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Pizzo di Sevo - photo: Mario1952
The landscape in the northern part of the park varies dramatically.
Lake Campotosto - photo: Idéfix
On the Marche side, the terrain is steeply rugged, Lazio features a series of steeply banked gorges and the Abruzzo side features undulating hills and valleys covered in Beech, fir, oak and chesnut forests. The shores of lake Campotosto are home to thousands of migratory birds.
Photo: Società Cooperativa Sherpa
The national park is one of the most biologically diverse areas of Europe and is home to many rare plant species and wildlife. Covered in snow during the winter months, the spring summer and autumn sees the pastures covered in wild flowers and the lower slopes of the Gran Sasso grazed by large herds of cattle, horses and flocks of sheep, tended by Maremmano-Abruzzese sheepdogs. The park is a nature lover's paradise. In addition to wild boar, foxes and snakes, the park is also home to golden eagles, peregrine falcons, goshawks, wolves, bears, wildcats and also the Abruzzo chamois, which has been brought back from the edge of extinction by a concerted effort betweeen WWF Italia and the park administration.
The winter months provide excellent skiing opportunities for visitors. The plateau of Campo Imperatore, lying to the east of Corno Grande, boasts Italy's oldest commercial ski operation. The area is also a haven for hikers and there are over 200 kilometres (120 mi) of horse trails that can be used to visit the park.
