In Upper Piedmont, the summer mountains reveal themselves in their most authentic form. Wild yet welcoming, simple yet rich in history, silent yet full of life. A territory that is not limited to trails, but surprises with ever-new experiences: from high-altitude trekking to forest bathing, from sporting challenges to sensory barefoot trails, to the discovery of the Walser heritage. Among the peaks of Monte Rosa or in the woods of the Oasi Zegna, each valley has its own rhythm, landscape and unique way of experiencing the mountains. An invitation to move, breathe and feel.
VALSESIA: AT THE FOOT OF MONTE ROSA, AMIDST ALPINE LAKES AND WALSER CULTURE
Valsesia is one of the most evocative valleys in Upper Piedmont and in summer it becomes the ideal starting point for exploring the southern slope of Monte Rosa.
For those who love hiking, one of the most fascinating itineraries is Trail 203a, which climbs from the centre of Alagna Valsesia to the Tailly Lakes, at an altitude of over 2400 metres. The trail winds through woods and pastures until it reaches Alpe Tailly. From here, a scenic trail crosses grassy hollows and rocky hills, leading first to Lago Tailly Inferiore and then to Lago Tailly Superiore, nestled between the ridges of Corno Bianco. This excursion, which takes about two and a half hours, offers an authentic immersion in the high mountain environment, far from the beaten track.
For those who want to admire the peaks without tackling long walks, the Alagna Valsesia ski lifts allow you to quickly climb to Pianalunga and then to Passo dei Salati, the connection point with the Gressoney Valley. In summer, this pass is the starting point for experienced mountaineers who, via the Indren cable car, want to reach the glacier to access the Mantova and Gnifetti refuges, or tackle the ascent to one of the peaks above 4,000 metres of Monte Rosa. The most sought-after is Punta Gnifetti (4554 m), with Capanna Margherita, the highest mountain refuge in Europe, but the entire massif is spectacular: the highest peak, Punta Dufour, at 4634 metres, is the second highest peak in the Alps. From Passo dei Salati, there are also more accessible excursions, such as the Cimalegna Geological-Pedological Trail.
Valsesia is also the guardian of a human and cultural heritage of great value: it was here that, in the 13th century, the Walser, a people of Germanic origin from Valais, settled. Their legacy still lives on today in the ethnographic museums of the area, such as the Walser Museum in Alagna Valsesia, housed in a house dating back to 1628 with original objects, tools, traditional clothing and furnishings, or the Museum of Riva Valdobbia, set up in a typical house in Rabernardo, where you can enter the stube, the stable and the bedroom. Finally, in Rimella, another museum reconstructs the Walser universe of agriculture, crafts and the Titsch language, which is still spoken by some inhabitants of the area today.
MACUGNAGA: THE PEARL OF MONTE ROSA
It is here, in the Anzasca Valley, one of the transverse valleys of the Ossola Valley, that Monte Rosa shows its most imposing face: the east face, more than two thousand metres high, is an impressive natural wall overlooking the Walser village of Macugnaga, one of the most fascinating and photographed in the entire Alpine arc. Reachable by climbing the valley from Piedimulera, Macugnaga preserves an ancient and still living cultural heritage, evidenced by the typical architecture of its stone and wooden houses and by the Dorf, the original nucleus with the 14th-century Old Church, the cemetery and a majestic centuries-old lime tree.
Macugnaga is also a dynamic and welcoming alpine centre. In summer, the ski lifts allow you to quickly reach high altitudes: from the Pecetto-Burki and Burki-Belvedere chairlifts to the Staffa-Alpe Bill-Passo Moro cable car, you can access scenic routes, high-altitude refuges and privileged observation points on the Belvedere glacier.
It is around this glacier that the Monte Rosa Wildlife Oasis extends, a protected area established in 1969 to encourage the reintroduction of the ibex. Here, among larch forests, alpine meadows and rocky ridges, there are hiking trails suitable for all levels, ideal for those seeking direct contact with unspoilt nature.
VAL FORMAZZA: WHERE ADVENTURE MEETS HISTORY
At the northern end of Piedmont, where the roads become narrower and the landscapes wilder, lies Val Formazza, another land of ancient Walser migrations, flower-filled mountain pastures, glacial valleys and traditions that are still alive today. A valley suspended between Italy and Switzerland, where summer is coloured by challenges suitable for true sports enthusiasts and timeless views.
The symbol of Val Formazza is the Toce Waterfall, described as early as the 19th century as ‘the most beautiful and powerful of the waterfalls in the Alps’. With a drop of 143 metres, it is one of the most spectacular in Europe, visible in all its majesty only during certain periods in the summer. Around this natural monument, there are hiking and cycling trails that combine sport and sustainability. Among these is the Laghi & Monti Bike, a slow itinerary waiting to be discovered, which connects the sources of the Toce to Lake Maggiore, following the course of the river.
From the Toce Waterfall, the route climbs up to Riale, the epicentre of outdoor sports in Val Formazza, with itineraries ideal for those who want to immerse themselves in the history and beauty of the area. Here, among high-altitude pastures and landscapes shaped by glaciers, the Bettelmatt Ultra Trail returns on 12 July. With over 50 km of trails and 3,100 metres of elevation gain, the BUT attracts over 1,000 participants every year, including athletes, companions and families, transforming a territory of 400 inhabitants into a natural arena charged with energy for a day. Making it all possible is an authentic but not extreme mountain, perfect for those who practise outdoor sports in a green way.
A week earlier, on 5 July, the event is enriched by the BUT Gourmet: a gourmet picnic celebrating typical high mountain products – such as Bettelmatt cheese – interpreted by leading chefs from across the country. The proceeds from the event are traditionally donated to charity and this year will go to the Matilde Lorenzi ETS Foundation, which is committed to promoting safety on the ski slopes through training and prevention activities aimed at athletes of all ages and levels.
OASI ZEGNA: WELL-BEING, NATURE AND HARMONY IN THE WOODS OF BIELLA
There is a corner of Upper Piedmont where the mountains can be experienced with all the senses. This is the Oasi Zegna, a vast natural area in the Biella Alps that in summer becomes a haven of peace and regeneration. Here, the relationship with nature goes beyond trekking: it is an intimate, conscious and profound experience.
Among the most popular activities is Forest Bathing – or shinrin-yoku – a Japanese practice that invites you to immerse yourself in the woods to rediscover balance and wellbeing. At the Oasi Zegna, a special trail has been designed in the Bosco del Sorriso, a beech forest with high emissions of monoterpenes, natural substances that positively stimulate the immune system.
Equally unique is the experience of barefooting, which can be practised on the sensory trail at Cascina Il Faggio in Valdilana. Walking barefoot on branches, pine cones, sand, leaves, lavender and stones becomes a way to reactivate dormant perceptions and rediscover an authentic connection with the earth. The trail, divided into stations, ends with two pools of spring water for a regenerating closing ritual.
UPPER PIEDMONT, WHERE YOU CAN ENJOY THE MOUNTAINS ALL SUMMER LONG
In Upper Piedmont, every peak, every trail and every village becomes part of a summer to remember. From excursions through pastures and glaciers to high-altitude outdoor activities, from moments of relaxation surrounded by nature to cultural discoveries in the Alpine valleys, the mountains reveal themselves in all their variety. An invitation to let yourself be guided by the rhythm of nature, amid energy, silence and wonder.
For more information on the “Experience Upper Piedmont – A Mosaic of Wonders” project and future initiatives, visit www.vivialtopiemonte.it.
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