The ascent from Baceno to Alpe Devero is the first stretch of this historic communication route and unwinds along a lesser-known route than the next high-altitude stretch, but no less appealing for this reason. Follow the signs from Baceno (path H00), leaving the village among the well-maintained meadows, which soon give way to signs of abandonment and the inexorable force of nature. After Graglia, near Rio Ghendola, the wood covers the ruins of ancient mills. The path reaches Croveo along the gorge of the Devero stream which reveals suggestive examples of giant potholes, forms of fluvial-glacial erosion. You cross a narrow stone bridge to reach the village, while the mule track continues to Osso. From the old water sawmill, near the bridge you must walk for about 2.5 kilometres along the carriage road, which allows you to visit the ancient signal tower in Passo, built in the 16th century by Ludovico il Moro. After crossing an arched bridge over the carriage road, you take the old mule track on the left that runs alongside the village of Goglio, famous for the cable car whose red cabin slowly climbed up along the narrow gorge of the Devero stream, and whose departure station now houses a small museum dedicated to the Resistance. Among the stone and wooden houses of Goglio, an Oratory is worth a visit for the frescoes in it created by Angelo Bersani, an artist who lived in Devero, managing a refuge for many years and known as the Angel of Devero. Anyone who knows Alpe Devero cannot fail to walk along this stretch of ancient stone paving, climbing the steep hairpin bends that open a passageway from Goglio through an apparently unsurpassable steep rock ridge. Renouncing sometimes the comfort of the road and the car, the real ascent to Alpe Devero starts here. An ancient path to reach Devero on foot and discover the timeless charm of the alp at the foot of Via dell'Arbola.

Parish church of San Gaudenzio in Baceno (national monument), Parish church of Croveo, Croveo press, Multimedia path in Croveo dedicated to witches, Marmitte dei giganti in Croveo (forms of fluvial-glacial erosion along the Devero stream), Cascata di Agaro (waterfall), ancient signal tower in Passo built in the 16th century by Ludovico il Moro, small museum dedicated to the resistance in Goglio, Oratory with internal frescoes by Angelo Bersani in Goglio, Piana di Devero

In Croveo there are room rentals, B&Bs and a trattoria

Follow the A26 motorway as far as Gravellona Toce and then continue along the SS33 del Sempione as far as the junction for Valle ANTIGORIO FORMAZZA. Then follow the SS 659 as far as Baceno. A provincial road continues from Baceno as far as Goglio and then a municipal road reaches Alpe Devero.

Itinerary code: ARB
Phone coverage: Good
Recommended period: May, June, July, August, September, October
Historical interest: Yes
Access by public transport: Yes
Classification: Medium and low mountain provincial
Provinces crossed: Distretto dei Laghi