GTA: Stage 10 Alpe Vannino - Alpe Devero | Lake Maggiore, Lake Orta, Lake Mergozzo and Ossola Valleys

Highlights and tour details

From Rifugio Margaroli you go along the left hydrographic side of Lake Vannino in the direction of the Passo Scatta Minoja. A long, slightly uphill traverse in the pastures leads to a plateau where Alpe Curzalma (2270 m) is located, dominated by the Vannino Towers. You start climbing again and, after passing a small lake at an altitude of about 2400 m, you walk the last stretch between detritus and some small residual snowfields - even in summer - until you reach Scatta Minoja (2597 m) where the Conti bivouac is located. The pass, already marked at the beginning of the 20th century, takes its name from a family of merchants from Baceno who imported salt from Salzburg and sold it at the Ernen market: the pass served as a link between the Passo San Giacomo and the Albrunpass (the "crossroads" of the Arbola). Descending from the pass, the first part is along the hillside and then goes down a steep stony path to a basin with a small lake. From here the path continues over grassy humps and wide high altitude meadows to lower Alpe Forno (where Bettelmat cheese is produced in summer). From the Alpe you take the service track to the mountain pastures which descends in steep hairpin bends. You then leave the track for a moment to continue on a path that follows a grassy ridge and then go back on the track further down at a small hut (Spygher) at the bottom of the lake. Follow the path along the Devero lake until you reach the church of the village of Crampiolo. From here you descend for a stretch along the stream, cross a brook and reach the locality of Cantone. Finally you cross the plain and reach Alpe Devero.