PROPOSED BY THE GUIDE
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Colle Baranca and Villa Aprilia – A panoramic trek between Val Mastallone and Macugnaga.

Frazione Santa Maria, Vercelli · Piemonte•1 day•Hiking · 1,824 m
Experience
Day hikes
Difficulty ?
INTERMEDIATE
Where?
Vercelli, Piemonte
On your own?
No problem
Points
+16
Colle Baranca and Villa Aprilia – A panoramic trek between Val Mastallone and Macugnaga.
Community photos
Overview
The experience
Difficulty
What's included
Itinerary
Carpooling
What to bring
Your guide
Reviews
Questions
WHY THIS HIKE

Colle Baranca and Villa Aprilia

An excursion through history, alpine pastures and spectacular views in the heart of Val Sesia

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

The experience

There's a trek in Piedmont that truly manages to combine everything: authentic nature, pristine alpine views, and a touch of mystery that makes it even more fascinating. This trek to Colle Baranca, starting from Val Mastallone (province of Vercelli), is one of those experiences that the Guidders remember for a long time.

You walk among alpine pastures, votive shrines and historical paths, with your gaze gradually opening towards the high altitudes of Monte Rosa. And then, almost suddenly, she appears: Villa Aprilia, a Liberty ruin suspended in time, which tells a story still shrouded in mystery today.

A complete, panoramic and deeply immersive excursion, perfect for those looking for a trek that's different from the usual.

This itinerary has a dual soul: on one hand, the natural dimension, with green valleys, alpine lakes and open views; on the other, the historical and cultural one, made of alpine pastures, forgotten architectures and traces of life in the mountains.

The ascent along the Val Mastallone, a side valley of Val Sesia, is gradual and never monotonous. You pass from wooded environments to increasingly open spaces, until you reach the evocative Lago del Colle Baranca, a body of water nestled between the mountains.

And above all, the scenic presence of the abandoned Art Nouveau villa dominates, making this trek truly iconic.

If you are looking for an excursion that combines nature, history and spectacular views, this trek to Colle Baranca is a choice that leaves its mark.

👉 Join the Guidders and discover one of the most fascinating itineraries in Val Sesia, among alpine lakes, alpine pastures and high-altitude mysteries.

A true experience, to be lived step by step.

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.
+16 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
F
F+
I
I+
D
D+
650 m D+ · 9 km · 6 h
Exposure and exposed sections
NONE
No exposed sections reported on the route.
VERTIGO RISK
WHAT YOU NEED BEFORE YOU GO
✓
BEFORE YOU GO
Go to bed early, have a good breakfast and drink before you set off: you've got 6 h and 650 m of ascent ahead, if you go to the mountains a couple of times a month, you're fit enough
✓
IN YOUR BACKPACK
Hiking shoes, 1.5 litres of water, a snack and a windproof jacket, plus poles. 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
✕Packed lunch
✕Travel to Frazione Santa Maria
To get there, there's Guiddy carpooling, below.

Itinerary

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

Elevation gain
650 m
Max altitude
1,824 m
Distance
9 km
Duration
6 h
Day
9 km · D+ 650 m · 6 h
Map
The stops · 9 km
Meeting point 9:15approximate
Frazione Santa Maria 18, 13025 Fobello provincia di Vercelli, 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
09:15MEETING
Parking area in Campo, Fobello
The tiny hamlet of Alpe Campo will welcome us before we ascend through the woods.
12:00HIDDEN POINT
Villa Aprilia: Your Gateway to Adventure
Just beyond the pass that unveils the Anzasca Valley, the ruins of the villa suddenly appear.
16:00MOUNTAIN HUT
Alpe Campo Parking Area
Back at Alpe Campo, we'll savor the charm of this tiny village.

How do you get to Frazione Santa Maria? 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.

Windproof
REQUIRED
Gloves
REQUIRED
Waterproof shell
REQUIRED
Packed lunch
REQUIRED
Layered clothing
REQUIRED
Backpack
REQUIRED
Trekking boots
REQUIRED

Your guide

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

Hi Guidders! 🧡 I'm Roberto, a mid-mountain guide: someone raised among trails, cows and a great deal of curiosity. I've been walking in the mountains since my father decided to take us all "up" together. I'd only just learned to stand up on flat ground, but it was among ridges, woods and stones that I really learned to walk. An architect by training, I've always watched how people inhabit the mountains: huts, summer pastures, traces of lives suspended between nature and human ingenuity. For over ten years I've taken hikers through valleys, summits and forgotten alpine pastures, entering nature with every sense to catch all of it. That's my mountain: constant searching, genuine experiences, care for safety and real wellbeing. A whirl of days outdoors that never ends, and that I don't want to end. 🌄 See you in the mountains, Guidders!

Italiano
Inglese
Francese
Guida di Media Montagna

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 650 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.
Colle Baranca and Villa Aprilia – A panoramic trek between Val Mastallone and Macugnaga.

Colle Baranca and Villa Aprilia – A panoramic trek between Val Mastallone and Macugnaga.

Frazione Santa Maria, Fobello (VC) · Piemonte
1 day · Hiking · 1,824 m
New: you'll be among the first Guidders to do it
Elevation gain
650 m
Max altitude
1,824 m
Distance
9 km
Exposed sections
None
Duration
6 h
Guiddy points
+16
3 photos
WHY THIS HIKE

Colle Baranca and Villa Aprilia

An excursion through history, alpine pastures and spectacular views in the heart of Val Sesia

Come alone, leave with new friends

The experience

There's a trek in Piedmont that truly manages to combine everything: authentic nature, pristine alpine views, and a touch of mystery that makes it even more fascinating. This trek to Colle Baranca, starting from Val Mastallone (province of Vercelli), is one of those experiences that the Guidders remember for a long time.

You walk among alpine pastures, votive shrines and historical paths, with your gaze gradually opening towards the high altitudes of Monte Rosa. And then, almost suddenly, she appears: Villa Aprilia, a Liberty ruin suspended in time, which tells a story still shrouded in mystery today.

A complete, panoramic and deeply immersive excursion, perfect for those looking for a trek that's different from the usual.

This itinerary has a dual soul: on one hand, the natural dimension, with green valleys, alpine lakes and open views; on the other, the historical and cultural one, made of alpine pastures, forgotten architectures and traces of life in the mountains.

The ascent along the Val Mastallone, a side valley of Val Sesia, is gradual and never monotonous. You pass from wooded environments to increasingly open spaces, until you reach the evocative Lago del Colle Baranca, a body of water nestled between the mountains.

And above all, the scenic presence of the abandoned Art Nouveau villa dominates, making this trek truly iconic.

If you are looking for an excursion that combines nature, history and spectacular views, this trek to Colle Baranca is a choice that leaves its mark.

👉 Join the Guidders and discover one of the most fascinating itineraries in Val Sesia, among alpine lakes, alpine pastures and high-altitude mysteries.

A true experience, to be lived step by step.

How hard is it

Guiddy scale
INTERMEDIATE
F
F+
I
I+
D
D+
650 m D+ · 9 km · 6 h
WHAT YOU NEED BEFORE YOU GO
✓
BEFORE YOU GO
Go to bed early, have a good breakfast and drink before you set off: you've got 6 h and 650 m of ascent ahead, if you go to the mountains a couple of times a month, you're fit enough
✓
IN YOUR BACKPACK
Hiking shoes, 1.5 litres of water, a snack and a windproof jacket, plus poles. 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
✕Packed lunch
✕Travel to Frazione Santa Maria

Itinerary

Day · approximate times
Map
Stops · 9 km
Meeting point 9:15Frazione Santa Maria
We usually meet a little earlier for breakfast together, when possible.
09:15MEETING
Parking area in Campo, Fobello
The tiny hamlet of Alpe Campo will welcome us before we ascend through the woods.
12:00HIDDEN POINT
Villa Aprilia: Your Gateway to Adventure
Just beyond the pass that unveils the Anzasca Valley, the ruins of the villa suddenly appear.
16:00MOUNTAIN HUT
Alpe Campo Parking Area
Back at Alpe Campo, we'll savor the charm of this tiny village.

How do you get to Frazione Santa Maria? 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.
Windproof
REQUIRED
Gloves
REQUIRED
Waterproof shell
REQUIRED
Packed lunch
REQUIRED
Layered clothing
REQUIRED
Backpack
REQUIRED
Trekking boots
REQUIRED

Your guide

Roberto F.
Roberto F.
1 outings with Guiddy
Guida di Media Montagna

Hi Guidders! 🧡 I'm Roberto, a mid-mountain guide: someone raised among trails, cows and a great deal of curiosity. I've been walking in the mountains since my father decided to take us all "up" together. I'd only just learned to stand up on flat ground, but it was among ridges, woods and stones that I really learned to walk. An architect by training, I've always watched how people inhabit the mountains: huts, summer pastures, traces of lives suspended between nature and human ingenuity. For over ten years I've taken hikers through valleys, summits and forgotten alpine pastures, entering nature with every sense to catch all of it. That's my mountain: constant searching, genuine experiences, care for safety and real wellbeing. A whirl of days outdoors that never ends, and that I don't want to end. 🌄 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 650 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
€25
per person
Book now →
Pay only if confirmed