Snowshoeing to Alpe Cortino

From Malesco take the road for Valle Loana and continue for about 4 km, until you see on your left a small car park and a bus stop. There you can park your car. There are parking places also near the bridge. Take the mule track that you will see 50 m further on. At the beginning of the track you will find the sign “SENTIERO M24” and along the way you will see marks consisting of a white and a red stripe.

WARNING: risk of avalanches on the last part of the road in case of abundant snow.

The path goes through a beech wood; the ascent is regular and not very steep. This track leads you to Alpe Cortino, a group of mountain huts situated in a wide meadow covered with snow.

From here you can enjoy a beautiful view of the north part of Valle Vigezzo until Monte Ruscada and Centovalli. In summer Rifugio Nigritella is open and offers different services: café, restaurant and bedrooms for overnight stay.

You can also reach Alpe Cortino (only on foot!) following an unpaved road that starts 150m before the car parking (the one mentioned before) on the road for Valle Loana. The ascent is easier but it takes more time (about 2 hours).

From Alpe Cortino you can continue the ascent to Cima ( 1810 m); from the huts of Cortino go up towards south until you reach the ridge. Follow the ridge towards South-east until you reach Cima. This ascent takes one more hour.

WARNING: do not leave the path on the ridge, the mountainsides are steep and dangerous.

Time of ascent: 1 hour and 30 minutes

Grade: T

Ascent: mt. 370

Text and photos by Roberto Paniz