Monte Barone from Coggiola: 1,100 m of climbing to the lookout over Monviso and Monte Rosa

Barone is the border mountain between the Biella area and Valsesia, and its summit is one of the most panoramic in the Prealps: on clean November days you see Monviso, Monte Rosa and the whole plain to the Apennines at once. It is earned with 1,100 m of climbing, almost all in the woods.

The route

We start from Piana del Ponte, above Coggiola, and climb through the beech wood on the trail to the Monte Barone hut at 1,600 m. From there the woods end and the trail continues over pastures and along the ridge to the cross on Monte Barone, 2,044 m.

Summit lunch with the 360-degree view, and down the same way with a stop at the hut.

Who it's for

• anyone fit for more than a thousand metres of climbing
• anyone who wants a real summit in late November before the snow
• anyone after the widest view between Biella and Valsesia

Good to know

The hut opens only at weekends in autumn, to be checked the week before: packed lunch. With snow on the final ridge the guide stops the group at the hut. Short days: early start.

Getting there

Piana del Ponte is an hour and fifty from Milan: A4 to Carisio or A26 to Romagnano, then Coggiola and the road up towards the Monte Barone hut. Free parking. Car pooling in the outing's Telegram group.