The Orco Valley
Piantonetto Valley
An imposing valley dominated by the overhanging walls of "Becco di Valsoera" and "Becchi della Tribolazione", it is characterized at its head by the artificial water reserve of Teleccio. It is a destination for mountain climbers rather than for hikers, but either way it's worth visiting, to get in touch with the high altitude environment.
Gran Piano - Noasca
Maybe one of the lesser known and less popular areas of the park, Gran Piano and its surrounding areas are the ideal destinations for those who wish to observe herds of grazing chamois and ibex. The green meadows are rich in water and in some points they are covered with the white blooms of cottongrass. A wonderful crossing allows you to get to Gran Piano starting from just under the Colle del Nivolet, with a continuous view down into the Orco valley.
Colle Sià
From Ceresole Reale a beautiful mule-track winds up through woods of larches and firs to Colle Sià, which connects the top of the Orco valley with the solitary Vallone del Roc ravine. The route, which offers great views of the beautiful Levanne glaciers, also gives you the opportunity to observe the animals of the park.
Piano del Nivolet
This is one of the most interesting plateaus of the Alps, spreading out for more than six kilometres at a height of 2500 m. The area is very rich in water: apart from numerous ponds, trapped between the rocks, the green expanse of pastures is crossed by the "Dora di Nivolet" river which in its meandering forms marshes and peat bogs, the ideal environment for the common frog and for many species of plants.
