Snowshoeing at the Foot of Mount Disgrazia! Discover the itinerary with us for the snowshoeing excursion to Alpe dell’Oro, in Valmalenco.

This itinerary starts from Chiareggio, in Valmalenco. We have described the itinerary to reach the village in this article. The snowshoeing to Alpe dell’Oro is ideal to be undertaken in early spring (or during winters with little snow) when the road leading to Chiareggio is clear of snow and open to traffic. Alternatively, for the more experienced, the two itineraries can be combined and completed in a day. The route, through a comfortable and wide mule track, allows you to reach the alpine pastures above Chiareggio and enjoy magnificent views of the North face of Mount Disgrazia, which at 3678 meters dominates the valley.

TRIP SUMMARY

DIFFICULTY: Easy

ELEVATION GAIN: About 400 meters

MAXIMUM ALTITUDE: 2010 meters

Type: A/R

DURATION: 1.45 hours Up / 1.15 hours Down

START: Chiareggio, Valmalenco, (SO)

DESTINATION: Alpe dell’Oro (SO)

The itinerary starts in Chiareggio, a well-known tourist village in Valmalenco.. This village can be reached by car in spring (or during winters with little snow), when the drivable road is clear of snow and access is therefore open to traffic. Alternatively, you can reach it on snowshoes starting from San Giuseppe. We have described the itinerary in this article. Finally, you can take advantage of the snowmobile service provided by the numerous restaurants in Chiareggio (advance booking is obviously required).

We follow the main road of Chiareggio to the edge of the village, where the road becomes a dirt track and then a mule track. This track is part of the historic Rusca trail, which connected Valtellina with Switzerland, linking Sondrio and Chur. We follow the mule track that enters a beautiful forest of conifers. Through a series of switchbacks, with never excessive slopes, we gain altitude until we reach a junction. We take the right, following the signs for Alpe dell’Oro, our final destination.

The forest then gives way to pastures, and the panorama opens up. Always in an easy ascent, we traverse the entire alpine pasture until we reach a final bend, which takes us to the plateau above Alpe dell’Oro, with stone houses and huts. Here, the panorama treats us to breathtaking views of the valley and the North face of Mount Disgrazia, the lord of the valley.

The return follows the same route taken on the ascent.

The elevation gain is moderate, and there are no technical or challenging sections. The excursion is easy and suitable for everyone.

You can find the interactive map of the route, complete with elevation profile and downloadable GPS track, at this link.

For all our organized trips and events, check this page.

Always organize your trips with care, choose appropriate equipment, and verify the itinerary before embarking on it.