Alpe Devero: Nature, Trails and Alpine Culture

Alpe Devero combines a glacially shaped mountain landscape with a wide range of opportunities for hiking, mountain biking, climbing, winter sports and cultural exploration. The area lies within a protected zone of the Piedmont region and is part of the Alpe Veglia and Alpe Devero Nature Park. Alpe Devero is therefore particularly suitable for travellers who want to combine experiences in nature with regional history and spend their days either actively or at a more leisurely pace, depending on their interests.

Mountain landscape between forests, meadows and lakes

The Devero basin in the Alpe Veglia and Alpe Devero Nature Park was shaped by glaciers. Around Devero, larch forests and high-altitude mountain meadows define the landscape. There are also alpine lakes and extensive moraine deposits. Near Alpe Devero, there are also peat bogs and mown meadows. These different forms of landscape give walks and hikes their own distinct character, without requiring you to focus on just one type of natural setting.

A circular hike through the larch forest in the Alpe Devero protected area leads to Lago Nero. Frogs and newts are found there. The wildlife is also one of the remarkable natural experiences: marmots, chamois and eagles live in Alpe Devero; with a little luck, you may also spot the extremely rare bearded vulture. Those who prefer to view the landscape from an elevated perspective will find a hiking destination on Monte Cazzola in the Parco del Devero. Its grassy ridge offers a 360-degree view of the surrounding peaks.

Routes for different interests

The Devero Great Est mountain-bike loop starts and ends in Alpe Devero. It is 20.5 kilometres long and rated as difficult. One section passes through high-altitude grasslands on a plateau more than 2,000 metres high and over seven kilometres long. The route therefore primarily appeals to cycling travellers looking for a clearly defined, challenging loop in an alpine landscape.

The cross-country ski trail in Alpe Devero is an easy loop of approximately four kilometres. The Busin Stange climbing crag in Codelago near Alpe Devero offers a different focus. The 15- to 40-metre-high rock formation has more than 30 routes with difficulty ratings from 4a to 7a. This makes it possible to plan very different types of activity side by side in the region, from a short cross-country ski trail to a challenging cycling loop or climbing on established routes.

Alpine pastures, trade routes and regional history

The Museo dell’alpeggio in Alpe Devero explains life on the surrounding alpine pastures with the help of information panels. It also covers traditional livestock-rearing and cheese-making techniques in Valle Antigorio. A visit complements the experience of the landscape with an insight into the working and food culture of the mountain region.

The Oratorio di San Bartolomeo, dating from the 17th century, stands in the Devero district. The d’Antigorio road provides a broader historical context: it ran through Baceno, Devero and the Arbola and was the most important trade route between Valais and Lombardy for many centuries. Alpe Devero can therefore be understood not only as a destination in nature, but also as part of a historic connection across the Alps.

Getting there and planning the right trip

The Alpe Devero protected area can be reached on foot from designated car parks or by Prontobus. When choosing accommodation for a trip to Alpe Devero, it is worth defining your main interests at an early stage: depending on your preferences, the mountain-bike loop, the hike to Lago Nero, Monte Cazzola, the cultural sites or the easy cross-country ski trail can take centre stage. A hotel or other accommodation should suit the personal travel rhythm you choose between nature, activity and regional history.

More destinations

For further travel planning, you can also discover Re, Viganella, Fondotoce, Antrona Schieranco, Bognanco, Agrano, Gravellona Toce and Cesara.

To the higher-level travel overview: Verbano-Cusio-Ossola.