Are up for some hiking while on holiday in Le Marche? Half an hour to an hour from most holiday homes and apartments of Le Marche Explorer you will find the Lame Rosse, a “mini grand canyon”, and the Lago di Fiastra, a mountain lake. A nice day trip consists of an early start in the morning with a hike to the Lame Rosse and then lunch at one of the many restaurants near the village of San Lorenzo. Followed by a refreshing dip in Lago di Fiastra.
Refreshing dive, supping, canoeing, swimming, and sunbathing at Lago di Fiastra
Lago di Fiastra is a crystal-clear reservoir and is located in the northern part of the Monti Sibillini. The lake was created when a large dam was built and the flow of the river Fiastrone from then on passed through the hydroelectric power station in Valcimarra. Dominated by the ancient town of Fiastra, with its medieval castle ruins and the sanctuary of Beato Ugolino, the lake is famous for its crystal-clear waters. The nature here is breath taking and invites you to take beautiful walks.
Light blue, dark blue, turquoise, sapphire, emerald green, and cobalt blue, there are many shades that appear due to the always changing light. The bank on the left side is very steep and therefore not very accessible. The right side is much flatter and there is a beautiful path that is comfortable for cyclists and walkers! In addition to enjoying the beaches or secluded bays, there is also the possibility to go supping and canoeing. Furthermore, hiking, rafting, paragliding, and boat trips are organised by Gaia!
Hike along the lake
Enjoy a walk around Lake Fiastra. The walk starts in the small village of San Lorenzo al Lago. From there a nature trail departs to the dam. The trail starts relatively flat and then winds about 3 kilometres further along the shore of the lake. Enjoy the beautiful view over the lake or on the other side the steep rocks during the walk. From the dam you can walk the same path back to the starting point. During the entire walk you can enjoy beautiful views, crystal clear water and, if you look closely, swimming fish. Remember to bring your swimming gear so you can take a refreshing dive, rent a canoe or sup, or just relax on a towel.
Go swimming in Lake Fiastra
If you want to take a swim in the lake you can either head to the village of San Lorenzo al Lago, park your car there and rent a sunbed at a little beach. This is a perfect option if you want to have some facilities nearby, such as bars, restaurants, and bathrooms. You can also head down the path and look for another spot along the shore, which can offer a bit more privacy.
Another option is to stop along the road heading towards the village. Here you will find various little parking spots and steep little roads heading towards the lake. This is the perfect option for those looking for something a bit more rugged and don’t mind not having facilities nearby. We ourselves always go for this option and tend to stick to this spot beacuse it has quite a big parking space and is perfect for swimming.
When going swimming in the lake just be careful as it can be dangerous. We always try to keep relatively close to the shore and never try crossing to the other side.
Where to eat at Lake Fiastra
There are various options. In the village there are several restaurants and bars from which to choose from. If you are looking for a good and hearty lunch we recommend stopping at Osteria Del Lago, they have a good selection of traditional marchigiani food. If you are instead looking for a quick lunch try heading to this little deli shop, you can make up your own sandwich with a variety of local ingreadients and then bring it with you to eat at the lake.
Another great option that we recently discovered is a food truck located along the lake called Il Solengo. The food truck has an amazing selection of sandwiches and craft beers. The food truck also has various tables where you can eat under the shade of the trees. Highly reccommend trying it! If the parking area in front of the food truck is full trying heading further down the road and you will see a parking sign that brings you to a bigger parking area just above the food truck.
Active walk to the beautiful Lame Rosse
In the north of the Monti Sibillini, close to Lago di Fiastra, are the Lame Rosse. The Lame Rosse are one of the most fascinating places in the Sibillini Mountains. They are formations in the form of peaks and towers composed of gravel and held together by clay and silt. These are also often called the Canyon of Le Marche.
The hike
The walking route, back and forth on the same path, is 7 kilometres long with a height difference of 250 meters. Therefore, this walk is suitable for most people. The walk starts at the large dam of the Lago di Fiastra. On top of the dam, you have a beautiful view over the gorge and the beautiful blue water of Lago di Fiastra. You can park your car at the dam (here). It can get quite busy during the summer and the weekend, so we recommend going early to be sure to find parking close by. There is also another parking area here.
From here you walk over the dam and go through a tunnel. After the tunnel you continue up the path and start the climb.
The beginning of the path bends to the right and not much later you walk on the path along the gorge. After about half an hour you will be walking sheltered on a forest path. You might run into a mountain biker during your walk on a Sunday morning. When you arrive at the fork go left. The trail climbs slightly further and after about an hour and a half you arrive at a dry riverbed. From here you walk in the sun and continue up the riverbed. Very soon you will see the first red rocks appear!
Tip: Take enough water with you for the journey and wear good walking shoes!
- Route length: 7 km (2.5 hours)
- Difficulty: medium
You can easily combine the walk with a visit to the beautiful mountain lake of Lago di Fiastra.
Do you want an active holiday in Le Marche, Italy?
Are you curious about the other activities in the area such as mountain biking, ballooning, chef in villa or do you want to know more about hiking in Le Marche? Then click here! You can also book one of the holiday accommodations of Le Marche Explorer and come and enjoy this special authentic piece of Italy with us.
NB: Before starting the hike to the Lame Rosse we recommend checking with the local park authorities.
