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Routes

Bike touring routes & trails

Italy

Abruzzo

L'Aquila

Santo Stefano Di Sessanio

Campo Imperatore Plateau – Campo Imperatore Plateau loop from Santo Stefano di Sessanio

Routes

Bike touring routes & trails

Italy

Abruzzo

L'Aquila

Santo Stefano Di Sessanio

Campo Imperatore Plateau – Campo Imperatore Plateau loop from Santo Stefano di Sessanio

Hard

5.0

(8)

riders

Campo Imperatore Plateau – Campo Imperatore Plateau loop from Santo Stefano di Sessanio

03:05

45.3km

810m

Cycling

Hard bike ride. Very good fitness required. Mostly paved surfaces. Suitable for all skill levels. The starting point of the route is accessible with public transport.

Last updated: May 9, 2026

Tips

Your route passes through a protected area

Please check local regulations for:

Parco Nazionale del Gran Sasso e Monti della Laga

Waypoints

Start point

Bus stop

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6.30 km

View of Santo Stefano di Sessanio

Highlight • Viewpoint

Top view of the medieval village of Santo Stefano di Sessanio. It is located at an altitude of 1250 m above sea level.

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10.0 km

View of Campo Imperatore and Corno Grande

Highlight • Viewpoint

what beautiful places, you'll lose your mind

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12.5 km

View of the Corno Grande from Campo Imperatore

Highlight • Lake

Corno Grande is the highest mountain in the Apennines, reaches a height of 2,912 meters and lies in the Gran Sasso massif in the Abruzzo region.

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13.4 km

Campo Imperatore Plateau

Highlight • Natural

Campo Imperatore plateau, a magical place where time seems to stand still

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19.1 km

Don't just ride or cycle past the Laghetto di Pietranzoni. This small mountain lake, located at an altitude of 1,660 meters in the middle of Campo Imperatore, is one of the most photogenic spots in the Abruzzo region. The natural lake, formed by glaciers, constantly changes size due to meltwater and rain, making every visit different.

Why stop here?
On a windless day, the imposing Corno Grande, the highest peak in the Apennines, is beautifully reflected in the clear water. The endless high plain, aptly nicknamed 'Little Tibet', offers a unique landscape full of peace and space. Moreover, it requires hardly any effort: from the parking lot, you can walk to the shore in just a few minutes. In spring, thousands of blooming crocuses provide a colorful spectacle, while the lake is a perfect spot year-round to take a break, take photos, and fully enjoy the impressive landscape.

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19.1 km

Campo Imperatore Plateau

Highlight • Natural

The Campo Imperatore plateau is so special because it is one of Europe's most alien and untouched landscapes. The plateau is over 15 kilometers long and lies at an average altitude of 1,800 to 2,000 meters. This creates a unique combination of extreme vastness, raw nature, and cultural history.

The main reasons why this area is unique:
Europe's 'Little Tibet': Due to the vast treeless plains, the grazing herds of horses and sheep, and the immense mountain ranges surrounding it, you absolutely do not feel like you are in Italy here. The horizon is nowhere interrupted by modern buildings, which gives a rare sense of ultimate emptiness and space.
The setting for iconic films: The alien landscape has been used as a film set by countless Hollywood directors. Major classics and westerns such as Once Upon a Time in the West and The Name of the Rose were filmed here.

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22.7 km