Pizzo Formico: a hike from Gandino with Orobie views

A balcony over the Orobie Alps above Val Gandino

Some mountains ask for effort, others hand you the view almost straight away: Pizzo Formico is the second kind. From the Monte Farno car park above Gandino, a couple of hours across open meadows bring you to 1,636 metres, with the Orobie in front of you, the Presolana on your right and the plain fading into the haze.

We start at 1,250 metres, where the road ends and the green of Val Gandino begins, a quiet side valley of Val Seriana. The trail climbs gently through pastures and thin woodland, with no technical or exposed sections: the whole climb is 430 metres of steady walking. The higher we go, the wider the view, until the horizon opens all around and on clear days you can even pick out Monte Rosa to the north-west.

From the summit we drop to Rifugio Parafulmine for lunch, either a packed one on the meadows or a hot plate at the table, whatever the group prefers. Then back to the Monte Farno car park, with time for a toast before we say goodbye.

Why come

• Pizzo Formico, one of the widest viewpoints over the Orobie Alps
• 430 metres of ascent: a real summit without a hard day out
• Rifugio Parafulmine, a warm stop minutes below the top
• Val Gandino, far from the crowded weekend spots

Who it suits

This is an easy hike: if you walk the odd weekend you will be fine, and it works well as a first outing at altitude. Bring hiking boots and enough water; everything else is in the equipment list below.

Come with the Guidders: book your place and let's climb Pizzo Formico together.