Lake Castel dell'Alpi is a natural lake region situated in the Bolognese Apennines, approximately an hour from Bologna. This area is notable as the only natural lake in the province of Bologna, formed by a landslide in 1951 at an altitude of about 700 to 740 meters above sea level. The landscape features wooded valleys and historic mountain paths, providing a setting for several sports like hiking, road cycling, touring cycling, jogging, and more.
82
Routes
4.6
(220)
Average rating
1485
People visited

4.7
(10)
41
hikers
6.62km
01:53
140m
140m
Easy hike. Great for any fitness level. Easily-accessible paths. Suitable for all skill levels.

4.9
(11)
41
hikers
8.89km
03:22
460m
460m
Moderate hike. Good fitness required. Mostly accessible paths. Sure-footedness required.

3.0
(1)
3
hikers
12.1km
04:14
620m
610m
Moderate hike. Good fitness required. Mostly accessible paths. Sure-footedness required.

6.45km
02:08
240m
240m
Moderate hike. Good fitness required. Mostly accessible paths. Sure-footedness required.
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4.8
(6)
265
riders
94.7km
04:23
1,150m
1,150m
Hard road ride. Very good fitness required. Mostly well-paved surfaces and easy to ride.

5.0
(1)
30
riders
67.6km
03:57
1,670m
1,670m
Hard road ride. Very good fitness required. Mostly well-paved surfaces and easy to ride.

18
riders
28.2km
01:19
370m
370m
Moderate road ride. Good fitness required. Mostly well-paved surfaces and easy to ride.

14
riders
33.8km
01:47
640m
640m
Moderate road ride. Good fitness required. Mostly well-paved surfaces and easy to ride.
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5.0
(2)
63
riders
21.5km
02:17
750m
740m
Hard bike ride. Very good fitness required. Mostly paved surfaces. Suitable for all skill levels.

5.0
(2)
39
riders
28.4km
02:39
760m
760m
Hard bike ride. Very good fitness required. Mostly paved surfaces. Suitable for all skill levels.

3.0
(2)
22
riders
17.3km
01:40
410m
410m
Hard bike ride. Good fitness required. You may need to push your bike for some segments of this route.

18
riders
Hard bike ride. Very good fitness required. Mostly paved surfaces. Suitable for all skill levels.
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4.6
(11)
36
riders
Moderate mountain bike ride. Good fitness required. Suitable for all skill levels.

4.5
(4)
40
riders
49.2km
05:26
1,550m
1,550m
Hard mountain bike ride. Very good fitness required. Advanced riding skills necessary. Some portions of the route may require you to push your bike.

4.7
(6)
31
riders
Moderate mountain bike ride. Good fitness required. Advanced riding skills necessary.

4.3
(6)
19
riders
23.8km
02:10
670m
670m
Moderate mountain bike ride. Good fitness required. Suitable for all skill levels.
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18
runners
25.3km
03:39
1,020m
1,020m
Hard run. Very good fitness required. Sure-footedness, sturdy shoes and alpine experience required.

5.0
(1)
23
runners
15.5km
02:09
630m
630m
Hard run. Very good fitness required. Sure-footedness, sturdy shoes and alpine experience required.

9
runners
12.5km
01:43
490m
490m
Hard run. Very good fitness required. Sure-footedness, sturdy shoes and alpine experience required.

8
runners
16.0km
02:19
550m
550m
Hard run. Very good fitness required. Sure-footedness, sturdy shoes and alpine experience required.
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Lake Castel dell'Alpi is the only natural lake in the province of Bologna, located in the Bolognese Apennines. It formed in February 1951 due to a landslide that blocked the Savena river. The lake sits at an altitude of about 700 to 740 meters (2,297 to 2,428 feet) above sea level.
Lake Castel dell'Alpi offers a variety of outdoor activities including Hiking, Road cycling, Touring cycling, Jogging, and Mountain biking. The region features more than 20 routes for these sports. These routes have an average rating of 4.53 out of 5 stars from komoot users.
More than 25,000 visitors have shared their experiences on komoot for routes around Lake Castel dell'Alpi. The 24 available routes have received over 4,700 ratings, averaging 4.53 out of 5 stars. This indicates a highly regarded area for outdoor pursuits.
The area offers various hiking trails, from an easy path encircling the lake to more challenging routes. Specific guides include Hiking around Lake Castel dell'Alpi, which details routes like "Castel dell'Alpi to Madonna della Neve Sanctuary." Other trails traverse historic mountain paths and ancient mills.
Yes, Lake Castel dell'Alpi provides options for family-friendly hikes. A dedicated guide, Family-friendly hikes around Lake Castel dell'Alpi, highlights suitable routes. These trails are generally less strenuous and offer scenic views for all ages.
Beginners can find several easy hikes around Lake Castel dell'Alpi. The path encircling the lake is a pleasant and accessible option. More routes are detailed in the Easy hikes around Lake Castel dell'Alpi guide.
Lake Castel dell'Alpi offers both Road cycling and Touring cycling routes. Cyclists can explore the Apennine landscape on various routes, with specific information available in guides such as Road Cycling Routes around Lake Castel dell'Alpi and Cycling around Lake Castel dell'Alpi. There are also Traffic-free bike rides around Lake Castel dell'Alpi.
Yes, Lake Castel dell'Alpi features mountain biking trails. The area provides options for mountain bikers to explore the terrain. Details on these routes can be found in the MTB Trails around Lake Castel dell'Alpi guide.
Joggers can utilize the pleasant path that encircles Lake Castel dell'Alpi for scenic runs. Additional running options are available. The Running Trails around Lake Castel dell'Alpi guide provides further details on suitable routes.
Lake Castel dell'Alpi is notable for being the sole natural lake in the province of Bologna. It also features the "Big Bench" number 337, offering a unique vantage point. The area includes small historic villages like Picervara and the surviving church of St. Blaise from the original village.
Yes, it is possible to access hiking trails around Lake Castel dell'Alpi using public transport. The Hikes from bus stations around Lake Castel dell'Alpi guide provides information on routes accessible via bus stops.
Lake Castel dell'Alpi was formed by a landslide in 1951, which submerged the original village of Castel dell'Alpi. The church of St. Blaise and its bell tower miraculously survived this event and remain visible today. The village was partly rebuilt on the opposite bank overlooking the lake.
Official information about Lake Castel dell'Alpi and the surrounding area can be found on regional tourism websites. The official tourist information site for the Appennino Bolognese is AppenninoBolognese.net.

