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Snowshoeing Adventure in the Alevè Forest: A Loop Hike Past Lago Secco, Lago Bagnour, and Europe's Largest Stone Pine Forest!

Villaretto, Cuneo · Piemonte•1 day•Hiking · 2,300 m
Experience
Day hikes
Difficulty ?
INTERMEDIATE PLUS
Where?
Cuneo, Piemonte
On your own?
No problem
Points
+17
Snowshoeing Adventure in the Alevè Forest: A Loop Hike Past Lago Secco, Lago Bagnour, and Europe's Largest Stone Pine Forest!
Community photos
Overview
The experience
Difficulty
What's included
Itinerary
Carpooling
What to bring
Your guide
Reviews
Questions
WHY THIS HIKE

Snowshoeing in the Alevè forest

Starting from the hamlet of Villaretto in Pontechianale, we will immerse ourselves in the magic of the Alevè forest, the largest Swiss stone pine forest in the Alps and the southernmost in Europe. Walking here in winter is like entering an ancient temple: muffled snow, deep silence, the scent of resin, and the majestic centuries-old stone pines that accompany us like guardians of time.

Group chat a couple of days before
Come alone, leave with new friends

The experience

Our snowshoe hike is a true journey into the wilderness of Monviso, a circular route that touches some of the most evocative points of the Alevè: the Lago Secco (Dry Lake), an alpine mirror that in winter becomes a corner suspended in silence, and the Lago Bagnour, with its intense color and the forest that surrounds it like a natural amphitheater.

We will not limit ourselves to the lakes: we will ascend to the upper reaches of the forest, to the edge of the Vallone dei Duc, the oldest, most remote, and wildest area of the entire Swiss stone pine forest. Here the forest narrows, the trees become living monuments, and the mountain takes on a primordial character that leaves you breathless.

During the day, we will cross luminous clearings, dense forests, panoramic openings, and stretches of soft snow, also encountering the famous monumental Swiss stone pine near Lago Bagnour, a giant that embodies the thousand-year history of this forest.

Lunch will be at the Rifugio Bagnour, an authentic, warm, and welcoming place to breathe in the purest atmosphere of the mountains and share the moment with the Guidders.

A complete, profound, and exciting experience: one of the most beautiful and meaningful snowshoe hikes in Piedmont.

GOOD TO KNOW
Group chat
It opens a couple of days before: that's where the meeting point is confirmed and carpooling is arranged.
Free cancellation up to 3 days before
You pay nothing when you book.
Guiddy accident insurance
Included in the price.
+17 Guiddy points
Your points grow with every outing, level you up and unlock discounts, exclusive outings and goodies.
Not suitable for dogs
This time your dog stays at home.

How hard is it, really

Guiddy scale
INTERMEDIATE PLUS
F
F+
I
I+
D
D+
750 m D+ · 8 km · 6 h
WHAT YOU NEED BEFORE YOU GO
✓
BEFORE YOU GO
Dress in layers and set off in daylight: on snow you sweat going up and freeze at the stops. If you've never snowshoed, no experience needed, just legs for a long walk and an easy pace
✓
IN YOUR BACKPACK
Snowshoes and poles (rent them if you don't have them), waterproof boots, gaiters, gloves plus a spare pair, a beanie, sunglasses, a hot thermos and a snack. Always with you: a plaster, an antiseptic wipe and a small bag for rubbish

What's included in the price

✓INCLUDED
✓Certified Guide
✓Guiddy accident insurance
✕NOT INCLUDED
✕Snowshoes and poles to be paid on site (on request)
✕Mini crampons (on request)
✕Avalanche beacon, shovel and probe (on request)
✕Travel to Villaretto
To get there, there's Guiddy carpooling, below.

Itinerary

One day, approximate times. The final details come in the group chat.

Elevation gain
750 m
Max altitude
2,300 m
Distance
8 km
Duration
6 h
Day
8 km · D+ 750 m · 6 h
Map
The stops · 8 km
Meeting point 9:30approximate
Pontechianale, provincia di Cuneo, Italia. The exact time is confirmed in the group chat. We usually meet a little earlier for breakfast together, when possible.
HOW TO GET THERE
09:30MEETING
Meeting Point
We'll meet at the Villaretto parking lot, where we'll hand out any rented equipment before setting off on our hike.
11:00VIEWPOINT
Snowshoeing Adventure in the Heart of the Woods
Snowshoeing Adventure in the Heart of the Alevè Forest: Explore Europe's southernmost Arolla pine forest, nestled within the Monviso Natural Park. Our snowshoe hike will take you through stunning mountain lakes, including Lago Secco and Lago Bagnour, as we venture into the forest's most remote and ancient areas.
14:00MOUNTAIN HUT
Lunch at Bagnour Mountain Hut
Enjoy lunch with an à la carte menu at the Rifugio Bagnour, nestled in the heart of the forest. Afterwards, we'll complete the loop trail and return to the cars.

How do you get to Villaretto? By carpooling.

You say so when booking, then you get organised in the Telegram group. Contacts and costs are agreed between you: a seat isn't guaranteed.

WHO'S ALREADY GOING
Offering a seat Looking for a seat
Cars are added in the last few days, once the group is confirmed.

What to bring

A list made for this hike. No technical gear: just good shoes and a well-packed backpack.

Trekking poles
REQUIRED
Snowshoes
REQUIRED
Windbreaker
REQUIRED
Warm gloves
REQUIRED
Thermal shirt
REQUIRED
Sunglasses
REQUIRED
Trekking boots
REQUIRED
Long pants
REQUIRED
Backpack
REQUIRED
Change of clothes
RECOMMENDED

Your guide

Elena A.
Elena A.
· 1 outings
We'll email you when they have a new outing on the calendar.

Hi Guidders! 🧡 I'm Elena, a licensed nature guide and tour leader. I'm 32 and I live in Sampeyre, in the province of Cuneo, in the land of Monviso. I'm passionate about mountains, sport and the outdoors in every form, and my aim is to show people the beauty of the places where I live — but above all to share and pass on what I feel when I'm out in nature. Those are two different things: the first you see, the second you feel. I also love travelling and everything travel involves: planning routes, studying and getting to know places, the inevitable discovery and the growth that comes with it. Come with me and you'll find someone who prepared the day beforehand, and then lives it with you. 🥾 See you in the mountains, Guidders!

Italiano
Inglese
Francese
Guida Ambientale Escursionistica

Reviews

Only from people who completed the outing.
—
no reviews yet
Itinerary—
Organisation—
Overall experience—
Ibex
The first reviews come after the outing
We only ask for feedback from people who were really there.

You'll be among the first to share your story.

Questions?

I've only done easy trails, can I come?
⌄
Flat or slightly inclined sections with short stretches on steep slopes and rocks, not tiring or demanding. You need to be fit enough to walk for 6 h with 750 m of ascent. If in doubt, message Ibex on WhatsApp.
Can I join on my own?
⌄
How does carpooling work?
⌄
What happens if the weather is bad?
⌄
What if the group doesn't reach the minimum?
⌄
Until when can I cancel?
⌄
Book now, pay only if it goes ahead
MOST POPULAR
✓No charge now: the amount is only held on your card
✓Free cancellation up to 3 days before
✓You're only charged once the group is confirmed, at 7 pm the evening before departure
✓Minimum not reached? No charge, nothing to do
Or pay straight away by card, PayPal, Satispay or Revolut. With Klarna you can also pay in interest-free instalments.
Ibex
Still have questions? Message Ibex
Ibex is Guiddy's virtual ibex: it answers everything, 24/7. In two messages it tells you whether this outing is for you, how to get there and what to pack.
Message Ibex on WhatsApp
No commitment: we're happy to answer even just for advice.
Snowshoeing Adventure in the Alevè Forest: A Loop Hike Past Lago Secco, Lago Bagnour, and Europe's Largest Stone Pine Forest!

Snowshoeing Adventure in the Alevè Forest: A Loop Hike Past Lago Secco, Lago Bagnour, and Europe's Largest Stone Pine Forest!

Villaretto, Pontechianale (CN) · Piemonte
1 day · Hiking · 2,300 m
New: you'll be among the first Guidders to do it
Elevation gain
750 m
Max altitude
2,300 m
Distance
8 km
Duration
6 h
Guiddy points
+17
5 photos
+1 photos
WHY THIS HIKE

Snowshoeing in the Alevè forest

Starting from the hamlet of Villaretto in Pontechianale, we will immerse ourselves in the magic of the Alevè forest, the largest Swiss stone pine forest in the Alps and the southernmost in Europe. Walking here in winter is like entering an ancient temple: muffled snow, deep silence, the scent of resin, and the majestic centuries-old stone pines that accompany us like guardians of time.

Come alone, leave with new friends

The experience

Our snowshoe hike is a true journey into the wilderness of Monviso, a circular route that touches some of the most evocative points of the Alevè: the Lago Secco (Dry Lake), an alpine mirror that in winter becomes a corner suspended in silence, and the Lago Bagnour, with its intense color and the forest that surrounds it like a natural amphitheater.

We will not limit ourselves to the lakes: we will ascend to the upper reaches of the forest, to the edge of the Vallone dei Duc, the oldest, most remote, and wildest area of the entire Swiss stone pine forest. Here the forest narrows, the trees become living monuments, and the mountain takes on a primordial character that leaves you breathless.

During the day, we will cross luminous clearings, dense forests, panoramic openings, and stretches of soft snow, also encountering the famous monumental Swiss stone pine near Lago Bagnour, a giant that embodies the thousand-year history of this forest.

Lunch will be at the Rifugio Bagnour, an authentic, warm, and welcoming place to breathe in the purest atmosphere of the mountains and share the moment with the Guidders.

A complete, profound, and exciting experience: one of the most beautiful and meaningful snowshoe hikes in Piedmont.

How hard is it

Guiddy scale
INTERMEDIATE PLUS
F
F+
I
I+
D
D+
750 m D+ · 8 km · 6 h
WHAT YOU NEED BEFORE YOU GO
✓
BEFORE YOU GO
Dress in layers and set off in daylight: on snow you sweat going up and freeze at the stops. If you've never snowshoed, no experience needed, just legs for a long walk and an easy pace
✓
IN YOUR BACKPACK
Snowshoes and poles (rent them if you don't have them), waterproof boots, gaiters, gloves plus a spare pair, a beanie, sunglasses, a hot thermos and a snack. Always with you: a plaster, an antiseptic wipe and a small bag for rubbish

What's included

INCLUDED
✓Certified Guide
✓Guiddy accident insurance
NOT INCLUDED
✕Snowshoes and poles to be paid on site (on request)
✕Mini crampons (on request)
✕Avalanche beacon, shovel and probe (on request)
✕Travel to Villaretto

Itinerary

Day · approximate times
Map
Stops · 8 km
Meeting point 9:30Villaretto
We usually meet a little earlier for breakfast together, when possible.
09:30MEETING
Meeting Point
We'll meet at the Villaretto parking lot, where we'll hand out any rented equipment before setting off on our hike.
11:00VIEWPOINT
Snowshoeing Adventure in the Heart of the Woods
Snowshoeing Adventure in the Heart of the Alevè Forest: Explore Europe's southernmost Arolla pine forest, nestled within the Monviso Natural Park. Our snowshoe hike will take you through stunning mountain lakes, including Lago Secco and Lago Bagnour, as we venture into the forest's most remote and ancient areas.
14:00MOUNTAIN HUT
Lunch at Bagnour Mountain Hut
Enjoy lunch with an à la carte menu at the Rifugio Bagnour, nestled in the heart of the forest. Afterwards, we'll complete the loop trail and return to the cars.

How do you get to Villaretto? By carpooling.

You say so when booking, then you get organised in the Telegram group.

WHO'S ALREADY GOING
Offering a seat Looking for a seat
Cars are added in the last few days, once the group is confirmed.

What to bring

A list made for this hike.
Trekking poles
REQUIRED
Snowshoes
REQUIRED
Windbreaker
REQUIRED
Warm gloves
REQUIRED
Thermal shirt
REQUIRED
Sunglasses
REQUIRED
Trekking boots
REQUIRED
Long pants
REQUIRED
Backpack
REQUIRED
Change of clothes
RECOMMENDED

Your guide

Elena A.
Elena A.
1 outings with Guiddy
Guida Ambientale Escursionistica

Hi Guidders! 🧡 I'm Elena, a licensed nature guide and tour leader. I'm 32 and I live in Sampeyre, in the province of Cuneo, in the land of Monviso. I'm passionate about mountains, sport and the outdoors in every form, and my aim is to show people the beauty of the places where I live — but above all to share and pass on what I feel when I'm out in nature. Those are two different things: the first you see, the second you feel. I also love travelling and everything travel involves: planning routes, studying and getting to know places, the inevitable discovery and the growth that comes with it. Come with me and you'll find someone who prepared the day beforehand, and then lives it with you. 🥾 See you in the mountains, Guidders!

We'll email you when they have a new outing on the calendar.

Reviews

— · none yet
Ibex
The first reviews come after the outing
Only from people who were really there.

You'll be among the first to share your story.

Questions?

I've only done easy trails, can I come?
⌄
Flat or slightly inclined sections with short stretches on steep slopes and rocks, not tiring or demanding. You need to be fit enough to walk for 6 h with 750 m of ascent. If in doubt, message Ibex on WhatsApp.
Can I join on my own?
⌄
How does carpooling work?
⌄
What happens if the weather is bad?
⌄
What if the group doesn't reach the minimum?
⌄
Until when can I cancel?
⌄
Ibex
Still unsure? Message Ibex on WhatsApp →
No date
€20
per person
Book now →
Pay only if confirmed