You turn left from Sestriere for Sauze di Cesana and after the village of Grangesises you will encounter the sign for Valle Argentera. The dirt road is in good condition until the bottom of the valley at the junction for the Alpe Plane farmhouse, where it is possible to leave the car in the Monte Nero car park (1912 m). From here it takes 30 mins to reach Piano della Milizia where path no. 611 of the Gran Miol valley starts before the bridge. At first it is almost flat and then climbs steeply to a bivouac/military barracks (2590m). At the fountain, the path splits: left to the nearby Col Mayt (20 mins), right to the Fioniere lakes (30 mins). You descend for a short stretch before ascending fairly steeply and round a ridge, beyond which you catch sight of the lower lake. The path passes just above the lake and easily leads with a few ascents and descents to the upper lake. To descend and return to the car park, follow the path along the orographic left of the valley, which is quite evident in some places, marked with red notches, while in others you must look for cairns.

Valle Argentera (or Valle Ripa) is a typical alluvial valley rich in water and meadows, surrounded by ridges and ancient alpine pastures. In some parts, crags form on the slopes with waterfalls that remain frozen in winter and are therefore a destination for ice climbing enthusiasts. The woods are abundant with larch trees that turn golden in autumn and the landscape boasts beautiful meadows, rhododendron and bilberry bushes and birch woods. The flowers, especially orchids, are spectacular, and the butterflies are also remarkable. The rocks and shrubs are habitats for rock ptarmigan, black grouse and rock partridges. Beyond the ridges are other areas of community importance: the Val Thuras and the Val Troncea Park.
In the proposed walk, a slight diversion is recommended for the Col Mayt climb (2709 m) where there is a small boundary stone, a point from which there is a splendid view of both the Italian and French sides.

NOTE
On the descent, the path is blocked by a landslide after the wood, so it is necessary to keep to its right, descending on the more logical slope until it crosses a small path and shortly also the dirt road leading to the car park.

Historical interest: Yes
Provinces crossed: Torino