Nature Reserve Guide
Riserva Naturale Orrido Di Botri is a nature reserve located in the Tuscan Apennines, distinguished by its dramatic limestone gorge, the Orrido di Botri canyon. This landscape features towering rock walls, deep gorges, and waterfalls carved by the Rio Pelago, creating a unique environment for outdoor pursuits. The reserve spans altitudes from 634 to 1,334 meters, encompassing both the canyon and the Pruno Forest, offering diverse terrain for several sports like hiking, road cycling, mountain biking, touring cycling, and more.
…115
Routes
4.6
(345)
Average rating
2295
People visited

5
hikers
Hard hike. Very good fitness required. Mostly accessible paths. Sure-footedness required.

4.7
(71)
220
hikers
7.79km
03:42
680m
680m
Hard hike. Good fitness required. Sure-footedness, sturdy shoes and alpine experience required.

5.0
(1)
5
hikers
18.5km
06:15
710m
710m
Hard hike. Very good fitness required. Mostly accessible paths. Sure-footedness required.

4.9
(24)
95
hikers
12.1km
04:21
710m
710m
Moderate hike. Good fitness required. Mostly accessible paths. Sure-footedness required.
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4.6
(5)
74
riders
52.7km
03:33
1,440m
1,440m
Hard road ride. Very good fitness required. Mostly well-paved surfaces and easy to ride.

4.5
(2)
52
riders
43.5km
02:45
1,240m
1,240m
Hard road ride. Very good fitness required. Mostly well-paved surfaces and easy to ride.

4.3
(4)
45
riders
38.4km
02:42
1,120m
1,120m
Hard road ride. Very good fitness required. Mostly well-paved surfaces and easy to ride.

3.0
(1)
47
riders
51.5km
03:11
1,430m
1,430m
Hard road ride. Very good fitness required. Mostly well-paved surfaces and easy to ride.
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4.5
(12)
46
riders
39.5km
04:03
1,140m
1,140m
Hard mountain bike ride. Very good fitness required. Advanced riding skills necessary.

4.5
(4)
28
riders
Moderate mountain bike ride. Good fitness required. Advanced riding skills necessary.

4.5
(2)
41
riders
24.2km
03:07
1,180m
1,190m
Hard mountain bike ride. Very good fitness required. Advanced riding skills necessary. Some portions of the route may require you to push your bike.

5.0
(4)
16
riders
28.1km
03:00
1,040m
1,040m
Hard mountain bike ride. Very good fitness required. Advanced riding skills necessary. Some portions of the route may require you to push your bike.
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5.0
(4)
38
riders
48.0km
04:26
1,650m
1,650m
Hard bike ride. Very good fitness required. You may need to push your bike for some segments of this route.

4.5
(4)
37
riders
43.7km
03:38
1,390m
1,390m
Hard bike ride. Very good fitness required. Mostly paved surfaces. Suitable for all skill levels.

5.0
(4)
31
riders
42.8km
03:30
1,300m
1,300m
Hard bike ride. Very good fitness required. Mostly paved surfaces. Suitable for all skill levels.

5.0
(1)
32
riders
Hard bike ride. Very good fitness required. You may need to push your bike for some segments of this route.
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3.5
(2)
39
runners
10.6km
01:50
540m
550m
Hard run. Very good fitness required. Sure-footedness, sturdy shoes and alpine experience required.

27
runners
10.3km
01:18
380m
380m
Hard run. Very good fitness required. Mostly paved surfaces. Suitable for all skill levels.

27
runners
10.7km
01:23
430m
430m
Hard run. Very good fitness required. Mostly paved surfaces. Suitable for all skill levels.

23
runners
7.06km
00:53
140m
130m
Hard run. Good fitness required. Sure-footedness, sturdy shoes and alpine experience required.
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4.3
(3)
15
hikers
9.39km
04:05
570m
570m
Hard mountaineering route. Good fitness required. Sure-footedness, sturdy shoes and alpine experience required.

4.7
(3)
9
hikers
10.6km
04:13
530m
530m
Moderate mountaineering route. Good fitness required. Mostly accessible paths. Sure-footedness required.

7
hikers
7.93km
03:35
540m
540m
Hard mountaineering route. Good fitness required. Sure-footedness, sturdy shoes and alpine experience required.

4.0
(1)
4
hikers
10.8km
04:21
550m
550m
Hard mountaineering route. Good fitness required. Sure-footedness, sturdy shoes and alpine experience required.
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8
riders
38.8km
03:16
1,110m
1,110m
Hard gravel ride. Very good fitness required. You may need to push your bike for some segments of this route.

4
riders
50.7km
04:46
1,460m
1,460m
Hard gravel ride. Very good fitness required. Mostly paved surfaces. Suitable for all skill levels.

5.0
(1)
4
riders
44.1km
04:17
1,560m
1,560m
Hard gravel ride. Very good fitness required. Mostly paved surfaces. Suitable for all skill levels.

3
riders
Moderate gravel ride. Good fitness required. Mostly paved surfaces. Suitable for all skill levels.
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Riserva Naturale Orrido Di Botri is a nature reserve in the Tuscan Apennines, characterized by its deep limestone canyon carved by the Rio Pelago. It features towering rock walls, waterfalls, and diverse flora and fauna. The reserve spans 286 hectares, with altitudes ranging from 634 to 1,334 meters.
Riserva Naturale Orrido Di Botri offers a variety of outdoor activities, including hiking, road cycling, mountain biking, touring cycling, jogging, and mountaineering. There are more than 90 routes available for exploration across these sports. For more information, see the Hiking in Riserva Naturale Orrido Di Botri guide.
Yes, Riserva Naturale Orrido Di Botri offers easy hiking trails suitable for various fitness levels. An example is the "Chiesa di Casoli – Bar Ristorante Da Marina loop from Isola," which is 2.3 miles (3.7 km) long. Explore more options in the Easy hikes in Riserva Naturale Orrido Di Botri guide.
A primary hiking experience involves trekking directly in the streambed of the Rio Pelago canyon, which can be challenging. Other popular routes include the "Orrido di Botri Nature Reserve – Montefegatesi loop from Riserva naturale Orrido di Botri," a moderate 5.3-mile (8.6 km) hike. The reserve also features trails leading to peaks like Monte Coronato.
The area around Riserva Naturale Orrido Di Botri offers several road cycling routes. A notable route is the "Old Bridge of Barga – Pieve di Santa Maria a Loppia loop from Coreglia Antelminelli," a difficult 32.7-mile (52.7 km) ride. More routes can be found in the Road Cycling Routes in Riserva Naturale Orrido Di Botri guide.
Yes, the region provides terrain suitable for mountain biking. An example is the "Orrido di Botri Nature Reserve – Monte Prato Fiorito loop from Monti di Villa," a difficult 26.9-mile (43.2 km) route. Additional mountain biking options are detailed in the MTB Trails in Riserva Naturale Orrido Di Botri guide.
The main natural feature is the Orrido di Botri canyon, Tuscany's deepest and largest natural canyon, with rock walls up to 650 feet (200 meters) high. It also encompasses the Pruno Forest, which is home to diverse plant species like beech, black hornbeam, and rare yew trees. The reserve is a nesting site for the golden eagle.
The Riserva Naturale Orrido Di Botri is typically open from mid-June to mid-September. Access depends on weather conditions and water levels within the canyon. It is advisable to check current conditions before planning a visit.
Yes, protective helmets and appropriate trekking shoes are mandatory for the aquatic trek within the canyon. Access to the streambed is regulated, and visitors should inquire about specific permit requirements or guided access at the visitor information point at Ponte a Gaio.
Riserva Naturale Orrido Di Botri is a popular destination on komoot, with more than 1,300 visitors having explored its routes. The area has an average rating of 4.5 out of 5 stars based on over 170 ratings.
Komoot offers several guides for Riserva Naturale Orrido Di Botri, including Hiking in Riserva Naturale Orrido Di Botri, Road Cycling Routes in Riserva Naturale Orrido Di Botri, and MTB Trails in Riserva Naturale Orrido Di Botri. There are also guides for easy hikes, running trails, and mountain hikes.
For general information, the Carabinieri Biodiversity Department of Lucca can be contacted at +39 0583 955525-26. There is also a visitor information point at Ponte a Gaio with the number +39 0583 551691.

