At the gateway to the Val Grande National Park, a simple hike to one of the most spectacular balconies looking out across the Vigezzo Valley. From Alpe Cortino you can admire the valley, particularly towards the north to Monte Ruscada and to the highest part of the Centovalli (literally: hundred valleys), in Switzerland.
From Malesco, take the road to Valle Loana. After about 4 km (2 1/2 miles) you’ll find a small car park on the left of the road with a bus stop. You can leave your car here and walk to the start of the mule track 50 m (55 yards) further ahead. There’s another car park a little further on too, at the side of the bridge. The start of the mule track is signposted (path M24) and along the way you’ll see white/red signs. The ascent through a beautiful beech forest is pretty steady and never too steep. It takes you to Alpe Cortino (1491 m – 4892 ft), a group of renovated huts in the middle of a large lawn on a gentle slope. In addition to the mule track you can use (only on foot) a dirt forestry road that starts from the Valle Loana road, about 150 m (164 yards) downstream of the car park indicated above. Along this alternative route the slopes are gentler, but the walking time is longer (about 2 hours).
Sector M “Itineraries” – M24
You can get to Malesco via train on the Vigezzina-Centovalli Railway. From Malesco, you need a car to get to the starting point for this hike.
Contact details: Municipality of Malesco
CAI contact details: Vigezzo Valley Section
Refreshment areas: Nigritella Refuge on Alpe Cortino
Easy route, the majority of which is along mule tracks.
4,5 km
400 m
1 h 30 min
Walking boots and poles.
M24
From late June to October
Map no. 14 scale 1:25,000 of the Geo4Map/CAI
Digital maps on the following apps: ViewRanger – Avenza Maps
Carta Escursionistica (Walking Map) scale 1:25.000 Vigezzo Valley/Cannobina Valle ed. Ex Comunità Montane