Tourist information
Visiting the Park: GVO - Great Route of the Orobie Mountains
The Great Route of the Orobie Mountains is the most important hiking trail in the Valtellina Orobie Mountains Park. It is a high altitude trail (the average altitude is 1,800m) covering a total of 130 kilometres from Andalo in the Val Lesina to Aprica. All the valleys on this slope are taken in along the way. The trail has many interesting aspects, from both a naturalistic and a historical point of view. It is not hard to see different examples of Alpine wildlife, including chamois and ibex (recently re-introduced into the park) and if you look up to the sky you may catch sight of an eagle, whose magnificent flight will accompany you as you walk. Along the trail you will also come across what is left of old mule-tracks and iron mines, as well as the trenches of the Cadorna line, which may give you food for thought about life in past times, while walking the silence of the mountains will certainly help your meditation.
Because of its exposure and abundant snowfalls, the Orobie Mountain chain still has glaciers which, although now retreating, can be admired during the hike through the most easterly part of the territory.
The western part of the trail is dedicated to Andrea Paniga, while the central-eastern part is dedicated to Bruno Credaro. Along the route there are many huts and bivouacs which are useful stopping-places for hikers on the Great Route, which can be walked in 11 stages (as suggested in the Guide to the Valtellina Orbie Mountains Regional Park by Mario Vannuccini). It is not generally of particular difficulty, but in some points good hiking techniques are required; so it is suitable for experienced hikers.
In particular inexpert tourists are strongly advised not to attempt the part that crosses the Val Malgina (Castello dell’Acqua) because of the difficulty in this part of the trail and lack of signposting.
Mountaineering equipment is not required.
Since many bivouacs and huts are closed or have only bunk beds, it is necessary to have your own sleeping bag, mattress and stove. For may huts you need to ask the management for the keys.
The trail is signposted by red/white signs on the ground as follows:
- track sign n.101 from Val Lesina to Val Tartano
- track sign n.201 from Val Madre to Val d’Arigna
- track sign n.301 from Val Malgina all’Aprica
- Recommended period
- July to September
- Starting point
- Delebio
- Arrival
- Aprica
Stages
- Stage 1:
- Delebio (218m) - Rifugio Monte Legnone (1,690m)
- Time necessary: 4 hours 30 mins
- Stage 2:
- Rifugio Monte Legnone (1,690 m) - Rifugio Bar Bianco (1,510 m)
- Time necessary: 6 - 7 hours
- Stage 3:
- Rifugio Bar Bianco (1,510 m) - Rifugio Casera di Trona Soliva (1,907m)
- Time necessary: 6 hours 30 mins - 7 hours
- Stage 4:
- Rifugio Casera di Trona Soliva (1,907 m) - Passo S. Marco (1,992m)
- Time necessary: 6 hours
- Stage 5:
- Passo S. Marco (1,992 m) - Rifugio Beniamino (1,485m)
- Time necessary: 5 hours 30 mins - 6 hours
- Stage 6:
- Rifugio Beniamino (1,485 m) - Rifugio Caprari (2,118m)
- Time necessary: 6 hours 30 mins - 7 hours
- Stage 7:
- Rifugio Caprari (2,118 m) - Capanna Mambretti (2,003m)
- Time necessary: 7 hours
- Stage 8:
- Capanna Mambretti (2,003 m) - Rifugio Baita Pescaiola (2,004m)
- Time necessary: 5 hours 30 mins
- Stage 9:
- Rifugio Baita Pescaiola (2,004 m) - Baita Streppaseghel (about 2,090m)
- Time necessary: 4 hours 30 mins - 5 hours
- Stage 10:
- Baita Streppaseghel (about 2,090 m) - Rifugio Tagliaferri (2,328m)
- Time necessary: 5 hours 30 mins - 6 hours
- Stage 11:
- Rifugio Tagliaferri (2,328 m) - Malga Magnolta (1,945 m) - Aprica (1,227m)
- Time necessary: 7-8 hours
