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The Orfento Valley

The Orfento Valley, named after the river flowing in it.

It is located in the north-western side of Maiella, in the municipality of Caramanico Terme, and covers a total surface of 2.606 hectares. Since the early 1970s is officially a State Nature Reserve. Nowadays the area is managed by the Carabinieri Forestali and it reaches an extension of 10000 hectares, the true heart of the Maiella National Park.

The Orfento canyon

A casket of biodiversity

The Orfento Valley, differently from the Orta Valley, is characterised by being the only canyon in the Maiella that is crossed by a perennial river; this peculiar characteristic allowed the development of one of this massif’s most luxuriant and fascinating habitats, a true casket of flora and wildlife.

The White-Throated Dipper, one of the birds living in this area, has been chosen as symbol of the Reserve and its purity since it only lives in places where the water is clean and uncontaminated.

The valley

The huge green extension of the valley is what strikes the eyes the most, with the forest dominating the landscape: down in the valley there is the oakwood, where we can find a rich birdlife and plenty of woods wildlife such as wild boars, badgers, foxes, martens and red deer. Getting closer to the river it is possible to observe a great variety of flowers such as orchids, carnations and brooms that, thanks to their colours and smells, can really make the hikes in the Orfento Valley unique.

The high altitude

As the altitude rises, the oakwood leaves room to the beech forest, consisting of a thick vegetation where seek shelter animals that are the symbol of these places, such as the Marsican Bear and the Wolf. Getting closer to the summit, the landscape turns almost into a desert of rock, among whose stones sprout very tenacious flowers such as the Apennine Edelweiss and the Mountain Poppy. This is also the kingdom of the Apennine Chamois and birdlife species such as the Eurasian dotterel, the White-winged snow-finch, the Alpine accentor.

The trails leaving from Caramanico

Many are the trails leaving from Caramanico Terme to the discover of the Orfento Valley: one of these is the Scalelle Path, an amazing riverside path leading almost to the confluence between the Orfento and the Orta rivers; also, the Ponte del Vallone loop-hike deserves a mention too, along with the Ponte della Pietra loop-hike. The Orfento Valley is a highly biodiverse area to be absolutely discovered, crossed by itineraries suited to all, adults and children, from amateur hikers to expert ones.

Decontra loop-hike in the Orfento Valley

Pianagrande, the balcony on the Orfento Valley

Ponte del Vallone loop-hike

Ponte della Pietra loop-hike

The Fonte Viola path in the Orfento Valley

The Scalelle Path in the Orfento Valley

How to visit the canyon

The Visitors Centre

Before leaving for your hike, we strongly recommend going to the Orfento Valley Visitor Centre in Caramanico Terme, the ideal starting point for every itinerary. Here you will be able to find all the useful information for a hike in total safety, and also you can have access to all the guided tours, activities and events taking place in the village.

Centro Visita della Valle dell'Orfento
Via del Vivaio, 1 - Caramanico Terme
T +39 085 92 23 43 - www.valledellorfento.info

Services available at the Centre

The centre provides tourist information about the village and the Valley, the planning of hikes, guided tours and environmental education activities, baby backpack rental and sale of books, gadget and briefing material about the Orfento Valley.

Opening days and hours

Open all year round 9 am - 1 pm.
From June 15^th to Semptember 15^th 9 am – 1 pm and 3 pm – 7 pm
From July 20^th to August 20^th 8 am – 7 pm extended hours
Closed on December 25^th
The visit in the Orfento Valley is not regulated by timetables

Access registration

In order to enjoy the trails of the Orfento Valley in total safety, it is necessary to inform the local authorities about your presence in the Reserve.
You are therefore invited to register your access at the Visitor Centre or by filling the dedicated form available on the official website of Caramanico Terme, clicking HERE.
The registration form is also accessible along the paths just by scanning the QR code displayed on the signposting located at the start of all the trails.

REGISTRATI QUI

The Orfento Valley