Trail dei Parchi

Trail dei Parchi is an unsupported bikepacking adventure in the heart of Abruzzo: a loop that starts and ends in the village of Barisciano, near L'Aquila, and sets out to discover the region's most striking places and its national parks. It is not a race and there is no time limit; beyond the start and finish there are no fixed stages, so every rider shapes their own journey with a digital roadbook of places to sleep and eat, and can even switch routes along the way.

Mountain bikes, gravel bikes and e-bikes are all welcome, but the organisers are honest that the tracks stay demanding on a gravel bike and recommend tyres of at least 45 mm. Route names such as Il Cuore d'Abruzzo and La Via del Lupo say a lot about the wild Apennine uplands the loops explore, and Barisciano's municipal gym opens as simple shared lodging for riders before the start.

The ride also has a cause at its core. Every entry includes a donation to Parent Project aps, the association of patients and parents of children living with Duchenne and Becker muscular dystrophy, which the event has supported through its charity programme.