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Itineraries

Since the Park is situated in a wild and inaccessible area, it is essential for visitors (especially for those who do not know the valley) to go along the Park trails - some of which are very difficult, dangerous and not signposted yet - only if accompanied by expert guides (the Park Official Guides, Mountain Guides and qualified environmental guides).

Some Itineraries

Malesco - Colloro (Premosello Chiovenda) Traverse

• Difference in height: 1,400m uphill and 1,600m downhill
• Walking time: about 10-12 hours.

This itinerary usually requires a two-day hike, with an overnight stay in one of the bivouacs along the trail (Scaredi, In la Piana, Val Gabbio or Colma di Premosello). It is therefore advisable to bring a sleeping bag. The hike requires good training and a basic knowledge of hiking techniques.
Please note that there is work in progress for the re-opening of the trail and for the laying of the trail markers. At the moment, the footbridges in Alpe Val Gabbio and In La Piana are unfit for use, and they will be closed until they are replaced. It is therefore necessary to wade across the streams and to use the map to keep one's direction. Visitors will then need to be expert hikers provided with maps and be able to read them, otherwise they should ask for the help of a guide.

Cannobina

From Provola, a nice "maggengo" (May pasture area) in front of Finero, within the Municipality of Cursolo-Orasso, you can either leave for wonderful walks towards Daila or go along the path heading to Alpe Uovo or Bocchetta di Terza, among the beech woods of the valley where the Cannobino springs (for expert hikers only).

Vigezzo

From Malesco, a 8km carriage road (without protective barriers in some stretches) leads to Val Loana and to the lateral valley of Rio Basso, rich in pastures and summer pastures: they are both an ideal training ground for hikers. From Val Loana, a 2-hour walk leads to Alpe Scaredi. From Scaredi, a path for expert hikers leads to the top of Laurasca, the most famous mountain of the Vigezzo area, from which you can enjoy an extraordinary view over the Swiss Alps and Mt. Rosa chain.
From Santa Maria Maggiore, hikers have the chance to cross some large conifer woods, authentic natural "cathedrals", and to reach Valle del Basso.

Ossola

Behind Trontano, it is possible to reach in a couple of hours the summer pastures of Parpinasca, from which you will enjoy a wonderful view over upper Val d'Ossola.
Leaving from Beura, a path leads to several summer pastures dominated by the "bèola", a typical local stone, or, with an overnight stay at the bivouac Alpe Pozzolo, to the characteristic Scala di Ragozzale, the gate to upper Val Grande (bivouac Alpe Ragozzale, 8 hours from Beura, 5 hours from Trontano, long and demanding itineraries for expert hikers).
From Vogogna, after going through the charming village of Genestredo and after visiting the millenary Rocca, you can reach Alpe Marona, a striking panoramic point over Val d'Ossola.
Premosello Chiovenda offers visitors the chance to discover Colloro (mule track and asphalt road) and, further on, the sunny "maggengo" of Capraga or the little church of Lut, from where you can see the lower valley of the river Toce.

Verbano

The most beautiful destination within the area of San Bernardino Verbano is Mt. Faiè, which can be reached from Alpe Ompio (carriage road from Santino) with a 1-hour walk among woods and pastures; along the way, hikers can stop at the CAI mountain hut "Fantoli" to rest and have a little refreshment. Along the path, you will enjoy a view of Mt. Pedum (strict nature reserve). A detour leads to Corte Buè, an old May pasture belonging to the community of Rovegro and located on the fringe of one of the wildest and harshest areas of the Park (2 hours from Ompio, for expert hikers).
From Cossogno, a beautiful walk along an old mule track leads to Miunchio and Nolezzo, two of the characteristic summer pastures in lower Valgrande (1 hour and a half approximately). From the same departure point, it is also possible to go up to Motta d'Aurelio (about 2 hours), a place of remarkable panoramic interest which houses some old town pasturelands.
Cicogna, the small "capital" of the Park, can be reached from Rovegro through a narrow and tortuous carriage road (7 km) which crosses rio Valgrande by the upper Casletto bridge. From Cicogna, entering the valley, you will reach Alpe Pogallo. Some stretches of the mule track are dug into the rock, overhanging the stream and partly without protections. From Cicogna it is also possible to reach the mountain hut of Associazione Nazionale Alpini in Alpe Prà, which presents a remarkable panoramic interest. Going on towards Alpe Leciuri, a ring route (6 hours without stops) leads down to Pogallo and then back to Cicogna.
The path going from Cicogna to Velina through Val Grande is only for expert hikers who perfectly know the valley and are used to walking on inaccessible paths.
Pian Cavallone, situated between Val Pogallo and Valle Intrasca, is one of the most known destinations in the Prealpi of Verbano. It can be reached from Miazzina (loc. Alpe Pala/Cappella Fina), Caprezzo (loc. Cappella Porta) and Intragna (loc. Alpe Gabbio) following three routes that go along carriage roads first, and then along paths (1.30 hours). From Pian Cavallone, the "classical" climbs are the Marona and the Zeda, of great panoramic value (whole length at high altitude, with some exposed stretches). It is possible to stay overnight in the mountain hut CAI Sez. Verbano-Intra, in Pian Cavallone.