If it were up to me to send tourists to Italy, Abruzzo would be a must-see. Or maybe not – it would be full of people and trampled. And unfortunately, it seems to be slowly becoming that way.
Anyway, there are still places where, even while easy and short hikes in Abruzzo, like The Orta River Trail, meeting a living soul, especially out of season, will be an event.

Hiking in Abruzzo: Orta River Trail Guide

• Route: Cisterna del Fiume Orta & Cascata Bolognano
• Start Point: Church of St. Antonio Abate, Bolognano (via Via Fonte Orcina)
• Duration: 1 – 1.5 hours round trip
• Difficulty: Easy, but features slippery sections and steep uphill climbs. Hiking shoes are recommended.
• Important Rules: Swimming and wading in the Orta River are strictly prohibited to protect the local ecosystem.
• Tip: Bring plenty of water. The only water fountain is located near the start of the trail before the descent into the gorge.

Why Abruzzo is Italy’s Best Kept (and Slowly Fading) Secret

Abruzzo is one of the most mountainous regions of Italy — and it’s absolutely beautiful. Just off-the-beaten-path Italy in a nutshell: charming towns, amazing hills, and sea with nice beaches.

Of course, the backbone of Italy, i.e., the Apennines, is not as giant as the Alps, but in my opinion, it doesn’t matter; actually, hiking in Abruzzo around the not-so-high hills is a good alternative if you don’t want to bake on the beach.

 
The Apennines, and so Abruzzo’s highlands, are in places covered with grass and colourfully flowering plants and in places rocky — just what hills should be like. Its wild nature, strange greenery, beautiful views, people, fresh air, and the possibility of meeting a bear… in my opinion, not many regions in Italy can compete with it.

Logistics: Staying in Musellaro and Navigating the Apennines

This time, we stopped in Musellaro, a small, sleepy town with a few houses and one bar, where locals gossip about every car that passes. Besides joining in the conversation (or being a topic of it), you can grab a coffee or a croissant there. For shopping, though, we had to head to the larger towns nearby. In Bolognano, Torre De’ Passeri, or Caramanico Terme, there are some markets and restaurants.

What can be a bit of a hassle when trying to drive to nearby towns is the poor road markings and the lack of internet. Generally, the internet in Italy isn’t the best, and in Abruzzo, it’s rather poor. The GPS often freezes, leaving you going in circles. It’s quite annoying, or funny, depending on how you look at it. Fortunately, you can always ask the locals for directions. If you only meet any.

 
The Hike: Cisterna del Fiume Orta and Cascata Bolognano

This time, just after arriving in Abruzzo in the afternoon, we decided to do a short hike, just to start our Maiella National Park adventure.

The Orta River (Cisterna del Fiume Orta) and Cascata Bolognano path starts in the centre of Bolognano.

Find a small square opposite the church of St. Antonio Abate, and take the street down to Via Fonte Orcina and then to the dirt road.

 

 Trail Overview: Sweat, Slippery Rocks, and No Swimming

After walking for about 100 m, the trail turns left and goes downhill. Then, about 3–4 km further down you get to the Orta River.

The trail runs through the forest — it means walking in the shade, which I welcomed, as we were there in the summer. The euphoria was short-lived- it turned out that even in the forest it was hot and humid, so the conditions in which I’m always ready to die

On the way, you can turn to a panoramic point from which you can see the river and the waterfall, but this part of the path was closed. Someone took a deadly selfie, i.e. fell down, so Punto Panoramico was inaccessible. I don’t know if they have re-opened it, but probably not.

So we went directly to the river. The trail technically is not difficult at all, I just don’t like muggy weather. Covered in sweat , I was dreaming of bathing in cold mountain water. Unfortunately, or fortunately, the Orta River is home to microscopic creatures and unique plants, so swimming and wading are prohibited. Protecting the tiny river inhabitants from trampling by people splashing in the water is correct.

Actually this silly mental that everything is for everyone and should be accessible to everyone is irritating. There’s nothing stupider than this selfie/photo everywhere just for the sake of doing something “cool.” So, even though the water sparkled temptingly, not a single creature was killed by me.
Of course, not everyone follows this rule.

Orta is a nice river surrounded by forest and hills. We walked a few meters along the stones on the shore and decided to head back to town; there’s no path along it.

Climbing uphill was a nasty task because of the heat and humidity: some sections of the path were surprisingly slippery, and sweat was pouring down my face. So after climbing the hill, I drank maybe ten litres of cold mountain water from the fountain.

Is hiking to the Orta River worth it?

Is it worth hiking to the Orta River? I generally believe hiking is always good, so yes, the Orta River trail is also worth doing. Is it the best hiking path in Abruzzo? Absolutely not. I would say it’s good if you’re opting for something short, easy, and some freshness after getting the main point of the track. And as a warm-up before starting more demanding trails in the Majella National Park.

Practical Guide for the Orta River Hike

• It takes 1–1.3 hours to get to the river and back.
• The route is generally very easy, but it is worth wearing hiking shoes.
• Some parts closer to the river were slippery , but not dangerously — your leg may slide when going up a hill.
• Take water with you. The only fountain on the route is on the beaten track, before going down to the river.

If this post made you laugh, annoyed you, or just reminded you of your own trip, tell me in the comments or drop me an email. I actually want to hear about your experiences—the good and the frustrating.

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