MONTE GENEROSO - mt 1701
In the heart of the Valley, among pastures and meadows, on the border between Italy and Switzerland, you can find the highest mountain of the zone: the Monte Generoso.
A circular route starts from Orimento, on the livestock paths, and goes up to the summit of Monte Generoso, 1701, where you can let your emotions flow with the amazing view of the lakes, mountains and plains.
It isn’t unusual, here, to spot the chamois, the most popular wild animal living close to the summit.
From Orimento - Vertical drop: 430m;
Orimento - Monte Generoso: beautiful route, requiring a minimum of training, that in about two and a half hours allows you to reach the summit - Difficulty: E - Period: late spring / autumn.
The start of the path is Orimento (1275 mt)
HOW TO REACH ORIMENTO
From Centro Valle Intelvi (Co) – loc. San Fedele
By car: from Piazza G. B. Carminati (Centro Valle Intelvi, loc. San Fedele) take the main road (strada Provinciale) towards Alta Valle Intelvi – Lanzo; passed the shopping mall turn left on Via Monte Generoso (second street on the left after the shopping mall – you can see the bus station):
Continue on that way until “Alpe Grande” (you will see a large car park and a picnic area); From here turn right (follow the sign “Baita di Orimento) and continue straight until the end of the street.
Walking route: leave the car at “Postiglione” (the bus station) and take Via Monte Generoso; after 500 m take the path on your right (you will see a sign with the indication and a sign of the farm “Aromi e Natura”). This path is into the woods.
From Centro Valle Intelvi (Co), loc. Casasco
by car (the widest road): from Piazza G. B. Carminati (Centro Valle Intelvi, loc. San Fedele) take the main road (strada Provinciale) towards Alta Valle Intelvi – Lanzo; passed the shopping mall turn left on Via Casasco (first street on the left after the shopping mall) and continue on that way until “Casasco”. Before the center of the village, turn right on Via Fratelli Terragni (you will see Bar Trattoria Pizzeria Bellavista on the crossroads):
Go straight until “ C.se La Bolla”; at the restaurant turn right (follow signs for "Ristoro Alpe Grande” and "Baita di Orimento"). When you are in Alpe Grande (you will see a large car park and a picnic area) turn left (follow the sign “Baita di Orimento) and continue straight until the end of the street.
Walking route: we suggest to leave the car at the parking area of Alpe Grande, near the picnic area and follow the signs:
Winter, often with heavy snow, can lead to dangerous situations with avalanches which can even affect the layout of the trails.
There are two possible routes:
- Via Alta (Higher Path), more exposed, panoramic and with the possibility of a variation through the “via ferrata” with EEA difficulty (mandatory ferrata kit).
- Via Bassa (Lower Path), easier and smoother, with a possible variant for the Generosa Cave, a karst cave in which many bones fossil were discovered, in particular of a cave bear. The lower path near the summit is called the Path of the Planets and leads to the Astronomical Observatory (1600 mt): inaugurated in 1996, it is available to the public during events organized by the Monte Generoso Railway or for private groups who request its use.
Erbonne - Monte Generoso: an alternative departure is Erbonne - Municipality of Centro Valle Intelvi (943 m), accessible by car from Casasco continuing past the Pian delle Alpi; there is a small parking to leave cars. It is a canstantly steep trail (wonderful is the passage with stone steps) that climbs the ridge at the turn of the Italian-Swiss border. Take your ID with you, just in case. Elevation gain: + 800m - Time: 2.5- 3 hours - Difficulty: E.
Lanzo - Monte Generoso / Pellio - Monte Generoso: these two paths are intertwined within the "REGIONAL MONTE FOREST GENEROUS" (sup. 237 hectares).
-From Alta Valle Intelvi, loc. Lanzo, it is possible to reach the Alp of Orimento (and hence the peak of Generoso) with a path through the Valle dell’Inferno (Hell Valley), which departs from the entrance of the Val Mara, goes up until Baracche (shelter built for the troops ) and continues until the Barco dei Montoni: it is known as "Path of the Trenches" because it crosses some fortifications of the Cadorna Line.
The track crosses at "le Baracche” the “mulattiera” path from Alta Valle Intelvi, loc. Pellio Superiore, Alpe Lissiga (another possible starting point), known as "Smugglers Path", recalling the ancient function: witness still alive is the "Foo di Parol" (beech that holds the words of the smugglers).
From the Barco dei Montoni, you can go down to Monte Cristè, then to the Alpe Nuovo, along the Dosso Brione to Pian delle Noci, close to both the starting points.
Capolago (CH) - Monte Generoso: The peak is usually also reached by a comfortable rack railway that starts from the station on Lake Lugano .
VARIANTS:
-Orimento - Alpe di Gotta: Short path through the Barco dei Montoni and the Laburnum Forest - unique in Europe! Particularly recommended during the month of May, when you can admire the flowering of the laburnum forest, usually a solitary plant.
-Alpe Grande - Pizzo della Croce: Leaving the car in Alpe Grande, follow the road for Orimento and continue along the ridge leading to the summit of the Mount, familiarly called "Crocione": an exceptional 360 ° view point.
-From Erbonne - an easy walk across the border. Other possible routes are those that were once covered by the smugglers: there are many but we indicate one of the most ancient, through the Valley of Muggio: you cross the peculiar village of Erbonne, where time seems to have stopped. From the courtyard of the church a path descends through the meadows and then, through a spectacular wooden bridge you get to the Swiss side and, walking through the woods, you reach Scudelatte (Municipality of Muggio – CH). The route takes about half an hour walking.
Further information: www.montegeneroso.ch
Watch the video made by Simona Castelli - ARTEVALLEINTELVI: Monte Generoso from Orimento
YOU CAN'T LOST:
The florescence of maggiociondoli at the end of may / june across "Sentiero Botanico"
YOU CAN'T LOST:
during the summer season you can also admire the free herd of horses of Bisbino! For more information about their story: http://cavallidelbisbino.com/
YOU CAN'T LOST:
The Bear Cave is open from may to october: Saturday, Sunday and holidays. For more information visit: The Bear Cave
watch the video made by Aerial E-Motion studio - Skypixel - Valle d’Intelvi, Lake Como