Places
Hike·Moderate·Scenic·Popular
Valle del Gigante
Campania
While most visitors head straight for Vesuvius's crater rim, this trail traces the edge of a huge lava flow from the volcano's last major eruption in 1944, cutting through a stark, boulder-strewn landscape of broom and pioneer vegetation slowly reclaiming the rock. It's a good way to appreciate the volcano's scale without the crowds.
Duration
2.5 hours
Distance
6 km
Elevation
+300 m
Best season
March – November
Highlights
- Lava flow from the 1944 eruption
- Far fewer visitors than the crater trail
- Pioneer vegetation recolonising volcanic rock
With your dog
Volcanic terrain trail, less crowded than the crater route; dogs on leash.
