GTA: Stage 71 Rifugio Mongioie - Ormea | Lake Maggiore, Lake Orta, Lake Mergozzo and Ossola Valleys

Highlights and tour details

Follow the path from Rifugio Mongioie downhill to Viozene. Near the church of the hamlet you proceed on the provincial road for about a hundred metres always going downhill to the junction on the left of the road that leads to Toria, which you take going uphill. The Balconata di Ormea route code A22 begins here, which you follow as far as Ormea. Leave the road to Toria at the first fork and proceed to the right on the road to Cuchera. At the following fork take the left to Casa Bruciata where "Sentiero della Messa" begins for Pian del Fo. When you reach the village, cross the bridge over Rio Re Bianco, follow the asphalt road downhill until you reach the hairpin bend near the village of Pornassino where the dirt road for Fasce and Merea begins. Ignoring other dirt roads to the right and left, continue to Merea, where you turn left onto a path that climbs between the houses that are now in ruins. After passing a small brook, you go up towards the village of Biranco with a path that is initially in the woods and then opens to a panoramic view of the valley. Near the village of Biranco you proceed on a dirt road downhill towards the hamlet of Quarzina. Just before the houses of the hamlet, which is worth a detour, you reach an asphalt road that is the beginning of path A21, which you have to follow on the left uphill until the Brignacchi houses where it ends. Continue on a dirt road and then immediately to the right on a path that climbs towards a dirt road. You finally reach the vast plateau of the Colma where the church of San Giovanni Battista stands. Here you have to leave the main path of the Balconata and follow path A20 that leads down to Chioraira and then, crossing the villages of Rian and Porcirette Sottane, to Chionea. Once in front of the church of this hamlet, follow the asphalt road that descends towards Ormea. Just before the cemetery of the hamlet, turn right downhill towards the cemetery itself and then cutting across the asphalt road four times, you reach Ormea.