Val di Mello to Cascina Piana
A valley of granite, meadows and emerald pools, known as the 'Italian Yosemite': you walk up it on an almost level path beside the stream.
- Difficulty
- T Tourist
- Length
- 6.8 km
- Elevation gain
- +160 m / −160 m
- Time
- 2.5 hours round trip
- Route
- Out and back
- Altitude
- 926–1098 m
- Season
- Summer Autumn
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The story
In the 1970s the Val di Mello was the heart of the 'Nuovo Mattino', the movement of young climbers who brought a free, non-conformist style to Italy. Since 2009 the valley has been a nature reserve, one of the largest in Lombardy.
Why go
Because an hour's walk takes you into a landscape that seems out of the Alps, with crystal-clear water and granite walls.
Practical information
- Start
- San Martino, Val Masino
- Finish
- Cascina Piana; back the same way
- Best time
- May–October
- Parking
- In San Martino and at the mouth of the valley (access regulated in summer, check on site).
- By public transport
- Bus from Morbegno to Val Masino.
- Water
- Clear stream and huts in the valley.
- Shade
- Woods alternating with meadows.
- Huts and refreshments
- Huts and farm stays at Cascina Piana.
- With children
- Yes.
Weather at the start
The forecast for the next 7 days at this spot: sky, temperatures, rain and wind.
Forecast by Open-Meteo (CC BY 4.0), from the models of national weather services. Your browser downloads it directly from Open-Meteo, and only when you ask. In the mountains and at sea the weather changes quickly: check the official forecast as well before you set off.
What to see on the route and nearby
After the hike, into the water
More hikes in Lombardy
- 1Sentiero del Viandante, Lierna–VarennaE 7.4 km · +580 m · 3–3.5 hours · point to point
- 2★ Codera, the village you can only reach on footE 6.2 km · +570 m · 3–3.5 hours · out and back
- 3★ The Earth Pyramids of ZoneE 2.1 km · +170 m · 1–1.5 hours · loop
- 4★ Monte Isola, the climb to the Madonna della CeriolaE 5.5 km · +470 m · 2.5–3 hours · out and back
- 5★ The Forni glacier trailE 4.1 km · +460 m · 3 hours · point to point
- 6Lake Como Greenway, from Colonno to CadenabbiaT 11 km · +170 m · 3–3.5 hours · point to point
- 7The Via Sacra of the Sacred Mountain of VareseT 3.4 km · +200 m · 1.5–2 hours round trip · out and back
- 9Rifugio Curò and Lago del Barbellino from ValbondioneE 9.8 km · +960 m · 5–5.5 hours round trip · out and back
- 10Laghi Gemelli from CaronaE 10.6 km · +860 m · 5 hours round trip · out and back
- 11Corni di Canzo: from Fonti di Gajum to Rifugio SEVE 10.3 km · +770 m · 4.5 hours round trip · out and back
- 12Lago Palù from San Giuseppe in ValmalencoE 7.9 km · +520 m · 3–3.5 hours round trip · out and back
Routes © OpenStreetMap contributors (ODbL), via Waymarked Trails and BRouter; elevations from a digital terrain model. Times and elevation gains are indicative: waymarks on the ground and closure orders always take precedence.