| Val Grande National Park | |
 | |
| Area type | National Park |
|---|---|
| State | Italy |
| Region | Piedmont |
| Territory | Verbano from Piedmont, Ossola Valley |
| Surface | 14,598 ha |
| Foundation year | 1991 |
| Institutional website | |
The Val Grande National Park extends in the heart of the province of Verbano-Cusio-Ossola, between steep ridges and lonely peaks. It is the largest wilderness area of the Alps and d 'Italy.
To know
Geographical notes
The park is located in the Piedmontese Pre-Alps, on a mountainous terrain of about 15,000 hectares which includes the whole Val Grande and the whole Val Pogallo.
In the two valleys flow respectively Rio Valgrande and the Rio Pogallo. Throughout their length, the two rivers have eroded the narrow valley bottoms creating gorges that make it particularly difficult to travel and cross.
Despite being of modest elevation, the park's mountains are quite rugged. The main peaks are:
- 1 Mount Togano 2,301 m
- 2 Summit of Laurasca 2,195 m
- 3 Mount Zeda 2,156 m
- 4 Cima Pedum 2,111 m
- 5 Punta Proman 2,098 m
Flora and fauna
Given the low altitude and proximity to the Lake Maggiore, the entire surface of the park is covered by dense broad-leaved woods. This is a feature that clearly distinguishes the Val Grande national park from the more well-known alpine parks, which are typically located at higher altitudes. The most similar natural parks in terms of altitude and vegetation are the regional parks of the Bergamo Orobie is of the Northern Grigna.
In the park there are the golden eagle, the peregrine falcon, the black grouse, the mountain francolin and the eagle owl, as well as several species of woodpeckers, including the black woodpecker.
Background
Before the year 1000, the inhospitable Val Grande and Val Pogallo had only been sporadically visited by a few hunters. The rock carvings found on some boulders in the park bear witness to these rare visits.
In the centuries to come, the territory of the park began to be used for pastoralism. The period of maximum anthropization came with the prosperity of the logging activity, at the turn of the twentieth century.
In 1944 the two valleys were the scene of bloody fascist roundups aimed at capturing and killing the hundreds of partisans who had found shelter in the area. Since that time the area has remained almost uninhabited. And over time the forest has recolonized valleys and slopes.
Inside the park today only one inhabited center remains, Stork, where there are seventeen inhabitants.
How to get
By plane
Milan-Malpensa Airport (MXP).
By car
Highway A26 of the tunnels, exit Gravellona Toce. From here it is possible to continue to reach the east border of the park. Specifically, this is where you get to Stork (732 m), the only inhabited area within the park (the road that goes up to Cicogna da Rovegro does not allow very heavy traffic, therefore on special occasions it is limited to an alternating one-way street and a shuttle service is arranged).
Strada Statale 33 del Sempione: all exits south of Domodossola are found on south and west borders of the park. The attacks of the paths on these sides of the park are quite low.
State road 337 of Val Vigezzo: runs along the north border of the park for the entire stretch from Domodossola to the town of King.
Highway A26 of the tunnels, exit Gravellona Toce. From here it is possible to continue to reach the east border of the park. Specifically, this is where you get to Stork (732 m), the only inhabited area within the park (the road that goes up to Cicogna da Rovegro does not allow very heavy traffic, therefore on special occasions it is limited to an alternating one-way street and a shuttle service is arranged).
Strada Statale 33 del Sempione: all exits south of 
State road 337 of Val Vigezzo: runs along the north border of the park for the entire stretch from Domodossola to the town of 
. For those arriving by car from the province of Varese, the ferry from Laveno to Verbania it can represent a quicker and more pleasant alternative to the motorway circumnavigation of Lake Maggiore. In addition to the ferry-boat connection with Laveno, Navigazione Lago Maggiore connects Verbania by boat to all the main towns of Lake Maggiore, but in these cases the service is limited to passenger transport only.
On the train
Domodossola-Milan railway. It is an important railway artery that passes along the south and west borders of the park, in the Toce valley. From the stations of Verbania-Pallanza, Mergozzo, Cuzzago, Premosello-Chiovenda is Vogogna Ossola you can easily reach paths that go up to the park. But the line is at low altitude (about 250m), so this solution is not recommended for the breathless.
Domodossola-Locarno railway (called informally Vigezzina in Italy e Centovallina in Switzerland). It is a narrow-gauge railway that runs along the north border of the park along the Val Vigezzo. The line is quite high (for example: 518 m in Trontano, 830 m in Druogno) and from all the stations west of Re there are paths leading up to the park. The exercise on the Italian section is managed by Soc. Subalpina of Railway Companies.
By bus
VCO (VCO Trasporti Srl), Via Holland 55, Verbania, ☎ 39 0323 518 711, ☎ 39 800 503 001, fax: 39 0323 503 448. Colleague Verbania, Cannobio, Domodossola e Omegna with the main towns that are located on the borders of the park.- SAF (SAF Srl, formerly Autoservizi Nerini Snc), Via alla Cartiera 39, Verbania, ☎ 39 0323 552 172, fax: 39 0323 552 165, @[email protected]. Extra-urban bus and bus lines for Verbania from: Malpensa Airport (Alibus) - Arona - Milan - Novara - Miazzina - Valle Intrasca.
Permits / Rates
Access to the park is free. But access to the Pedum integral reserve, in the center of the park, is strictly prohibited. You can enter the park with dogs but strictly on a leash.
How to get around
Val Grande National Park: full screen map.The only road that can be traveled by car inside the park is the one that leads to the town of Cicogna. For the rest it is possible to move only on foot, along the network of paths of the park. If you want to get off the beaten track, it is essential to have a good hiking map:
- Cartography OpenStreetMap (available online at openstreetmap.org)
- Paper Swisstopo, folio 285 T - Domodossola (Scale 1: 50.000) (available online at map.geo.admin.ch)
- Paper Kompass WK 97 - Varallo, Verbania, Lake Orta, Val Grande National Park (available online at kompass.de/wanderkarte)
- Val Grande National Park official hiking map (Scale: 1: 30.000)
- Paper Val Grande National Park of Zanetti maps
What see
Val Grande is the undisputed temple of nature, for this reason the main attractions are the natural wonders or the ancient settlements of shepherds used as a summer base for grazing cattle.
- 1 Pogallo. Ancient settlement which at the end of the nineteenth century became the main base of the woodcutters who began to exploit the valley for the collection of timber. It can be reached from Cicogna via a mule track carved into the rock.
- 2 Alpe Prà. A mountain pasture just above the village of Cicogna where a large boulder was found cupellated of prehistoric origin.
- 3 Third Chapel. Small chapel inside the park from which you can enjoy an exceptional view of the Pogallo valley.
On the edge of the park, on the other hand, there are villages whose history is closely linked to the events in the park.
- 4 Historic center of Vogogna. One of the most beautiful villages in Italy, Vogogna offers a historic center still intact, so much so that it has been included in the park boundaries.
- 5 Val Grande National Park Museum, Piazza Ettore Romagnoli, 5, Malesco, ☎ 39 0324 92444.
full: € 2, over 65 and TCI members: € 1, <3 years: free. 
in July and August, 10: 00-12: 00 and 15: 30-18: 30 from Tuesday to Sunday; in the other months, variable calendar consult the site. Collects archaeological finds of Malesco and nearby areas and describes the technique of extraction and use of soapstone, very common in these areas. 
full: € 2, over 65 and TCI members: € 1, <3 years: free. 
in July and August, 10: 00-12: 00 and 15: 30-18: 30 from Tuesday to Sunday; in the other months, variable calendar consult the site. Collects archaeological finds of 
What to do
| "The mountains are of modest elevation ... but he who desires to frolic with the cliffs will find in them bread for his teeth" |
| (Edmondo Brusoni, Guide of Ossola, 1888) |
Trekking in the day
For the first approach, perhaps a day trip that uses one of the four for lunch is preferable managed park shelters, generally open on weekends between April and October. For example:
- 1 Miazzina - Pian Cavallone. Difference in altitude 478 m, duration 3h round trip, difficulty T (tourist). Departure from Fina Chapel (1,101 m), just above the village of Miazzina, I arrive at Pian Cavallone (1,564 m), near which stands the homonymous refuge. In the area there is a dense network of paths that allows some digressions. The ridge trail between the Partridge Lace (1,506 m) and the Pian Cavallone offers a splendid view of the Val Grande, the Val Pogallo and the Lake Maggiore.
- 2 Nature trail Man-tree. Difference in altitude 450 m, duration 3h round trip, difficulty E (hiking). Departure from Location Ruspesso (937 m), arrival at Mount Faié (1,352 m). The Fantoli Refuge it is on the route just fifteen minutes from the start. The dense network of trails on the Mount Faié allows substantial digressions. In particular, the path can be considerably lengthened by arriving at the Corte Buè (888 m) or to the Cima Corte Lorenzo (1,574 m).
- 3 Cicogna — Alpe Prà — Val Pogallo. Difference in altitude 750 m, duration 5 hours a / r, difficulty E (hiking). From Stork (732 m) go up to the nature trail The civilization of fatigue, arriving in 1h 30 'at Alpe Prà (1,260 m), where the refuge is located House of the Alpine. Continue to Alpe Leciurt, from which it descends to Pogallo (780 m), to finally take the nature trail A story of water (the old Sutermeister street) which returns to Stork along the Rio Pogallo.
- 4 Trontano - Alpe Parpinasca. Difference in altitude 690 m, duration 3h 20 'round trip, difficulty T. From Loc. Coconut (550 m), just above the village of Trontano, you go up to the nature trail Along the thread of a track, arriving at Alpe Faievo (950 m). From here it is possible to continue until Alpe Parpinasca (1,240 m) where the homonymous refuge.
- Summit of Laurasca. Difference in altitude 900 m, duration 3h, difficulty EE (expert excursions). Starting from Val Loana (above Malesco) go up through the valley and reach Alpe Scaredi in about two hours. From there starts a path that climbs the slope until it reaches the top of Laurasca. The route, although it is classified as EE for a short stretch in which you have to help yourself with a chain, does not present particular difficulties and at the same time offers a breathtaking view of the whole Park and the Val Vigezzo from one of the highest peaks.
Many other itineraries to do in the day on the official website.
Trekking of several days
- 5 Malesco-Colloro crossing. Difference in altitude 1,400 m - descent 2,000 m, duration 10/12 hours, difficulty EE (expert hikers). One of the most famous and popular multi-day excursions in Val Grande. It develops from north to south. Departure in Val Loana, reachable by car from Malesco. The path (well marked) touches the Scaredi Alp, In la Piana, the Colma di Premosello and descends to Colloro, a hamlet of Premosello-Chiovenda. Along the way you can lean on the bivouacs, always open, located: in Scaredi, in La Piana, in Val Gabbio and at Colma di Premosello.
- 6 Path of the Bove. Difference in altitude 1.463 m, duration 20h, difficulty EE. Ring to be completed in several stages. Mostly it develops on the ridge, along what was the first Italian via ferrata opened by Giacomo Bove. The route is not suitable for everyone: being a ridge itinerary in some passages you have to use rope and crampons and cross unmarked passages. Counterclockwise, the route passes through: Stork (732 m), Alpe Curgei, Pian Cavallone (1,564 m), Pizzo Marona (2,051 m), Mount Zeda (2,156 m), Summit of Laurasca (2,195 m), Cima Sasso (1,916 m), Full of Balmello (1,589 m), Alpe Prà, Stork. Along the way you can rely on: Biv. Curgei, Pian Cavallone Refuge, Biv. Forna, Biv. Lidesh, Biv. Bocchetta di Campo, House of the Alpini.
Shopping
You can shop in Cicogna, the only inhabited place in the park, especially in visitor center, where hiking maps and t-shirts are available.
A nice souvenir could be the "Passport of the shelters", sold in the protected shelters of the Park (and in all those of theOssola), where you can collect the stamps of all the shelters you visited.
Where to eat
The managed shelters are located on the park boundaries:
- 1 Pian Cavallone Refuge (Loc. Pian Cavallone - Intragna), ☎ 39 0323 407482, 39 349 6878966, @[email protected]. It is located 1,530m on the eastern edge of the park, a few kilometers south of the Mount Zeda.
- From Loc. Seagull (1,150 m), above Intragna: difference in altitude 380 m, duration 1h 20 ', difficulty T.
- From Loc. Fina Chapel (1,100 m), above Miazzina: difference in altitude 430 m, duration 1h 30 ', difficulty T.
- From Loc. Door Chapel (1,050 m), above Caprezzo: altitude difference 480 m, duration 1h 40 ', difficulty T.
- From Stork (732 m): difference in altitude 800 m, duration 3h, difficulty E.
- 2 Alpe Parpinasca Refuge (Loc. Alpe Parpinasca - Trontano), ☎ 39 348 8239136. It is located 1,240 m north-west of the park, a few kilometers outside the park, on the slopes of the Mount Togano. It is open on weekends from April to October and every day of August.
- From the station of Trontano (518 m): height difference 720 m, duration 1h 50 ', difficulty T.
- 3 Fantoli Refuge (Loc. Alpe Ompio - San Bernardino Verbano), ☎ 39 340 5783883, @[email protected]. It is located 1,000 m on the southeastern edge of the park, under the Mount Faié. Open from the beginning of April to the end of October.
- From Ruspesso (937 m): difference in height 60 m, duration 15 ', difficulty T.
- 4 Nigritella Refuge (Loc. Alpe Cortino - Malesco), ☎ 39 339 2770509, 39 0324 92456. It is located at 1,491 m a few kilometers north of the park, at the entrance to the Val Loana. It is open on summer weekends.
- From Loc. Patqueso (1200 m), above Malesco: difference in altitude 290 m, duration 1h, difficulty E on a path or T on a dirt road.
- 5 House of the Alpine (Loc. Alpe Prà - Cicogna), ☎ 39 0323 53326, 39 339 2669347. At 1,260 m. Open upon reservation.
- From Stork (732 m): difference in altitude 530 m, duration 1h 30 ', difficulty E.
Where stay
Inside the park there are the managed shelters above, typically open on weekends from April to October, e numerous bivouacs always open. It is advisable to call the managers of the shelters and bivouacs to ensure actual availability.
Otherwise in Cicogna there are a B&B and a hostel (as well as some holiday homes):
- 1 Cà del Pitur, ☎ 39 347 0834837. B&B.
- 2 Val Grande Hostel (Stork Park Hostel), Vicolo Pozzolo - Cicogna, ☎ 39 371 3571697, @[email protected]. starting from 19 euros per person per night. Check in: 15, check-out: 20.
The villages bordering the park offer a wider range of alternatives, consider in particular Verbania, Vogogna is Cannobio.
Safety
Many trails are poorly marked and some have an unusual difficulty due to the altitude. It is advisable to contact a guide for multi-day crossings. It's available here a list of contact details.
The complete absence of telephone signal in the whole park area and the scarce attendance of the area radically reduce the possibility of requesting help for those who do not have a means of satellite communication.
- Val Grande Cooperative, Via alla Cartiera 41 (Verbania- I can), ☎ 39 0323 468506, @[email protected]. Many local mountain guides are affiliated with this cooperative.
How to keep in touch
The area of Val Grande and Val Pogallo are not covered by the signal of any telephone company.
Around
Other projects
Wikipedia contains an entry concerning Val Grande National Park
Commons contains images or other files on Val Grande National Park
