Places
Hike·Hard·Sporty·Popular
Val Grande Wilderness Crossing
Piedmont
Val Grande was declared a national park precisely because of its emptiness: steep, trackless terrain above Verbania that depopulated after WWII partisan fighting and has since become the largest roadless wilderness in Italy. Old mule tracks and shepherd ruins are slowly vanishing under beech and chestnut regrowth. This is serious backcountry terrain — chamois and golden eagles are more common than other hikers.
Duration
7 hours
Distance
16 km
Elevation
+1100 m
Best season
June – September
Highlights
- Italy's largest wilderness area
- Abandoned shepherd ruins
- Golden eagle and chamois habitat
With your dog
Remote and unmarked in places; fit dogs only, no water sources reliable in summer.
