Pian del Valasco from Terme di Valdieri
An old hunting road climbs along the stream to a green plateau ringed by the mountains of the Maritime Alps, where the Savoy hunting lodge stands, now a mountain hut.
- Difficulty
- E Hiking
- Length
- 8.6 km
- Elevation gain
- +440 m / −440 m
- Time
- 3–3.5 hours
- Route
- Out and back
- Altitude
- 1391–1843 m
- Season
- Summer Autumn
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The story
The valleys above Valdieri were King Victor Emmanuel II's hunting reserve, and he had roads and lodges built here for ibex hunts. The Valasco hunting lodge, with its turrets, has been restored and turned into a hut. Today the area is part of the Maritime Alps Natural Park, where ibex have returned in large numbers.
Why go
Because an easy hour and a half of climbing brings you to one of the loveliest corners of the Maritime Alps, with a good chance of seeing chamois and ibex.
Practical information
- Start
- Terme di Valdieri
- Finish
- Pian del Valasco and the royal hunting lodge (about 1,760 m), back the same way
- Best time
- June–October
- Parking
- Car park at Terme di Valdieri.
- By public transport
- Bus from Cuneo up the Gesso valley, with a few summer runs to the Terme.
- Water
- At Rifugio Valasco and along the streams.
- Shade
- Woods in the first part, then open pastures.
- Huts and refreshments
- Rifugio Valasco, in the royal hunting lodge (seasonal).
- With children
- Yes: you climb on an even dirt road.
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
More hikes in Piedmont
- 1Sacra di San Michele from Sant'AmbrogioE 5.7 km · +500 m · 3 hours · out and back
- 2★ Buco di Viso from Pian del ReE 9.1 km · +960 m · 5–6 hours · out and back
- 4The Barolo Crus TrailT 11.7 km · +330 m · 3.5–4 hours · loop
- 5★ Bessa Reserve, the Romans' gold minesE 4.5 km · +60 m · 1.5–2 hours · out and back
- 6★ Cicogna–Pogallo, in the heart of the Val GrandeE 7.8 km · +340 m · 3–3.5 hours · out and back
- 7On foot to the Sacred Mountain of VaralloT 2.4 km · +130 m · 1 hour round trip, plus the visit · out and back
- 8Lago del Mucrone from OropaE 10.3 km · +720 m · 4–4.5 hours round trip · out and back
- 9★ Alpe Otro, the Walser villages above AlagnaE 6.8 km · +420 m · 3 hours round trip · out and back
- 10Alpe Devero and Crampiolo, snowshoes tooT 6.1 km · +170 m · 1.5–2 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.