Your
hike will start to the right of the car park on the mule track that climbs
steeply to pass into the stunning once-glaciated landscape of Alpe Schiazzera,
which spreads out in front of you.
The
first site to capture your attention is Rifugio Schiazzera on the edge of the
plateau. Sat at an elevation of 2,077 metres, this mountain hut is a former
financial police barrack, one of many that were built on the slopes around
Tirano in a bid to quash the smuggling that was rampant during the 1960s and
into the 70s.
From
behind the hut, the route quickly takes you to more mountain huts on Alpe
Schiazzera (2,109 metres). On the left, there’s a path that crosses a mountain
stream before a short incline. It turns into a wide military mule track, which
once served as a linking route between the various barracks
Veering
right, the route rises to Pian Fusino, where there's a tiny lake to admire. The
mule track continues into a huge natural mountainous amphitheatre with a
scattering of pools. The biggest and prettiest is Lago di Schiazzera at an
elevation of 2,392 metres above sea level.
Start: car park in Val Saiento (m 1992 above sea level)
Duration 1h30m
Climb: 400 m
The car park in Val Saiento is a roughly 40 minute drive from Rogorbello above Vervio. Look out for the ticket machine in Vervio as you need to purchase a 3 € permit for the valley
