Experience the best of Italy’s alpine landscapes on 30 unforgettable day walks through Gran Paradiso National Park, set between the Aosta Valley and Piedmont in the Graian Alps. As Italy’s oldest national park, Gran Paradiso offers a spectacular setting of soaring peaks, wildflower meadows, sparkling lakes, and tranquil river valleys. These routes showcase the region’s wild beauty, where you might spot ibex, chamois, and marmots, and savour local food in mountain villages.

Ideal for walkers of all experience levels, from relaxed strollers to seasoned trekkers, this comprehensive Cicerone guide describes 30 graded walks (2.5–24km/1.5–15 miles), each taking between 1.5 and 8 hours. Walks start from traditional villages and peaceful valleys, all accessible by public transport, with flexible itineraries to fit your plans.

• Choose from 30 inspiring day walks across Gran Paradiso National Park, following well-marked trails, old mule tracks, and alpine paths linking traditional hamlets, lakes, and mountain viewpoints, with opportunities to encounter wildlife along the way.
• Plan your Gran Paradiso walking holiday for the ideal season, with guidance on local weather and trail conditions showing why June to October is best for wildflowers, wildlife sightings, and open mountain huts.
• Benefit from clear grading and route descriptions, reliable waymarking, and daily information boxes covering distance, walking time, elevation gain, terrain, and facilities for every walk in Gran Paradiso National Park.
• Find practical holiday planning advice and recommendations for accommodation in the Aosta Valley and Piedmont, from village hotels and guesthouses to mountain rifugi, plus comprehensive notes on services, places to eat and sample local cuisine, water sources, and bus connections between valleys.
• Navigate Gran Paradiso’s trails with confidence using clear 1:50,000 mapping, downloadable GPX files, and step-by-step directions for every route.
• Expand your knowledge of Gran Paradiso with sections on geology, natural history, flora and fauna, travel, language, regional food and drink, and the vibrant culture of the area.

Plan your Italian mountain adventure with confidence using this trusted Cicerone guidebook. Immerse yourself in the wild beauty, history, culinary delights, and cultural richness of Gran Paradiso National Park, one of Europe’s most spectacular protected landscapes.

Walking in Gran Paradiso National Park – Quick Facts

Guide name: Walking in Gran Paradiso National Park
Location: Italy – Valle d’Aosta & Piedmont, Graian Alps
Route covered: 30 day walks (2.5–24km/1.5–15 miles), loops and traverses across Gran Paradiso National Park
Typical duration: 1.5–8 hours per walk; range of short and longer options for all abilities
Difficulty: Graded from easy riverside strolls to challenging alpine ascents; suitable for walkers of all experience levels
Terrain: Marked trails, old mule tracks, mountain paths, meadows, forest, lakeshores, and high alpine ground
Navigation/mapping: 1:50,000 mapping, downloadable GPX files, and detailed route descriptions included
Accommodation & logistics: Comprehensive notes on accommodation, services, water sources, and public transport between valleys and trailheads

Author Highlight

“There is plenty of variety and options for all legs and lungs. Walkers will enjoy unforgettable days on excellent trails through spectacular valleys that they often have all to themselves, even at the height of the summer season. Remember that the further you venture away from ‘civilisation’ and the valley settlements, the wilder and more exciting the scenery becomes and the fewer two-legged visitors you are likely to meet.”

- Gillian Price, author of Walking Gran Paradiso National Park

Map key
Route summary table
Introduction
The Gran Paradiso National Park
Walks 
Some geology
Some history
Wildlife
Plants and flowers
How to get there
Local transport 
When to go 
Valleys and bases 
Accommodation 
Food and drink
What to take 
Maps and GPX tracks 
Dos and don’ts 
Emergencies 
Using this guide
Path marking
Local traditions 
Further suggestions 
DAY WALKS 
Walk 1 The Lillaz Waterfalls 
Walk 2 Lago di Loie 
Walk 3 Vallon de Valeille
Walk 4 Cascades de Pila 
Walk 5 Laghi di Lussert 
Walk 6 Montseuc 
Walk 7 The Money Glacier Terrace 
Walk 8 The Casolari dell’Herbetet Traverse
Walk 9 Punta Pousset 
Walk 10 Beneath the Grivola 
Walk 11 Pont d’Ael’s Roman Bridge 
Walk 12 At the Foot of the Gran Paradiso
Walk 13 The Gran Collet Circuit 
Walk 14 The King’s Path in Valle delle Meyes
Walk 15 Orvieille and Lacs de Djouan 
Walk 16 The 2205m Mont Blanc 
Walk 17 Vallon di Sort-Vallon di Entrelor 
Walk 18 Rifugio Benevolo and Lago Goletta 
Walk 19 Lakes above Pian del Nivolet 
Walk 20 The Royal Track to Ceresole Reale 
Walk 21 Lago Serrù Sentiero Glaciologico 
Walk 22 Upper Valle Orco
Walk 23 Beneath the Tre Levanne 
Walk 24 Ceresole Reale lake circuit 
Walk 25 The Old Villages of Valle Orco
Walk 26 Rifugio Pontese and Lago di Teleccio 
Walk 27 Nivolastro to Andorina 
Walk 28 Val di Forzo, Boschettiera and Bivacco Davito 
Walk 29 Sanctuary of San Besso 
Walk 30 Above Piamprato to Col Larissa 
Appendix A Italian–English glossary 
Appendix B Useful contacts 
Appendix C Rifugi

Seasons

June through October. Snow may be encountered on high altitude routes in early summer. As of July, wildflowers bring carpets of colour. Mountain huts open in summer but valley villages provide meals and accommodation year-round.

Centres

Cogne, Valnontey, Lillaz, Gimillan, Dégioz, Eaux Rousses, Rhêmes-Notre-Dame, Noasca, Ceresole Reale, Colle del Nicolet, Ronco Canavese and Piamprato.

Difficulty

Walks are graded 1-3, ranging from straightforward strolls through to demanding alpine routes. Fitness and some alpine walking experience are preferable, as are good boots. (No special equipment is required.)

Must See

Rugged alpine mountainsides, lakes, river valleys and the Lillaz waterfalls. Wildlife including ibex, chamois, marmots, lammergeier vultures and golden eagles. Admire the magnificent Gran Paradiso peak. Visit or stay at high altitude mountain huts. Explore old alpine hamlets reachable only on foot. Walk across the ancient Roman Pont d’Ael aqueduct-bridge.

June 2025

Walk 7

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