Monte Velino
2,487 m
Italy
Also known as Монте Велино, mont Velino, +1Also known as
Монте Велино · mont Velino · Велино (гора)
- Elevation
- 2,487 m
- Prominence
- 1,385 m
- Difficulty
- 2/10
- Hike
- Best Season
- Aug–Sep
- Routes
- 1
Routes
1Sources differ: E (Italian hiking scale) (vienormali.it) · EE (Italian hiking scale) (appennino.tv)
The long but easy southern normal route: from the Romanesque church of Santa Maria in Valle Porclaneta above Rosciolo (1,020 m) by path 3 up the Vallone di Sevice to the Capanna di Sevice hut (2,119 m), over Monte di Sevice (2,355 m) and along the ridge to the summit cross (2,487 m). About 1,500 m of ascent and 4 hours up; often very windy.
Elevation Profile
- Distance
- 11.5 km
- one way
- Ascent
- +1,793 m
- −332 m lost on the way up
- High Point
- 2,487 m
- Time Up
- 8h 05m
- DIN 33466
- Time Down
- 6h 08m
- DIN 33466 · same way back
From the A24 (exit Magliano de' Marsi) drive to Rosciolo and up to the church of Santa Maria in Valle Porclaneta; park just before the church (about 1,020 m). A dirt road on the right leads in about 30 minutes to Passo Le Forche (1,221 m, also reachable by off-road vehicle). Turn right onto path 3 (red-white waymarks), which climbs the broad Vallone di Sevice between Monte di Sevice and Monte Rozza, gently at first and then in steep hairpins through woodland. Above the treeline it rises fairly directly to the Fontana di Sevice (about 1,975 m), and a few minutes later reaches the Selletta dei Cavalli and the Capanna di Sevice (2,119 m), about 3 hours from the start. Cross the basin east-south-east and climb the slope to Monte di Sevice (2,355 m) in about 30 minutes; this is the first point with a good view of the Velino summit. Descend slightly along the ridge (an optional detour takes in Monte Costognillo, 2,339 m) to the junction with the path from Monte Cafornia, then turn right up the final cone, past a statue of the Madonna, to the summit cross in about 20 minutes. The view takes in the Gran Sasso, Laga, Terminillo, Majella, Simbruini and Ernici. Return the same way (about 3 hours), or by the more exposed 'Panoramica' path back towards the hut, which needs care in snow. A steeper, harder alternative climbs directly from Massa d'Albe on path 5 (EE, about 1,600 m, short hands-on sections on loose, steep ground), often combined with a descent over Monte Cafornia and Fonte Canale.
Start
Santa Maria in Valle Porclaneta1,022 m
- No public transport to Santa Maria in Valle Porclaneta was found
Stages
| Day | Stage | km | m ascent | m descent | Time |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Santa Maria in Valle Porclaneta → Monte Velino | 11.5 | 1,793 | 332 | 8h 05m |
Waypoints
- Trailhead: Santa Maria in Valle Porclaneta1,022 m
- Col: Passo le Forche1,217 m
- Feature: Fonte di Sevice2,347 m
- Hut: Rifugio Capanna di Sevice2,116 m
- Shoulder: Monte di Sevice2,347 m
- Summit: Monte Velino2,487 m
Key Passages
- Steep hairpins in the Vallone di Sevice
- Capanna di Sevice and the Selletta dei Cavalli
- Ridge over Monte di Sevice
- Final summit cone
Equipment
0/6 packedDownloads
Route confidence 78%Overview
The highest summit of the Sirente-Velino group (2,487 m) and the third-highest massif of peninsular Italy after the Gran Sasso and the Majella. A bare, stony limestone giant above the Fucino plain, climbed by long, steep walks of 1,500 m or more from every side.
Monte Velino rises in the north-west of Abruzzo, near the border with Lazio, between the Fucino plain and the Aterno and Salto valleys. It is flanked by the Duchessa mountains to the north-west and separated from the Sirente to the south-east by the Altopiano delle Rocche. The mountain lies within the Sirente-Velino Regional Park and the Monte Velino nature reserve. It is a barren, scree-covered massif without roads: steep southern and south-western slopes fall to the Marsica, while the north and north-west sides hold glacial cirques and rougher ground. Monte Cafornia (2,424 m) stands just to the south-east.
Every route involves a big height gain, as the valleys lie at about 800–1,000 m. The usual southern normal route from Santa Maria in Valle Porclaneta above Rosciolo follows path 3 through the Vallone di Sevice to the small Capanna di Sevice hut and over Monte di Sevice to the summit: about 1,500 m of ascent, easy but long. More direct and harder lines climb the south-west slopes from Massa d'Albe (EE); from the north, routes from the Piani di Pezza reach the summit via Colle dell'Orso and Rifugio Sebastiani.
The summit view covers almost the whole central Apennines, from the Gran Sasso and Laga to the Majella, Terminillo, Simbruini and Ernici. Wind is almost constant on the upper ridge.
Climbing Notes
Expect a long day: about 1,500 m of ascent and 7 hours for the round trip by the normal route, more from Massa d'Albe. The terrain is straightforward on path 3 but the gradient is sustained; CAI Roma asks for a pace of about 400 m per hour with a pack on the Massa d'Albe route, which also has short hands-on, loose and exposed sections. Carry plenty of water: the only spring on the normal route is the Fontana di Sevice, and the hut has none. Bring windproof layers in all seasons. In winter and spring the mountain needs ice axe, crampons and avalanche awareness, and the hut cannot be used except for its emergency room. The Capanna di Sevice is staffed only in August; at other times (except winter) the key can be booked by phone with the GEV, allowing a two-day trip.
History
The origin of the name is uncertain; one theory derives it from Marsian roots meaning a spring, river or lake, referring to the mountain's dominance over the former Lake Fucino. The Capanna di Sevice (Achille Fontani hut) is maintained by the Gruppo Escursionisti del Velino of Magliano de' Marsi.
Season
Best Aug–Sep- January: Not advisable
- February: Not advisable
- March: Not advisable
- April: Possible
- May: Good
- June: Best
- July: Good
- August: Best (best window)
- September: Best (best window)
- October: Good
- November: Not advisable
- December: Not advisable
- Jan
- Winter mountaineering only; hut unusable apart from the emergency room
- Feb
- Winter conditions; avalanche risk
- Mar
- Winter conditions
- Apr
- Snow on the upper slopes; axe and crampons
- May
- Season begins; snow patches near the summit
- Jul
- Hot on the lower slopes; start early
- Aug
- Capanna di Sevice staffed daily
- Sep
- Stable weather
- Oct
- Season ends; early snow possible
- Nov
- Winter conditions
- Dec
- Winter conditions
Access & Permits
- Hut Booking
- Capanna di Sevice: staffed daily in August; outside August (except winter) book the key with the Gruppo Escursionisti del Velino on +39 380 5431004 or info@montevelinogev.it.
- Rules
- Sirente-Velino Regional Park and Monte Velino nature reserve: park and reserve rules apply
- Getting There
Rosciolo dei Marsi and Magliano de' Marsi; Avezzano
Rome Ciampino (CIA); Rome Fiumicino (FCO)
- Car: A24 Rome–L'Aquila, exit Magliano de' Marsi, then the provincial road to Rosciolo and the road to the church of Santa Maria in Valle Porclaneta
- Passo Le Forche (1,221 m) is reachable only by off-road vehicle
- No public transport to the trailheads was found
Hazards
- Weather
- Avalanche
- Rockfall
Huts & Shelters
1- 2,119 m
Rifugio Capanna di SeviceHutStaffed
8 beds · Staffed daily in August; key on request outside August except in winter; emergency room always open (may be blocked by snow)