Fara San Martino Epic

22

km / Walk / Trail Run / Difficult

If youre looking for a spectacular, technical and challenging full days hike, this is the one for you. You will
cross two deep gorges, go through dense woods and over barren scree. There are steep climbs and difficult
descents. Its a great location for spotting wildlife, particularly camosci. Be warned, however, its pretty
tough and you will need to allow 9 hours of daylight (and take a good torch in case you get caught out).
Youll also need good visibility and conditions. This is not a route that you will want to be doing in the dark
or bad weather.

Start: Entrance to the Fara San

Martino Gorge
(45 min drive from Kokopelli)

Distance:
Elevation:
Total ascent:
Difficulty:
Hiking time:

22 km
370m - 1,640m asl
1600m
Difficult
8 - 10 hours

1. Park up and follow the H1 track into the

gorge, keeping to the main path that takes
you past the ruins of the monastery.

It does get a little difficult to work out where

the path goes at various points in the
woods, but if you find you have gone more
than about 5 minutes without seeing a
marker, and the path has become vague,
retrace your steps until you pick up the
markers again.

2. After about 5km,

1.5 hours of
walking, and
800m of climbing
look out for a
track to the right.
Theres a large boulder with a crack
running through it just beyond the start of
this track. At the time of writing, this track,
although listed on the map as the G6 is still
marked along the trail as the old F2.

4. After about an hours

walking (still climbing)
you will come to a
directional post
signalling F2 to the left,
Fontane to the right.
You only need go to the
Fontane if you need to
refill with water (its only
a few paces away),
otherwise head in the
direction of the F2.

3. Keep on this trail, following either the F2

markers (or faint yellow paint markers) that
youll see on trees or rocks. Sometimes
they are difficult to see, but they are there.
1

5. Another 2km on, with further climbing taking about 30

minutes, eventually you descend to cross the stream
before reaching the Grotta dei Callarelli that you will see
just above the stream.

6. From the Grotta, follow the track east and you are now, slowly, starting to descend. Keep on
the track following the old yellow F2 markers (G6 on the map).
7. After about 3 km your descent does become a lot more steep, take care on the way down the
scree and rocks as your legs will be tired.
8. About 2 hours after leaving the Grotta, youll cross a stream
with a fontane and youll see a cross on the summit above you.
Dont get confused and take the path up to the cross - stay
below it and keep the cross to your left as you descend down
and away from it.
9. You will begin to see Lago di
Casoli and Fara San Martino way
down below. Great views, but
youve still got a long way to go!
10. From this wonderful view of Fara,
you have about another 20
minutes of descent and then you
will need to start looking out for
the right hand turning that takes
you down into Fara (just beyond a
picnic area).
11. This is the G3 and has been
marked with the new red & white stripes. It will take you all the way down back into Fara,
coming in behind the pasta factories. Even though these markers are new, dont expect them
to be easy to find! If you do miss them, just keep descending and you will eventually reach the
road.
12. When safely back at your car, give yourselves a big pat on the back!