Lake Barrea is an artificial lake, but it sits so neatly among the mountains that it has become one of the park's most recognisable landscapes. The villages of Barrea, Villetta Barrea, and Civitella Alfedena make good bases around it.
Come for easy views, lakeside walks, and a break from higher trailheads. It is also useful in mixed weather: when the ridges are in cloud, the lake and villages can still make a satisfying day.