Traveling in Abruzzo: Shelters and Bivouacs of the Gran Sasso

With its impressive peaks and breathtaking landscapes, the Gran Sasso is the ideal destination for hiking and mountaineering enthusiasts, all year round.

The Gran Sasso d'Italia is one of the most fascinating and spectacular mountain ranges in central Italy and we are lucky to have it in Abruzzo.

From the karst plateaus and what remains of the southernmost glacier in Europe, the Calderone, located at an altitude of 2,775 m above sea level, just below the northern slope of the Corno Grande that reaches 2,912 meters above sea level. Among the very special places, the Campo Imperatore plateau, with gigantic dimensions, at a variable altitude between 1500 and 1900 meters, with a length of about twenty kilometers and a width that varies from three to seven kilometers with its gentle slopes, the floodplains of lake origin, moraine, glacial circuses, rocky walls, breaches, rives, rivers and pastures, delimited by the suggestive peaks of the Gran Sasso complex, such as Mount Portella and the Corno Grande, in a territory that has been defined as the "Little Tibet", cold in winter, cool in summer, arid on ridges and bumps.

The Gran Sasso, in addition to guarding medieval villages among the most beautiful in Italy, has several mountain huts, which offer visitors a welcoming place to rest, taste typical dishes and admire extraordinary views.

Among the essential destinations for an excursion through the mountains of Abruzzo, the shelters occupy a leading position. Arriving at a refuge gives a deep sense of freedom: the climb is over, the woods open up in bright clearings and the view is always sensational.

The shelters in Abruzzo allow you to stop for a stop during long walks in the mountains. Arrival, rest and departure point for hikers, they represent a place where they can refresh themselves and rest while spending time in the company of other travelers. You can even spend the night in these shelters. When in the evening the last rays of the sun make the mountains shine with a red light, you will feel surrounded by silence and you will realize that you have given yourself an extraordinary gift.

Under some of the most famous refuges of the Gran Sasso d'Italia, a mountain to live in all its biodiversity.

Campo Imperatore Hostel

With its 2115 meters above sea level, the Campo Imperatore Hostel becomes by right the highest in Europe.

The entrance is directly connected to the Gran Sasso d'Italia cable car station by a tunnel, which reaches the ski resort, which has also recently been completely renovated. The structure has recently been completely restored with the latest generation of technological systems, and it is no exaggeration to say that it is located exactly next to the mountain station of the Gran Sasso cable car since the hostel stands in place of the arrival of the old cable car, decomposed in 1988 and becomes a museum.

It has 12 rooms of various types, some with private bathroom, others with shared bathroom. But the real convenience of staying here, is that, in winter, you can wake up and go out the door directly on skis to start the descents that the area offers, while during the rest of the year, hiking shoes, backpacking and off on the many paths that lead to the discovery of that enchanted and wild place.

Refuge the Fontari

This historic structure offers a high-altitude catering service 365 days a year; during the winter season it is a reference point for skiers and hikers of the Campo Imperatore area. It is located at the base of the ski lifts built in 1992, which were modernized just a few years ago.

Refuge Duke of Abruzzo

It is located at an altitude of 2388 meters, on the ridge of Monte Portella, close to the Corno Grande and the main peaks of the massif. It can be reached starting from the Campo Imperatore hotel (now under renovation) - to get there you can take the cable car that starts from Fonte Cerreto, a fraction of Assergi (AQ) - in about three quarters of an hour of not very difficult climb, or from the locality Prati di Tivo, Teramo, in 4 hours.

Owned by the CAI of Rome (which built it in 1908, renovating it several times over the years), in summer it opens every day from June 1 to September 30; from May and October only on weekends if the weather conditions are acceptable. In winter the opening is only by reservation for a minimum of 10 people.

It should be noted that the emergency room with 3 bunks each equipped with a mattress and blankets is always available.

There is no possibility of a shower, since the water is saved to the maximum; there is heating, electricity from the network, free Wi-Fi. Even for those who do not stop to sleep there are bars and restaurants with typical cuisine with Abruzzo recipes, up to a maximum of 30 seats.

Giuseppe Garibaldi Refuge

Located in the Massif of the Gran Sasso d'Italia at an altitude of 2230 meters high, in the municipality of Pietracamela (TE). The structure was built in 1886 and boasts the title of the oldest mountain refuge in Italy. From the structure you reach the top of the Corno Grande in about two and a half hours.

It can be reached in one hour from the Campo Imperatore hotel and in three hours from the Prato di Tivo.

The Garibaldi Refuge is open only per night in the months of July and August on Saturday and Sunday. For groups of at least 8 people, the shelter, upon reservation, can also be available on weekdays.

Property of the CAI de L'Aquila, it has no water, it can accommodate about 15 people, in the two rooms with separate entrance. One is the emergency room, always open, with two metal folding wall beds and a wooden and iron mezzanine. On the roof, closed by a metal hatch, there is the so-called "man's pass" that can be accessed in winter when there is a lot of snow.

Equipped with 12 rooms of different types (bedroom, double room) some with private bathroom, others with shared bathroom. In addition, the entrance to the hostel is directly connected to the ski resort, which has also recently been completely renovated. For this reason, when you are here in winter, you can wake up and go out the door directly on the skis to start the descents that the area offers, in the beautiful season instead, and in autumn, you can walk the many paths and explore everything that the Gran Sasso offers us most beautiful.

Carlo Franchetti Refuge

Located along the ridge of the Corno Grande, the highest point of the Gran Sasso at 2433 meters, managed by the CAI of Rome, is the highest refuge of the Gran Sasso, built in 1959.

Open in summer from the beginning of June to the end of September and from October to May only by reservation on holidays and weekends.

23 bunk beds available in two common bedrooms. Among the services, emergency telephone active even during periods of closure, running water from the Calderone glacier, refreshment and kitchen, gas heating. The bathroom is outside the shelter with only cold running water. There is no possibility of showers.

Lake Racollo Refuge

Located at an altitude of 1573 meters, it is one of the most photographed places in Abruzzo and Campo Imperatore because of the incredible perspective on the Corno Grande.

Outside tables and barbecues on the edge of a grove. Rooms with multiple beds with typical furnishings. Two welcoming dining rooms and kitchen with strictly local products.

It can be reached from the enchanting village of Santo Stefano di Sessanio on the road that goes up to Campo Imperatore, but also from Castel del Monte and from Rigopiano on the roads that cross Campo Imperatore.

Montecristo Refuge

Built as a refuge for shepherds, it has been transformed into a bar-restaurant with a low and long structure to withstand the strong winds that rage in the area, today the Montecristo 2.0 Refuge is equipped with a catering service, but it is also possible to buy typical local products, even meat and kebabs that you can cook in special outdoor spaces, equipped with always ready-made braziers. The premises have been completely renovated both inside and outside: wooden floors, restored kitchens, new systems, a brand new porch outside, and inside the fireplace with Chester sofas in front of it.

An accommodation structure 365 days a year, able to satisfy summer tourism and winter tourism.

Useful info: The Montecristo 2.0 Refuge is connected to the internet and its customers can surf fast and free in Wi-Fi.

For hiking and mountaineering enthusiasts it is important to know that, in addition to the shelters, there are many possibilities for bivoucing. Bivouacs are small unmanaged shelters, generally made up of simple, rudimentary structures that offer temporary shelter during mountain hikes.

Below are some of the most famous bivoacs on the Gran Sasso d'Italia:

1. Giannattasio bivouac - located on the northwest side of the Corno Grande, the highest point of the Gran Sasso, this bivouac offers a strategic position for those who intend to climb this summit.

2. Sberna bivouac - located on the ridge of the Corno Piccolo, another important peak of the Gran Sasso, this bivouac is a stopping point for climbers who face this challenging peak.

3. Bafile bivouac - located at 2669 meters above sea level on the rocky southern wall of the Corno Grande. It offers a strategic position for those who walk along the high ridge of the Gran Sasso. Its strategic location guarantees shelter to expert hikers who, during the crossing of the Corno Grande to the Forchetta del Calderone, could find themselves in difficulty mainly for weather reasons. The via ferrata that leads to the bivouac was rearranged in 2017 along with all the ferrata of the area.

4. Bivouac City of Giuliano - Located on the southeast side of the Corno Grande, it is another point of support for climbers who face this summit.

5. Alessandro Amoroso bivouac - This bivouac is located on the northeast side of the Corno Grande, near the Passo delle Scalette.

   
   

It is important to note that bivouacs are minimalist facilities and do not offer the services of a managed shelter. They are usually equipped with a raised top, coffee table, benches, and stove but there is not always the material for cooking or blankets. They are intended for temporary use and it is good practice to leave them in good condition for the next use.

More generally, before embarking on any mountain hike, be sure to check the weather, be well prepared, with appropriate clothing, enough food and water, a detailed map and a good level of knowledge of hiking. Also check, before leaving, that the shelters that should host you are open and the schedules.