Hiking – Around Val Toggia

On arrival at the Toce Falls, after admiring the mighty waterfall from the wooden walkway, follow the path in the direction of Via del Gries, marked G00, until you reach Riale. At a fork in the road, take the San Giacomo Pass path until you cross route G20, which leads directly to the pass. Cross the path several times until you reach a flat section that takes you to the Maria Luisa Refuge. From here, follow signs for the dam, continuing on the road that runs alongside Lake Toggia and arriving at the San Giacomo Passo. Signposts indicate the Boden Lakes on trail G28a. Lakes, meadows and pastures form a wonderful natural landscape: when you come across the Via Alpina (VA), use it to descend to the Boden Lakes. Make a detour towards the dam, crossing over it to meet the route uphill and thus arrive again at the Maria Luisa Refuge. The return from the refuge is part of the way to Riale, a small Walser village which is worth a visit.

Sector G “Routes” – IG23

Domodossola FS International Railway Station (from Bern and Milan).
From the BUS terminal, take the Formazza Valley bus route, getting off at Cascate del Toce (the Toce Falls).
Contact details: Municipality of Formazza
CAI contact details: Formazza Section
Refreshment areas: Maria Luisa Refuge

Medium difficulty. The route doesn’t have any difficulties per se, but requires good training to tackle the almost 20 km (12 miles) of high-altitude route.

19,5 km

731 m

5 hrs 50 min

Hiking boots, windbreaker and technical mountain clothing.

G00 – G20 – G28a – G24

From late June to late September

Map no. 11 scale 1:25,000 of the Geo4Map/CAI
Digital maps on the following apps: ViewRanger – Avenza Maps