile [13.3 km] route, and the "Val d'Orcia – Podere Pietraporciana loop from Castiglioncello del Trinoro," a moderate 8.6-mile [13.8 km] route. For more options, consult the Hiking in Riserva Naturale Crete Dell'Orcia guide.
Yes, there are easy hiking options available. While specific family-friendly routes are not highlighted, the reserve's diverse terrain includes paths suitable for various skill levels. For more information on less strenuous options, refer to the Easy hikes in Riserva Naturale Crete Dell'Orcia guide.
Notable road cycling routes include the "View of Val d'Orcia – Historic Centre of Pienza loop from Bagni San Filippo," a moderate 40.7-mile [65.6 km] route, and the "Monte Amiata Climb – Monte Amiata summit loop from Bagni San Filippo," a difficult 27.4-mile [44.1 km] route. More routes can be found in the Road Cycling Routes in Riserva Naturale Crete Dell'Orcia guide.
Yes, the reserve offers mountain biking trails. A popular option is the "Strada Bianca – Panorama of the Tuscan Hills loop from Bagni San Filippo," a moderate 36.6-mile [59.0 km] route. For additional trails, explore the MTB Trails in Riserva Naturale Crete Dell'Orcia guide.
The reserve features diverse terrain, including rolling hills, gentle ridges, and riverbeds. Its unique geological formations, such as dramatic ravines (calanchi) and dome-shaped hillocks (biancane), are a result of ancient clay soil. These features create varied landscapes for outdoor activities.
Key natural features include the distinctive ravines (calanchi) and "biancane" (dome-shaped hillocks) formed by ancient clay soil. The Orcia River and its tributaries also define the landscape. The area is part of the Val d'Orcia UNESCO World Heritage cultural landscape, known for its picturesque scenery.
Yes, komoot offers several guides for the area, including Hiking in Riserva Naturale Crete Dell'Orcia, Road Cycling Routes in Riserva Naturale Crete Dell'Orcia, and Gravel biking in Riserva Naturale Crete Dell'Orcia. These guides provide detailed information and route suggestions for various sports.
The Riserva Naturale Crete Dell'Orcia is managed as part of the broader Parco Artistico Naturale e Culturale della Val d'Orcia. For general inquiries and information about the region, consult the official website for the Val d'Orcia UNESCO Park at parcodellavaldorcia.com.
Yes, gravel biking is a popular activity in the reserve, utilizing the region's characteristic "white roads." A challenging route is the "Pienza – Historic Village of Radicofani loop from Bagni San Filippo," spanning 50.3 miles [81.0 km]. More gravel biking routes are detailed in the Gravel biking in Riserva Naturale Crete Dell'Orcia guide.

