Monte Vettore
2,476 m
Italy
Also known as Монте ВеттореAlso known as
Монте Ветторе
- Elevation
- 2,476 m
- Prominence
- 1,463 m
- Difficulty
- 4/10
- Alpine hike
- Best Season
- Jun–Sep
- Routes
- 1
AdvisoryReported 3 Mar 2026
The Zilioli bivouac has been repeatedly vandalised; in early 2026 its door was found warped and unable to close and the entrance blocked by snow. Close the door behind you and do not rely on the bivouac being usable in winter.
ildolomiti.it
Routes
1Sources differ: E (Italian hiking scale) in summer (CAI (Ripartire dai sentieri); Stefano Ardito) · F in winter, with ice axe and crampons (Stefano Ardito (December 2025))
The standard way up the highest peak of the Sibillini: from the road pass of Forca di Presta (1,536 m) up the broad south ridge past the Zilioli memorial cross, a slippery scree traverse under Cima di Prato Pulito to the Zilioli bivouac on Sella delle Ciaule (2,240 m), then a final slope to the summit (2,476 m). About 950 m of ascent, 2½–3 hours up; a winter route (F) with axe and crampons.
Elevation Profile
- Distance
- 5.0 km
- one way
- Ascent
- +935 m
- start → summit
- High Point
- 2,476 m
- Time Up
- 3h 44m
- DIN 33466
- Time Down
- 2h 29m
- DIN 33466 · same way back
Forca di Presta (1,536 m) is a road pass on the SP34 between Arquata del Tronto and Castelluccio di Norcia, with parking near the closed Rifugio degli Alpini. The waymarked path climbs the broad grassy ridge north, skirting a knoll on the left and returning to the right of the crest, to a first plateau at about 1,920 m and the small memorial cross to Tito Zilioli (about 1¼ hours). A steeper step above the Valle Santa (care with icy snow in winter) leads to a second plateau at about 2,010 m between Monte Vettoretto (2,052 m) and the slopes of Cima di Prato Pulito. From here the path slants diagonally right under the steep flank of Cima di Prato Pulito, on slippery scree in summer and steepening snow in winter, to Sella delle Ciaule and the Zilioli bivouac (2,240 m), about 45 minutes more; the rock walls of Pizzo del Diavolo come into view beyond the saddle. The final 240 m climb the broad slope to the north-east, either straight up from the basin or by bearing right onto the ridge from Cima di Pretare, to the summit in about an hour. On clear days the view includes the Laga mountains, Gran Sasso, Terminillo, Monte Amiata and the Adriatic. Descend the same way (about 2 hours). From the saddle an EE variant descends north-west through a band of rocks (grade I) and scree to Lago di Pilato (1,940 m), adding about 1½ hours and 300 m; it was closed after the 2016 earthquakes and 2017 avalanches, so check its status with the park. In winter the wind often makes the bivouac the sensible turnaround point, and snowshoes are unsuitable for the steep slope below it.
Start
Forca di Presta1,536 m
- Forca di Presta can be reached by bus according to CAI; no current timetable was found
- Parking at the trailhead
Stages
| Day | Stage | km | m ascent | m descent | Time |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Forca di Presta → Monte Vettore | 5.0 | 935 | 0 | 3h 44m |
Waypoints
- Parking: Forca di Presta1,536 m
- Feature: Croce Zilioli1,945 m
Small memorial cross near the first plateau (about 1,920 m)
- Shoulder: Monte Vettoretto2,046 m
The path passes to its left on the plateau at about 2,010 m
- Bivouac: Bivacco Tito Zilioli2,244 m
On Sella delle Ciaule
- Summit: Monte Vettore2,476 m
Key Passages
- Steep step above the Valle Santa
- Diagonal scree traverse under Cima di Prato Pulito
- Sella delle Ciaule and the Zilioli bivouac
- Final slope to the summit
Equipment
0/6 packedDownloads
Route confidence 82%Overview
The highest peak of the Sibillini Mountains (2,476 m), a limestone massif on the Umbria–Marche border above the Castelluccio plateau. A straightforward summer walk of about 950 m from Forca di Presta, and a classic easy winter ascent with axe and crampons.
Monte Vettore is the culminating summit of the Monti Sibillini National Park, on the boundary between Norcia (Umbria) and Montemonaco and Arquata del Tronto (Marche). Its group forms a U-shaped ridge around the glacial cirque of Lago di Pilato: Cima del Redentore (2,448 m), Pizzo del Diavolo (2,410 m), Cima del Lago, Monte Vettoretto and the Vettore itself. The small lake (1,941 m), the only natural lake in the Marche, is home to the endemic Marchesoni's fairy shrimp. The summit view reaches the Laga, Gran Sasso, Majella, Terminillo and, on clear days, the Adriatic and Monte Amiata.
The normal route from the road pass of Forca di Presta (1,536 m) is a broad ridge walk followed by a scree traverse to the Zilioli bivouac on Sella delle Ciaule and a final slope to the top: no difficulties in summer, but exposed to strong wind and with no water. In winter it becomes one of the classic easy snow climbs of the central Apennines (F), with ice axe and crampons; the slope below the bivouac steepens and can be icy or loaded with snow.
The mountain was at the centre of the 2016–17 Central Italy earthquakes: the Vettore–Bove fault system ruptured, reactivating the Cordone del Vettore fault scarp on its western flank, and the original Rifugio Zilioli was destroyed. The bivouac was rebuilt and is managed by CAI Ascoli Piceno.
Climbing Notes
In summer any fit walker can do it: about 950 m of ascent and 5–5½ hours for the round trip, on a clear path with a slippery scree section below the bivouac. Carry all your water, windproof layers and sun protection; thunderstorms build quickly on summer afternoons. In winter (roughly December to April) the route is graded F: ice axe and crampons are needed from the first ridge, snowshoes are unsuitable on the steeper slopes, avalanche conditions must be checked, and strong wind often makes the bivouac the turnaround point. The road to Forca di Presta can be closed after heavy snowfall. Inexperienced parties can hire mountain guides from the Marche. The Zilioli bivouac has an always-open room with four bunks and no blankets; the main room is used from spring to autumn by booking.
History
The name is usually derived from the Latin 'victor', the peak that overtops the rest of the range. Medieval legend placed the cave of the Apennine Sibyl in these mountains and the lake below the summit was linked to necromancy; the reddish summit cliffs were seen as the crown of the Sibyl. In 1876 Damiano Marinelli made the first winter ascents of the Vettore and the Redentore with two men from Castelluccio. The Rifugio Tito Zilioli, built in 1960 in memory of a climber from Ascoli, was destroyed in the earthquake of 24 August 2016; the new bivouac was opened by CAI Ascoli Piceno in 2020–21.
Season
Best Jun–Sep- January: Possible
- February: Possible
- March: Possible
- April: Possible
- May: Good
- June: Best (best window)
- July: Best (best window)
- August: Best (best window)
- September: Best (best window)
- October: Good
- November: Possible
- December: Possible
- Jan
- Winter ascent (F) with axe and crampons; wind and avalanche risk; road may be closed
- Feb
- Winter ascent for experienced parties
- Mar
- Winter conditions; check avalanche danger
- Apr
- Spring snow; crampons usually needed
- May
- Hard snow may linger near the bivouac
- Jun
- Long days; snow often lingers on the Pilato side
- Jul
- Busy; afternoon thunderstorms
- Aug
- Busy; hot at the start, windy on top
- Sep
- Clear, stable days
- Oct
- First snow possible
- Nov
- Early winter conditions
- Dec
- Winter ascent with axe and crampons
Access & Permits
- Hut Booking
- The main room of the Zilioli bivouac is booked through rifugiozilioli.it (spring to autumn); the always-open room needs no booking.
- Rules
- Monti Sibillini National Park: park regulations apply (stay on marked paths, rules on dogs, drones and fires); check the park's trail-status map on sibillini.net, as some paths remain closed or diverted after the 2016–17 earthquakes
- The path from Sella delle Ciaule down to Lago di Pilato was closed after the 2016 earthquakes and 2017 avalanches; its current status should be checked with the park or CAI Ascoli Piceno
- The road to Forca di Presta (SP34) and the Castelluccio road may be closed after heavy snowfall
- Getting There
Arquata del Tronto; Castelluccio di Norcia; Norcia
Ancona (AOI); Rome Fiumicino (FCO)
- Car: SP34 to Forca di Presta from Arquata del Tronto or Montegallo (Marche), or from Norcia via Castelluccio (Umbria)
- CAI states that Forca di Presta is reachable by bus; no current timetable was found
Hazards
- Weather
- Avalanche
- Rockfall
Huts & Shelters
1- 2,240 m
Bivacco Tito ZilioliBivouacUnstaffedBooking required
Always-open room all year (4 bunks, no blankets); main room spring to autumn by booking