Infernaccio Gorge

The excursion to the Gole dell'Infernaccio + Hermitage of San Leonardo is an absolute must if you come to the Marche. The best periods are spring and summer. Furthermore, you can continue the route further to the hidden Rio waterfall.

Beautiful hike, on a path that is practically always in the shade and full of water.
Particularly enjoyable to escape the summer heat.
At the entrance to the path are the Pisciarelle, a real rain of fresh water that falls from the rocks above: an iridescent shower that no one gives up, especially on the way back.
The path does not involve particular difficulties, but in the initial part it is rather steep and narrow, and requires a bit of attention, especially with children, and, obviously, suitable shoes (I have seen things that you humans...)
Afterwards it flattens out, and becomes a very pleasant walk, on a constant and not demanding slope.
A bit more tiring is the climb towards the Eremo di San Leonardo: nothing exceptional, but it does not flatten out until the arrival.
From the Eremo, passing by a fountain, you can climb further, and arrive at the Cascata del Rio, where however I did not go.
Returning from the Hermitage, with a short shortcut, you return to the path, which however shortly after is blocked, due to the danger of falling rocks, so that the source of the Tenna River is no longer reachable.
In reality, you can still continue without danger for about 300 meters, skirting the Tenna in a pleasant beech forest; once out of the woods, the high rocky walls advise against continuing.
As always, it is better to enter as early as possible (I slept in the parking lot before the barrier, and at 7.30 I was already inside), because, especially on summer weekends, during the central hours a real procession forms, with traffic jams in the steepest section.

Paradise Gorge would be a more appropriate name 🙂. In a torrid summer the perfect place! To see and see again. You can continue with various paths.