Nature Reserve Guide
Italy is home to more than 200 nature reserves, which protect a significant portion of Europe's biodiversity. These protected areas span the country's diverse geography, from the alpine landscapes and dramatic Dolomite peaks in the north to the dense forests of the Apennines and the rugged Mediterranean coastline. The terrain within these reserves includes high-altitude plateaus, verdant valleys, and coastal cliffs, offering a wide range of environments. The extensive network of trails supports numerous outdoor activities, primarily hiking, cycling, and mountaineering.
This list of nature reserves in Italy aggregates more than 32,000 routes for activities like hiking, mountain biking, and road cycling. More than 1,944,000 visitors have shared their experiences, contributing to an average rating of 4.4 out of 5 stars. Among the best nature reserves in Italy, the Dolomites feature prominently, with areas like Naturpark Fanes-Sennes-Prags - Parco Naturale Fanes-Sennes-Braies offering over 90 distinct hiking routes. Nearby, Parch Natural Pöz-Odles - Naturpark Puez-Geisler - Parco Naturale Puez-Odle provides varied terrain for mountaineering and cycling. South Tyrol's largest protected area, Naturpark Texelgruppe - Parco naturale Gruppo di Tessa, contains a diverse high-alpine landscape with routes for all abilities. These reserves are managed to conserve natural ecosystems while providing access for human-powered recreation.
34962
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4.4
(238040)
Average rating
2M+
Explored with komoot
Last updated: April 23, 2026

4.6
(11766)
157,679
hikers
Parch Natural Pöz-Odles is a Dolomites nature reserve with dramatic peaks and varied terrain, offering diverse routes for hiking, cycling, and mountaineering.
Hiking
Running
Mountaineering
Mountain biking
Gravel riding
Road cycling
Cycling

4.6
(9604)
101,592
hikers
Parch Natural Pöz-Odles - Naturpark Puez-Geisler - Parco Naturale Puez-Odle is a Dolomites nature reserve offering diverse terrain for hiking, cycling, and mountain biking routes.
Hiking
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4.7
(11628)
100,828
hikers
Naturpark Fanes-Sennes-Prags - Parco Naturale Fanes-Sennes-Braies is a South Tyrolean nature reserve with diverse Dolomite landscapes for hiking and cycling.
Hiking
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Cycling

4.7
(11707)
99,793
hikers
Naturpark Fanes-Sennes-Prags - Parco Naturale Fanes-Sennes-Braies is a Dolomites nature reserve with dramatic peaks, high plateaus, and diverse terrain for hiking and cycling.
Hiking
Running
Mountaineering
Mountain biking
Gravel riding
Road cycling
Cycling

4.6
(8158)
54,322
hikers
Naturpark Texelgruppe - Parco naturale Gruppo di Tessa is South Tyrol's largest protected area, offering diverse routes for hiking, cycling, and mountaineering across its high alpine landscape.
Hiking
Running
Mountaineering
Mountain biking
Gravel riding
Road cycling
Cycling

4.7
(7998)
54,236
hikers
Naturpark Texelgruppe - Parco naturale Gruppo di Tessa is South Tyrol's largest nature reserve, offering diverse alpine terrain for hiking, cycling, and mountaineering routes.
Hiking
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Mountaineering
Mountain biking
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Cycling

4.6
(6781)
49,867
hikers
Naturpark Drei Zinnen - Parco Naturale Tre Cime is a UNESCO World Heritage site in the Dolomites, offering diverse terrain for hiking, cycling, and mountaineering.
Hiking
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Mountaineering
Mountain biking
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Cycling

4.6
(5944)
38,723
hikers
Naturpark Schlern-Rosengarten – Parco naturale dello Sciliar-Catinaccio is a UNESCO World Heritage site in South Tyrol, offering diverse routes for hiking and cycling.
Hiking
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Mountain biking
Gravel riding
Road cycling
Cycling

4.6
(6187)
34,534
hikers
Naturpark Rieserferner-Ahrn - Parco Naturale Vedrette Di Ries-Aurina is a South Tyrolean nature reserve with diverse alpine landscapes for hiking, mountain biking, and road cycling.
Hiking
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Cycling

4.7
(5611)
31,409
hikers
Naturpark Rieserferner-Ahrn - Parco Naturale Vedrette di Ries-Aurina is a South Tyrolean nature reserve with high mountains, glaciers, and diverse water features.
Hiking
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Mountaineering
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Road cycling
Cycling

4.4
(3398)
26,300
hikers
dell'Adda Nord Natural Park in Lombardy offers diverse terrain along the Adda River for cycling and hiking, featuring riverbanks, woods, and historical sites.
Hiking
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Mountaineering
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Cycling

4.6
(4021)
25,597
hikers
Parco naturale dell'Adamello-Brenta is Trentino's largest protected area, offering diverse terrain from Dolomites to glaciers for hiking, mountain biking, and cycling routes.
Hiking
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Cycling

4.4
(2331)
24,012
hikers
Riserva Naturale Torbiere Del Sebino is a highly protected wetland of international importance at Lake Iseo, offering diverse terrain for hiking and cycling routes.
Hiking
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Cycling

4.5
(2878)
23,832
hikers
Parco Adda Nord is a nature reserve along the Adda River, offering diverse terrain for hiking, cycling, and running routes. Its varied landscapes provide numerous outdoor activity options.
Hiking
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Road cycling
Cycling

4.6
(3005)
22,279
hikers
Parco naturale Paneveggio - Pale di San Martino is a Trentino nature reserve offering diverse terrain for hiking, mountain biking, road cycling, and jogging.
Hiking
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Cycling

4.5
(3006)
21,585
hikers
Parco Del Mincio is a protected natural area in Lombardy, Italy, offering diverse landscapes and over 100 routes for cycling, hiking, mountain biking, and jogging.
Hiking
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Mountain biking
Gravel riding
Road cycling
Cycling

4.5
(1203)
20,631
hikers
Parco naturale Spina Verde di Como is a hilly nature reserve bordering Switzerland, offering diverse woodlands and varied terrain for hiking, road cycling, and mountain biking routes.
Hiking
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Mountain biking
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Cycling

4.4
(1343)
20,573
hikers
Parco dei Colli di Bergamo is a diverse nature reserve framing the city, offering over 5,000 hectares of hills, forests, and valleys for hiking and cycling.
Hiking
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Cycling

4.2
(3413)
19,716
hikers
Riserva Naturale Del Fondo Toce is a 360-hectare wetland reserve at the Toce River and Lake Maggiore confluence, offering flat terrain ideal for cycling and hiking routes.
Hiking
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Cycling

4.6
(2189)
18,779
hikers
Parco Naturale delle Alpi Marittime offers diverse outdoor activities across its rugged peaks, deep valleys, and alpine lakes, with routes for hiking, cycling, and more.
Hiking
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Mountaineering
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Cycling
Nature reserves in Italy are protected areas established to conserve specific natural habitats, ecosystems, and biodiversity. They range from the alpine environments of the Dolomites to the Mediterranean coasts. This page aggregates over 270 of these reserves, featuring more than 32,000 routes for outdoor activities.
The primary activities in Italy's nature reserves are hiking, cycling, and mountain biking. Many reserves also offer routes for trail running and mountaineering. The varied terrain supports a wide range of human-powered outdoor sports across thousands of documented trails.
Notable nature reserves, particularly in the Dolomites, include Naturpark Fanes-Sennes-Prags - Parco Naturale Fanes-Sennes-Braies, known for its diverse landscapes, and Parch Natural Pöz-Odles - Naturpark Puez-Geisler - Parco Naturale Puez-Odle, which features dramatic peaks. South Tyrol's largest, Naturpark Texelgruppe - Parco naturale Gruppo di Tessa, also offers extensive high-alpine terrain.
The Naturpark Fanes-Sennes-Prags - Parco Naturale Fanes-Sennes-Braies offers a wide range of hiking opportunities across its Dolomite landscape. There are over 90 distinct hiking routes available, traversing high plateaus, verdant valleys, and areas around iconic peaks. The trails cater to various difficulty levels, from gentle walks to challenging alpine treks.
Parch Natural Pöz-Odles - Naturpark Puez-Geisler - Parco Naturale Puez-Odle provides a network of trails with varied terrain suitable for multiple activities. The reserve contains over 60 hiking trails, nearly 20 mountaineering routes, and numerous paths for mountain biking and road cycling. The routes navigate the dramatic limestone peaks and alpine meadows characteristic of the Dolomites.
Yes, many nature reserves in Italy contain routes suitable for families and beginners. For example, Naturpark Texelgruppe - Parco naturale Gruppo di Tessa includes a mix of trails for all abilities across its high-alpine landscape. It is advisable to check the difficulty and elevation details for specific routes before setting out.
As South Tyrol's largest nature reserve, Naturpark Texelgruppe - Parco naturale Gruppo di Tessa features a diverse high-alpine landscape. The terrain includes high peaks, lakes, and waterfalls. The trail network consists of over 80 hiking routes and numerous paths for cycling and mountaineering, ranging from easy valley walks to strenuous high-altitude treks.
In Italy, both are protected areas, but they differ in scale and purpose. National Parks are large areas of national significance for conservation, recreation, and education, managed by the state. Nature reserves are often smaller and established to protect a specific habitat, species, or natural feature. Komoot also provides information on National Parks in Italy.
Yes, many nature reserves in Italy offer designated trails for mountain biking. For instance, Naturpark Drei Zinnen - Parco Naturale Tre Cime, a UNESCO World Heritage site, has diverse terrain suitable for mountain biking. The routes vary in difficulty, from gentle gravel paths to technical singletrack.
The main season for hiking, cycling, and mountaineering in the alpine nature reserves, such as those in the Dolomites, is from late spring to early autumn (approximately June through September). During this period, most trails are free of snow and mountain huts are typically open. Winter offers opportunities for snowshoeing in some areas.
The landscapes are highly diverse, reflecting Italy's varied geography. In the north, reserves in the Dolomites feature jagged limestone peaks, high-altitude plateaus, and alpine meadows. Central Italy has reserves with dense beech forests and Apennine peaks, while coastal reserves protect rugged cliffs, sandy beaches, and Mediterranean scrub.

