Nature Reserve Guide
Riserva naturale orientata dello Zingaro is a protected nature reserve located on the northwestern coast of Sicily, Italy. This area spans a 7-kilometer stretch of Tyrrhenian coastline between Scopello and San Vito Lo Capo, characterized by dramatic limestone cliffs, white pebble coves, and diverse Mediterranean vegetation. The reserve's terrain ranges from sea level to peaks around 900 meters, offering varied landscapes for outdoor pursuits. It is a destination for several sports like hiking, touring cycling, jogging, road cycling, and more,…
78
Routes
4.5
(897)
Average rating
6214
People visited

4.9
(106)
600
hikers
16.0km
05:31
690m
690m
Hard hike. Very good fitness required. Mostly accessible paths. Sure-footedness required.

4.8
(290)
1,378
hikers
Moderate hike. Good fitness required. Mostly accessible paths. Sure-footedness required.

4.8
(89)
906
hikers
5.89km
01:47
200m
200m
Moderate hike. Great for any fitness level. Mostly accessible paths. Sure-footedness required.

4.8
(77)
812
hikers
Moderate hike. Great for any fitness level. Mostly accessible paths. Sure-footedness required.
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3.0
(2)
17
riders
21.5km
01:35
300m
300m
Moderate bike ride. Good fitness required. Mostly paved surfaces. Suitable for all skill levels.

4.6
(31)
200
riders
34.3km
02:37
680m
680m
Hard bike ride. Very good fitness required. Mostly paved surfaces. Suitable for all skill levels.

4.0
(11)
82
riders
17.3km
01:15
240m
240m
Moderate bike ride. Good fitness required. Mostly paved surfaces. Suitable for all skill levels.

4.0
(9)
63
riders
26.3km
01:48
290m
290m
Moderate bike ride. Good fitness required. Mostly paved surfaces. Suitable for all skill levels.
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5.0
(2)
102
riders
39.0km
02:07
710m
710m
Moderate road ride. Good fitness required. Mostly well-paved surfaces and easy to ride.

5.0
(2)
53
riders
Moderate road ride. Good fitness required. Mostly well-paved surfaces and easy to ride.

9
riders
50.0km
03:01
1,100m
1,100m
Hard road ride. Very good fitness required. Some segments of this route may be unpaved and difficult to ride.

10
riders
47.4km
02:37
1,020m
1,020m
Hard road ride. Very good fitness required. Mostly well-paved surfaces and easy to ride.
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4.5
(2)
41
runners
Hard run. Very good fitness required. Sure-footedness, sturdy shoes and alpine experience required.

28
runners
Hard run. Good fitness required. Sure-footedness, sturdy shoes and alpine experience required.

13
runners
14.6km
01:45
480m
480m
Hard run. Very good fitness required. Mostly paved surfaces. Suitable for all skill levels.

6
runners
Hard run. Very good fitness required. Sure-footedness, sturdy shoes and alpine experience required.
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5.0
(6)
23
hikers
Moderate mountaineering route. Good fitness required. Easily-accessible paths. Suitable for all skill levels.

6
hikers
24.4km
08:56
1,280m
1,280m
Hard mountaineering route. Very good fitness required. Mostly accessible paths. Sure-footedness required.

5
hikers
24.1km
08:45
1,230m
1,230m
Hard mountaineering route. Very good fitness required. Mostly accessible paths. Sure-footedness required.

4.6
(5)
24
riders
28.3km
02:17
770m
770m
Moderate mountain bike ride. Good fitness required. Suitable for all skill levels.

3.5
(4)
16
riders
26.2km
01:38
300m
300m
Easy mountain bike ride. Great for any fitness level. Suitable for all skill levels.

2.0
(1)
15
riders
15.6km
01:01
170m
170m
Easy mountain bike ride. Great for any fitness level. Suitable for all skill levels.

11
riders
83.0km
06:09
1,640m
1,640m
Hard mountain bike ride. Very good fitness required. Suitable for all skill levels.
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5.0
(3)
29
riders
103km
06:58
1,660m
1,660m
Hard gravel ride. Very good fitness required. Mostly paved surfaces. Suitable for all skill levels.

5.0
(2)
16
riders
26.0km
01:29
220m
220m
Moderate gravel ride. Good fitness required. Mostly paved surfaces. Suitable for all skill levels.

4.0
(2)
13
riders
24.7km
02:03
700m
700m
Hard gravel ride. Very good fitness required. Mostly paved surfaces. Suitable for all skill levels.

4
riders
49.2km
03:33
1,020m
1,020m
Hard gravel ride. Very good fitness required. Mostly paved surfaces. Suitable for all skill levels.
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Riserva naturale orientata dello Zingaro offers a variety of outdoor activities, primarily hiking. Other activities like jogging, mountaineering, and gravel biking are also possible on specific trails. Road cycling and touring cycling routes are available in the surrounding areas, but not within the reserve itself, which is car-free.
Popular hiking trails include the Cala dell'Uzzo Beach – Uzzo Cave loop from Scopello, which is about 7.1 miles [11.5 km] long. Other well-frequented routes are the Punta Capreria Coastal Trail – Cala Marinella loop and the Cala Berretta – Punta Capreria Coastal Trail loop, both around 6 to 6.5 miles [10 to 10.7 km]. More details can be found in the Hiking around Riserva naturale orientata dello Zingaro guide.
The reserve offers routes suitable for various fitness levels. While many trails are moderate to difficult, there are options for easier hikes. For specific easy routes, consult the Easy hikes around Riserva naturale orientata dello Zingaro guide.
No, cycling is not permitted inside Riserva naturale orientata dello Zingaro. The reserve is entirely free of roads and accessible only on foot to preserve its natural state. However, the areas surrounding the reserve offer numerous routes for road cycling and touring cycling.
The reserve is known for its 7-mile [7 km] stretch of pristine Tyrrhenian coastline, dramatic limestone cliffs, and white pebble coves like Cala Capreria and Cala dell'Uzzo. It also features diverse Mediterranean vegetation, including dwarf palms, and is home to archaeological sites such as the Grotta dell'Uzzo. The reserve is recognized as a Natura 2000 site.
Routes in Riserva naturale orientata dello Zingaro have an average rating of 4.5 out of 5 stars on komoot. This rating is based on feedback from over 1,400 visitors. More than 9,000 visitors have explored the area using komoot.
The provided information does not specify the policy regarding dogs on trails within Riserva naturale orientata dello Zingaro. Visitors should check the official reserve guidelines before bringing pets.
Komoot offers several guides for the area, including Hiking around Riserva naturale orientata dello Zingaro, Running Trails around Riserva naturale orientata dello Zingaro, and Cycling around Riserva naturale orientata dello Zingaro. There are also guides for specific interests like Attractions around Riserva naturale orientata dello Zingaro.
The official website for Riserva naturale orientata dello Zingaro is riservazingaro.it. The direction of the reserve can be reached at +39 0924 35108.
The reserve features diverse terrain, ranging from sea level along the coast to peaks approximately 3,000 feet [900 meters] above sea level. This altimetry creates varied habitats, from rocky coasts to Mediterranean scrub and holm oak woods. Trails can involve significant elevation changes, particularly on higher altitude paths.
Yes, the reserve's trails are suitable for trail running. Examples include the Uzzo Cave – Punta Capreria Coastal Trail loop, approximately 6.1 miles [9.8 km], and the Cala dell'Uzzo Beach – Cala Tonnarella dell'Uzzo loop, about 7.1 miles [11.5 km]. More options are detailed in the Running Trails around Riserva naturale orientata dello Zingaro guide.
The reserve has two main entrances, one near Scopello (south entrance) and one near San Vito Lo Capo (north entrance). Parking facilities are typically available near these entrance points outside the reserve itself, as the reserve is car-free.

