Riserva naturale Guadine Pradaccio, State nature reserve in Province of Parma, Italy.
Riserva naturale Guadine Pradaccio is a state nature reserve in the Province of Parma with mixed beech forests and silver fir trees across its terrain. The reserve spans between 1195 and 1796 meters in elevation and includes a lake surrounded by woodland trails.
The reserve's land belongs to the 1,750 hectares the state bought for its demesne forests in 1914 in the Alta Val Parma. The protected area itself was established in 1971, taking its name from Lake Pradaccio and the Guadine pass at 1,687 m that links the Parma area to Lunigiana. Both lakes, Pradaccio at 1,363 m and the temporary Lake Guadine at 1,636 m, are natural features of the glacial cirque.
The name comes from Lake Pradaccio and Guadine Pass, which link the Parma region to the Lunigiana territory. These landmarks remain visible in the trails and signs throughout the reserve today.
Visiting the reserve requires advance registration and joining authorized guided groups. The warmer months offer the best conditions for exploring the woodland trails and paths.
The reserve holds two lakes: the temporary Lago delle Guadine at 1636 m and Lago Pradaccio at 1363 m, which gives the reserve half of its name. The Pradaccio lies in a glacial cirque formed 15,000 to 18,000 years ago, when a glacier filled the whole Val Parma.
The community of curious travelers
AroundUs brings together thousands of curated places, local tips, and hidden gems, enriched daily by 94,468 contributors worldwide.