From the car park of the chairlift
in San Giuseppe, take the gravel track from the bridge. Snake up some hairpin
turns through the pine trees until you reach Barchi and the track becomes a
trail. It’ll run parallel to the ski piste before veering to the left and later
zigzagging through the forest, where the gradient gradually subsides and the
finish line comes into sight.
It takes some effort to get to
Lago Palù (1,921 metres of elevation) but you’ll be rewarded with a sudden hit
of the lake’s natural beauty and the awe-inspiring panorama from Rifugio Palù
on the left of the lake. For those arriving by trail, the half-an-hour stroll
around the lake is second to none when it comes to views.
To return to the starting point,
you can either go back down the track you climbed or take the trail via La
Zocca, Il Barchetto and Paluetto. After the initial descent from the rifugio,
swing right and follow the path in and out of the woods and through these
picture-book pastures. When the path eventually veers left, you’ll be back on
the outbound route.
Note:
Throughout summer there are chairlifts running from Chiesa in Valmalenco to
Alpe Palù. You can spot the lake from here and stroll over to it in a matter of
minutes.
