Around lakes and mountains – 8 loops in Italy’s Maira Valley
Hiking Collection by Marika Abbà
8
Tours
46:02 h
60.9 mi
19,725 ft
The Maira Valley is a small jewel set among the mountains. It’s a valley that has preserved ancient traditions over the centuries thanks to its distance from major passes and lack of direct routes to France, aside from mountain trails. After the Second World War, the region’s difficult access prompted a big exodus towards industrial centres. Walking up and down the valley, you come across abandoned houses often. Peeking through a few doors, you glimpse tables set with rusty crockery, furniture full of photographs from times gone by, and pieces of everyday life. It’s as if the promise of return stopped time, which still holds stories of the past under a veil of dust.
In recent years, the Maira Valley has become a popular destination for outdoor enthusiasts eager to tackle the Occitan Path: a trek of 14 stages that encompasses the entire valley, its length and breadth, and touching both the lesser-known side valleys and the more well-trodden paths. But that's not all. In winter, this valley is a paradise for ski mountaineers who enjoy bends and jumps in the fresh, powdery snow. There are no ski lifts here, so if you want to admire the breathtaking panorama from the top of the peaks, you'll have to dig out your skins, snowshoes and crampons: your effort will be richly rewarded.
In these eight circular Tours, I take you between alpine lakes and majestic mountains, symbols of the Maira Valley. It is a journey through the natural beauty and history that has characterised these places. These Tours are suitable in summer and autumn. The first two Tours are also possible in spring as they lead through lower altitudes where the snow soon gives way to flowers.
You should be fit and experienced taking on exposed passages on the Tours of the Cima del Monte Scaletta and the Sentiero Dino Icardi. Some sections have ropes and fixed chains to help you proceed.
The easiest way to move around the Maira Valley is by car, but since it is a narrow valley full of curves, you may prefer to catch the bus that connects Cuneo with Acceglio (line 78) benese.it/linee/linea78.pdf or with Roccabruna (line 92) grandabus.it/files/orari/92.pdf.
Trenitalia trains depart from Torino Porta Nuova station in Turin and reach Cuneo in just over an hour.
In the summer months, the Maira Valley Tourist Board provides some shuttle services to connect Canosio and Acceglio with the main hiking starting points. For more information, I suggest contacting the Tourist Office of Dronero: consorzio@vallemaira.org.
On The Map
Tours & Highlights
- 05:327.30 mi1.3 mph2,250 ft2,250 ftExpertExpert Hiking Tour. Very good fitness required. Sure-footedness, sturdy shoes and alpine experience required.
This excursion starts from Sant'Anna di Roccabruna, a small village about ten minutes by car from Roccabruna. Near the Sanctuary you will find a parking lot where you can leave your car. Take the wide forest path that starts to the left of the car park. The climb is immediately sustained and continues…
by Marika Abbà
- 02:073.95 mi1.9 mph850 ft850 ftIntermediateIntermediate Hiking Tour. Good fitness required. Mostly accessible paths. Sure-footedness required.
The path starts next to the Ciclamini bar in Macra. Near the departure point there is a parking lot, a fountain and a bus stop. Next to the bar and enter the Caricatori valley, which looks like a place rich in vegetation. Climb alongside the small stream and reach Langra, the first village you meet along…
by Marika Abbà
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- 04:515.78 mi1.2 mph1,975 ft1,975 ftIntermediateIntermediate Hiking Tour. Good fitness required. Mostly accessible paths. Sure-footedness required.
The trail starts from Grange Selvest, about two kilometers from Preit di Canosio. In summer, parking is subject to charges.
Put on your boots, cross the bridge and continue along the path on your right that climbs towards Grange Culausa, a small plateau with a stone hut used by herdsmen in summer. From…
by Marika Abbà
- 08:1413.3 mi1.6 mph2,200 ft2,200 ftExpertExpert Hiking Tour. Very good fitness required. Sure-footedness, sturdy shoes and alpine experience required.
The excursion starts from Colle del Preit, in the municipality of Canosio. Just below the hill there is a car park that is paid in summer and can only be reached in the early hours of the morning, subject to availability and before the shuttle service starts. In the summer months, from July to September…
by Marika Abbà
- 06:398.61 mi1.3 mph3,425 ft3,425 ftExpertExpert Hiking Tour. Very good fitness required. Sure-footedness, sturdy shoes and alpine experience required.
The path starts from the last asphalted bend upstream of Viviere (Acceglio), which can only be reached by car. Walk towards Prato Ciorliero and as soon as you meet a pole with different indications, take the path on the right that continues uphill among the larches. Much of the excursion extends over…
by Marika Abbà
- 06:057.74 mi1.3 mph3,100 ft3,100 ftExpertExpert Hiking Tour. Very good fitness required. Mostly accessible paths. Sure-footedness required.
The excursion starts from the Sorgenti del Maira where there is a parking lot. This place can also be reached by shuttle from Saretto (Acceglio) when the service is active. For specific information, please refer to the Dronero Tourist Office consorzio@vallemaira.org.
Take the path immersed in the larch…
by Marika Abbà
- 03:385.25 mi1.4 mph2,100 ft2,100 ftIntermediateIntermediate Hiking Tour. Good fitness required. Mostly accessible paths. Sure-footedness required.
Leave your car in the parking lot on the right immediately after the second bend on the road that leads to Grange Collet. If you arrive by shuttle, you can take the path towards Colle Greguri which starts in the town of Chiappera. In this case, you will have to calculate an additional 40 minutes of walking…
by Marika Abbà
- 08:578.98 mi1.0 mph3,800 ft3,825 ftExpertExpert Hiking Tour. Very good fitness required. Sure-footedness, sturdy shoes and alpine experience required.
Leave the car in Grange Cerviera, accessible by car from Chiappera, keeping to the right at the crossroads with the Campo Base Refuge. Continue on foot to the left on the wide dirt road and enter the Vallone dell’Infernetto. Go through the summer pastures, paying attention to the presence of shepherd…
by Marika Abbà
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Collection Stats
- Tours8
- Distance60.9 mi
- Duration46:02 h
- Elevation19,725 ft
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