PROPOSED BY THE GUIDE
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Trek to the Formazza Lakes and San Giacomo Pass

Formazza, provincia del Verbano-Cusio-Ossola · Piemonte•1 day•Hiking · 2,383 m
Experience
Day hikes
Difficulty ?
INTERMEDIATE
Where?
provincia del Verbano-Cusio-Ossola, Piemonte
On your own?
No problem
Points
+17
Trek to the Formazza Lakes and San Giacomo Pass
Community photos
Overview
The experience
Difficulty
What's included
Itinerary
Carpooling
What to bring
Your guide
Reviews
Questions
WHY THIS HIKE

The lakes of Val Formazza

An intense, high-altitude trek in Val Formazza, in the province of Verbano-Cusio-Ossola, taking you through Riale, the Romanesque bridge near Rifugio Maria Luisa, Lago del Toggia, and Passo San Giacomo. With Guidders, you’ll hike along alpine trails and rocky high-mountain paths, crossing pastures, glacial basins, and wide-open views over the valley. This hike requires a good level of fitness: a long ascent, uneven terrain in places, and possible wet and rocky sections, with altitude above 2,300 metres. In return, you’ll take home a genuine, shared, and unforgettable experience. 5 reasons - alpine lakes and sweeping views - a stop at Rifugio Maria Luisa - a varied trail that never feels repetitive - the borderland atmosphere at Passo San Giacomo - the Guidders community hiking together What makes this trip unique is the blend of water, history, and high altitude: in a single hike you’ll experience a lake, a mountain hut, an ancient bridge, and an alpine pass between Piedmont and Switzerland. Indicative details.

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

The experience

An intense, high-altitude trek in Val Formazza, in the province of Verbano-Cusio-Ossola, taking you through Riale, the Romanesque bridge near Rifugio Maria Luisa, Lago del Toggia, and Passo San Giacomo. With Guidders, you’ll hike along alpine trails and rocky high-mountain paths, crossing pastures, glacial basins, and wide-open views over the valley. This hike requires a good level of fitness: a long ascent, uneven terrain in places, and possible wet and rocky sections, with altitude above 2,300 metres. In return, you’ll take home a genuine, shared, and unforgettable experience. 5 reasons - alpine lakes and sweeping views - a stop at Rifugio Maria Luisa - a varied trail that never feels repetitive - the borderland atmosphere at Passo San Giacomo - the Guidders community hiking together What makes this trip unique is the blend of water, history, and high altitude: in a single hike you’ll experience a lake, a mountain hut, an ancient bridge, and an alpine pass between Piedmont and Switzerland. Indicative details.

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.
Guiddy Coordinator (runs the group, Telegram included)
Included in the price.
Dog friendly
Your dog can come: add them when you book.

How hard is it, really

Guiddy scale
INTERMEDIATE
F
F+
I
I+
D
D+
739 m D+ · 18 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 739 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
✓Guiddy Coordinator (runs the group, Telegram included)
✕NOT INCLUDED
✕Packed lunch
✕Transport
To get there, there's Guiddy carpooling, below.

Itinerary

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

Elevation gain
739 m
Max altitude
2,383 m
Distance
18 km
Duration
6 h
Day
18 km · D+ 739 m · 6 h
Map
The stops · 18 km
Meeting point 9:00approximate
. The exact time is confirmed in the group chat. We usually meet a little earlier for breakfast together, when possible.
HOW TO GET THERE
09:00PARKING
Start from Riale
The route starts at the Toce Waterfall and leads to the charming hamlet of Riale, at around 1,700 metres in the Formazza Valley, in the province of Verbano-Cusio-Ossola.
11:00LAKE
Lake Toggia
You’ll reach Lake Toggia, one of the most scenic highlights of the hike.
12:00PASS
San Giacomo Pass
You reach San Giacomo Pass, the highest point of the hike (over 2,300 metres). Here, the views open out towards Switzerland and the surrounding valleys.
14:30LAKE
We descend to Lake Castel
From the Boden Lakes, we descend to Lake Castel, a vast artificial reservoir that has never been used, yet is certainly strikingly scenic.
15:30RETURN
Return to the cars
We head back to the cars.

How do you get to Formazza? 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
Trekking poles
REQUIRED
Cap
REQUIRED
Sunscreen
REQUIRED
Sunglasses
REQUIRED
Shorts
REQUIRED
Waterproof shell
REQUIRED
Backpack
REQUIRED
Change of clothes
REQUIRED
Packed lunch
REQUIRED
Trekking boots
RECOMMENDED
Mosquito repellent spray
RECOMMENDED

Your guide

Gilberto G.
Gilberto G.
· 27 outings
We'll email you when they have a new outing on the calendar.

Hi Guidders! 🧡 I'm Gilberto, an environmental hiking guide. They say happiness is only real when shared, and for me there's no greater joy than a view earned together. I take people to find the most genuine side of our trails, away from the rush and at footprint pace. I can't wait to share with you not only the walking, but the stories, the silences and — why not — a good piece of cheese at the top. Backpack on, we'll work out the rest as we go. Experience, care for safety and that pinch of adventure it takes to make an outing unforgettable: joining the next walk? 🧀 See you in the mountains, Guidders!

Italiano
Inglese
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 739 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.
Trek to the Formazza Lakes and San Giacomo Pass

Trek to the Formazza Lakes and San Giacomo Pass

Formazza, (VB) · Piemonte
1 day · Hiking · 2,383 m
New: you'll be among the first Guidders to do it
Elevation gain
739 m
Max altitude
2,383 m
Distance
18 km
Exposed sections
None
Duration
6 h
Guiddy points
+17
5 photos
+1 photos
WHY THIS HIKE

The lakes of Val Formazza

An intense, high-altitude trek in Val Formazza, in the province of Verbano-Cusio-Ossola, taking you through Riale, the Romanesque bridge near Rifugio Maria Luisa, Lago del Toggia, and Passo San Giacomo. With Guidders, you’ll hike along alpine trails and rocky high-mountain paths, crossing pastures, glacial basins, and wide-open views over the valley. This hike requires a good level of fitness: a long ascent, uneven terrain in places, and possible wet and rocky sections, with altitude above 2,300 metres. In return, you’ll take home a genuine, shared, and unforgettable experience. 5 reasons - alpine lakes and sweeping views - a stop at Rifugio Maria Luisa - a varied trail that never feels repetitive - the borderland atmosphere at Passo San Giacomo - the Guidders community hiking together What makes this trip unique is the blend of water, history, and high altitude: in a single hike you’ll experience a lake, a mountain hut, an ancient bridge, and an alpine pass between Piedmont and Switzerland. Indicative details.

Come alone, leave with new friends

How hard is it

Guiddy scale
INTERMEDIATE
F
F+
I
I+
D
D+
739 m D+ · 18 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 739 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
✓Guiddy Coordinator (runs the group, Telegram included)
NOT INCLUDED
✕Packed lunch
✕Transport

Itinerary

Day · approximate times
Map
Stops · 18 km
Meeting point 9:00Formazza
We usually meet a little earlier for breakfast together, when possible.
09:00PARKING
Start from Riale
The route starts at the Toce Waterfall and leads to the charming hamlet of Riale, at around 1,700 metres in the Formazza Valley, in the province of Verbano-Cusio-Ossola.
11:00LAKE
Lake Toggia
You’ll reach Lake Toggia, one of the most scenic highlights of the hike.
12:00PASS
San Giacomo Pass
You reach San Giacomo Pass, the highest point of the hike (over 2,300 metres). Here, the views open out towards Switzerland and the surrounding valleys.
14:30LAKE
We descend to Lake Castel
From the Boden Lakes, we descend to Lake Castel, a vast artificial reservoir that has never been used, yet is certainly strikingly scenic.
15:30RETURN
Return to the cars
We head back to the cars.

How do you get to Formazza? 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
Trekking poles
REQUIRED
Cap
REQUIRED
Sunscreen
REQUIRED
Sunglasses
REQUIRED
Shorts
REQUIRED
Waterproof shell
REQUIRED
Backpack
REQUIRED
Change of clothes
REQUIRED
Packed lunch
REQUIRED
Trekking boots
RECOMMENDED
Mosquito repellent spray
RECOMMENDED

Your guide

Gilberto G.
Gilberto G.
27 outings with Guiddy
Guida Ambientale Escursionistica

Hi Guidders! 🧡 I'm Gilberto, an environmental hiking guide. They say happiness is only real when shared, and for me there's no greater joy than a view earned together. I take people to find the most genuine side of our trails, away from the rush and at footprint pace. I can't wait to share with you not only the walking, but the stories, the silences and — why not — a good piece of cheese at the top. Backpack on, we'll work out the rest as we go. Experience, care for safety and that pinch of adventure it takes to make an outing unforgettable: joining the next walk? 🧀 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 739 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