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Val Bognanco: Two Days Hiking Amongst Alpine Lakes and Following Smugglers' Trails

Bognanco, provincia del Verbano-Cusio-Ossola · Piemonte•2 days · 1 night•Trekking · 2,300 m
Experience
Multi-day treks
Difficulty ?
INTERMEDIATE
Where?
provincia del Verbano-Cusio-Ossola, Piemonte
On your own?
No problem
Points
+24
Val Bognanco: Two Days Hiking Amongst Alpine Lakes and Following Smugglers' Trails
Community photos
See all photos
Overview
The experience
Difficulty
What's included
Itinerary
Carpooling
What to bring
Your guide
Reviews
Questions
WHY THIS TREK

Two days in Val Bognanco

A two-day experience immersed in the tranquility and authentic nature of the Bognanco Valley, among ancient paths, high-altitude panoramas, and genuine flavors.

Group chat before departure
Come alone, leave with new friends

The experience

Day 1 – In the footsteps of smugglers:

Starting from San Bernardo, we will ascend along the ancient smugglers' paths, which once connected Italy and Switzerland through the Monscera Pass. The views gradually open up onto the surrounding valleys, offering spectacular glimpses of the 4000-meter peaks in the area. In the afternoon, we will reach Rifugio il Dosso, our base for the night: a welcoming and familiar structure, where mountain simplicity meets authentic hospitality.

After sunset, a magical experience awaits us: an evening under the stars, amidst silence and clear skies, followed by a typical dinner prepared with local products from the farm located just a stone's throw from the refuge. A convivial moment to savor the true atmosphere of the mountains.

Day 2 – Alpine lakes and return:

The next day we will explore some of the alpine lakes that dot the valley, small bodies of water surrounded by meadows and rocky peaks. We will stroll through the colors and reflections of the landscape, enjoying the calm of these still unspoiled places, before returning towards San Bernardo, enriched by two days of nature, tradition, and authenticity.

Two days among history, mountains, and taste, where every step tells a fragment of Alpine life and every gaze is lost in the wild beauty of the Alps of the Val Bognanco.

GOOD TO KNOW
Group chat
It opens before departure: that's where the meeting point is confirmed and carpooling is arranged.
Free cancellation up to 4 days before
You pay nothing when you book.
Guiddy accident insurance
Included in the price.
+24 Guiddy points
Your points grow with every outing, level you up and unlock discounts, exclusive outings and goodies.
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+
1,400 m D+ · 20 km · 6 h over 2 days
Exposure and exposed sections
NONE
No exposed sections reported on the route.
VERTIGO RISK
WHAT YOU NEED BEFORE YOU GO
✓
BEFORE YOU GO
Train your legs with a loaded backpack in the weeks before: you've got 3 h a day for 2 days in a row ahead. Nights in mountain huts are short: those who go to bed early the night before start better
✓
IN YOUR BACKPACK
A light backpack for 2 days: a change of clothes, a sleeping bag liner for the hut, a water bottle and 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
✓Dinner in hut
✓Overnight stay with breakfast
✕NOT INCLUDED
✕Lunch
✕Travel to Bognanco
To get there, there's Guiddy carpooling, below.

Itinerary

Two days, approximate times. The final details come in the group chat.

Elevation gain
1,400 m
Max altitude
2,300 m
Distance
20 km
Duration
2 days
Day 1
3 stops · from 09:00
Day 2
3 stops · from 09:00
Map
2 days · 20 km
Meeting point 9:00approximate
San Bernardo Mountain Hut, 28842, Bognanco, provincia del Verbano-Cusio-Ossola, 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
09:00PARKING
San Bernardo Mountain Hut
Starting point: San Bernardo mountain hut parking area.
12:30PASS
Monscera Pass
Following Smugglers' Trails
15:00MOUNTAIN HUT
"Rifugio il Dosso" Mountain Hut
Our overnight stop.

How do you get to Bognanco? 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 a multi-day trek: you carry everything you bring, so less is more.

Trekking boots
REQUIRED
Layered clothing
REQUIRED
Windbreaker
REQUIRED
Water supply
REQUIRED
Packed lunch
REQUIRED
Change of clothes
REQUIRED
Mini-crampons (in autumn-winter)
RECOMMENDED
Trekking poles
RECOMMENDED

Your guide

Giacomo C.
Giacomo C.
· 10 treks
We'll email you when they have a new outing on the calendar.

I'm Giacomo, a mid-mountain leader registered with the Collegio Guide Alpine. I was born and raised among the peaks of the Val d'Ossola and the views of Lake Maggiore, and I turned my passion for the mountains into a profession. Over the last 10 years I've travelled through New Zealand, Indonesia, Sri Lanka, Corsica, Madeira and Spain, and of course along the trails of the Alpine arc and the Apennines, often looking for that genuine connection with wild nature. I'll take you to find real places far from mass tourism: from the hidden trails of the Val d'Ossola and Lake Maggiore to the iconic Dolomites, with routes tailored to every level. My mission? To let you experience the mountains as something that changes you: every step is a story, every view a memory that stays. 🎒 See you on the trails!

Italiano
Inglese
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 never done a multi-day trek, can I do it?
⌄
You need to be fit enough to walk a full day (6 h a day) and carry your backpack for 2 days. Flat or slightly inclined sections with short stretches on steep slopes and rocks, not tiring or demanding.
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 4 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.
Val Bognanco: Two Days Hiking Amongst Alpine Lakes and Following Smugglers' Trails

Val Bognanco: Two Days Hiking Amongst Alpine Lakes and Following Smugglers' Trails

Bognanco, (VB) · Piemonte
2 days · Trekking · 2,300 m
New: you'll be among the first Guidders to do it
Elevation gain
1,400 m
Max altitude
2,300 m
Distance
20 km
Exposed sections
None
Duration
2 days
Guiddy points
+24
6 photos
+2 photos
WHY THIS TREK

Two days in Val Bognanco

A two-day experience immersed in the tranquility and authentic nature of the Bognanco Valley, among ancient paths, high-altitude panoramas, and genuine flavors.

Come alone, leave with new friends

The experience

Day 1 – In the footsteps of smugglers:

Starting from San Bernardo, we will ascend along the ancient smugglers' paths, which once connected Italy and Switzerland through the Monscera Pass. The views gradually open up onto the surrounding valleys, offering spectacular glimpses of the 4000-meter peaks in the area. In the afternoon, we will reach Rifugio il Dosso, our base for the night: a welcoming and familiar structure, where mountain simplicity meets authentic hospitality.

After sunset, a magical experience awaits us: an evening under the stars, amidst silence and clear skies, followed by a typical dinner prepared with local products from the farm located just a stone's throw from the refuge. A convivial moment to savor the true atmosphere of the mountains.

Day 2 – Alpine lakes and return:

The next day we will explore some of the alpine lakes that dot the valley, small bodies of water surrounded by meadows and rocky peaks. We will stroll through the colors and reflections of the landscape, enjoying the calm of these still unspoiled places, before returning towards San Bernardo, enriched by two days of nature, tradition, and authenticity.

Two days among history, mountains, and taste, where every step tells a fragment of Alpine life and every gaze is lost in the wild beauty of the Alps of the Val Bognanco.

How hard is it

Guiddy scale
INTERMEDIATE
F
F+
I
I+
D
D+
1,400 m D+ · 20 km · 6 h over 2 days
WHAT YOU NEED BEFORE YOU GO
✓
BEFORE YOU GO
Train your legs with a loaded backpack in the weeks before: you've got 3 h a day for 2 days in a row ahead. Nights in mountain huts are short: those who go to bed early the night before start better
✓
IN YOUR BACKPACK
A light backpack for 2 days: a change of clothes, a sleeping bag liner for the hut, a water bottle and poles. Always with you: a plaster, an antiseptic wipe and a small bag for rubbish

What's included

INCLUDED
✓Certified Guide
✓Guiddy accident insurance
✓Dinner in hut
✓Overnight stay with breakfast
NOT INCLUDED
✕Lunch
✕Travel to Bognanco

Itinerary

2 days · approximate times
Day 1
Day 2
Map
2 days · 20 km
Meeting point 9:00San Bernardo Mountain Hut
We usually meet a little earlier for breakfast together, when possible.
09:00PARKING
San Bernardo Mountain Hut
Starting point: San Bernardo mountain hut parking area.
12:30PASS
Monscera Pass
Following Smugglers' Trails
15:00MOUNTAIN HUT
"Rifugio il Dosso" Mountain Hut
Our overnight stop.
See day 2 →

How do you get to Bognanco? 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 a multi-day trek: you carry everything you bring, so less is more.
Trekking boots
REQUIRED
Layered clothing
REQUIRED
Windbreaker
REQUIRED
Water supply
REQUIRED
Packed lunch
REQUIRED
Change of clothes
REQUIRED
Mini-crampons (in autumn-winter)
RECOMMENDED
Trekking poles
RECOMMENDED

Your guide

Giacomo C.
Giacomo C.
10 treks with Guiddy
Guida di Media Montagna

I'm Giacomo, a mid-mountain leader registered with the Collegio Guide Alpine. I was born and raised among the peaks of the Val d'Ossola and the views of Lake Maggiore, and I turned my passion for the mountains into a profession. Over the last 10 years I've travelled through New Zealand, Indonesia, Sri Lanka, Corsica, Madeira and Spain, and of course along the trails of the Alpine arc and the Apennines, often looking for that genuine connection with wild nature. I'll take you to find real places far from mass tourism: from the hidden trails of the Val d'Ossola and Lake Maggiore to the iconic Dolomites, with routes tailored to every level. My mission? To let you experience the mountains as something that changes you: every step is a story, every view a memory that stays. 🎒 See you on the trails!

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 never done a multi-day trek, can I do it?
⌄
You need to be fit enough to walk a full day (6 h a day) and carry your backpack for 2 days. Flat or slightly inclined sections with short stretches on steep slopes and rocks, not tiring or demanding.
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
€159
per person
Book now →
Pay only if confirmed