La Piana, from Borca

Access

From Milan, take the motorway to Gravellona Toce and then Domodossola. Exit at Piedimulera and follow the signs for Macugnaga. When you reach Borca, one of the first hamlets of Macugnaga, turn left and follow the signs for the Guia mine. Always turn left along the main road to reach the car park a few hundred metres away.

Introduction

Macugnaga is justifiably famous for the east face of Monte Rosa, the most Himalayan of the Alps. But also to be rediscovered are the many itineraries that historically have been of fundamental importance to the local economy, where the remains of gold mines in the area can still be found, and above all mountain pastures that are still grazed by young people who want to continue the tradition of the alpine dairyman and cheese-maker.

Description

From the car park inside Borca, you will immediately find the sign indicating Lago delle Fate, a pretty little artificial lake whose dam closes the Quarazza valley. We then take the historic mule track, which in some sections retains its original paving and in others has been partly bituminized. Amidst splendid beech woods without an excessive incline, we gain height, arriving below the dam (0h30'). There are also some noteworthy restaurants here for those who want to... walk on the paths of taste! We then skirt the lake with its almost white water and take the wide, carriageable track towards the head of the valley towards the mine. With an obvious and easy route between firs, larches and, above all, blueberries that offer, to the hiker who knows how to guess the right moment of ripening, a sweet taste so strong that he or she will end the hike there, we arrive at the miners' huts, where there is a curious spike fountain, some of which have been restored. On one of them you can read, in brief, the history of the mining site (1h15'). 

We ignore the diversions to the left for Carcoforo, which would take us into the Alta Valsesia park with a long and beautiful route, continuing instead on a path to the right, rising above the level of the stream that here forms numerous pools and chutes. This brings us out of the thicker forest and we begin to get a better view of the wide head of the upper valley behind which, once we have crossed the Turlo pass, we find Alagna Valsesia. Shortly afterwards we come to a fork in the road, where a ring-route begins over the alpine pastures of Val Quarazza. We then take a left and cross the stream (for those who want to go in winter, we advise against this stretch because it is close to some of the slopes of the Val Quarazza). Immersed in a sea of rhododendrons and alders, we arrive at the pastureland of "La Piana" (2h00'). 

At a few dozen metres back, pay attention to a barely visible track that leads to another small bridge over the river. The path here is fairly well marked and leads us through a beautiful fir forest and slowly down towards Alpe Prelobia. Here in the summer you can find cows, pigs, chickens and several friendly herdsmen who are willing to chat and offer you coffee. Once you have resumed your walk, you quickly return to the crossroads where you began the loop section and follow the road you took on the way up, first returning to Lake delle Fate and then to Borca.