In riding a horse we borrow freedom. (Helen Thomson)
Horseback trekking
A horseback trek is the best way to experience Valchiusella and enjoy its amazing vistas.
Valchiusella is one of the most beautiful valleys of the Canavese region and horseback trekking is the best way to reach into its most enchanting corners. The CaValchiusella horse-riding club is located in one of the most fascinating local areas; nestled in the unspoilt greenery of chestnut woods, framed by the snow-capped peaks of the Bella Dormiente (“the sleeping beauty”) the club is headquartered in the sports facilities of the town of Pecco.
The club was founded by residents and non-residents of the valley, horse lovers and horse owners; in 2010, it counted 75 members. They gather to perform what could be defined as an“ever-moving trek” all across the valley. Depending on the season, the members organize 2, 3, 4-day treks - or even longer ones, which are best enjoyed in the spring and summer seasons.
Every year, the CaValchiusella club carries out maintenance of those sections of trails and mule tracks that will be used for trekking, at its own expenses. In cooperation with Trekking Horse Italia, 321 Team Riders and CaValchiusella, the Municipality of Rueglio has laid out the first Valchiusella horse trail. The route was inaugurated on 12 July 2020, certified at a national level and fully mapped; it rises along the mountains that surround the town settlement.
Every year, the CaValchiusella club carries out maintenance of those sections of trails and mule tracks that will be used for trekking, at its own expenses. In cooperation with Trekking Horse Italia, 321 Team Riders and CaValchiusella, the Municipality of Rueglio has laid out the first Valchiusella horse trail. The route was inaugurated on 12 July 2020, certified at a national level and fully mapped; it rises along the mountains that surround the town settlement.
Rated as moderately difficult but highly charming in terms of landscape, the horse trail is a route that takes in tracks crossing woods and meadows, with spots at which horses can drink. Halfway through the route, horses and riders alike can take a refreshing break at the Rifugio Bossola.
(6 km from B&B FFR, 12 min by car)
An animal’s eyes have the power to speak a great language. (Martin Buber)
Alpaca & Lama trekking
ALPaTREK & Favetto Family Ranch, projects that have a common goal: to make people appreciate the beauty of Valchiusella.
ALPaTREK project was born from the desire to make the Valchiusella appreciated by walking through trails, old mule tracks and woods, thanks also to the gentle gaze and the pleasant company of animals such as alpacas and llamas, which originate from geographically far away from ours, but are now well adapted to the climate and the Italian territory.
ALPaTREK organizes for both adults and children walks and trekking with alpaca and llama, offering new emotions and moments of fun and relaxation. A different experience that consists of a walk or hike of a few hours or a whole day, where the alpaca or the llama is led to the rope. The walks are suitable for families, schools, associations, summer groups and can be customized according to the needs and age of the participants.
ALPaTREK also sells articles made of alpaca wool from its own animals; their products are all handmade and can also be made to order.
Alpaca fiber is included in the category of premium fiber and is among the best fiber in the world. Its extreme fineness (in some cases reaching 13 microns) is one of its most important and representative characteristics; to the touch it is much softer, silky and “dry. ” This is due both to the difference in the physical structure of the fiber and to the fact that the alpaca fiber has a very low amount of lanolin covering it: thanks to this characteristic it is more shiny and luminous, qualities that give great value to its products. 22 are the officially recognised natural colours for this wool, but actually the intermediate shades are many more.
(2 km from B&B FFR, 5 min by car)
Heaven is under our feet as well as over our heads. (Henry David Thoreau)
Climbing
The climbing wall of Traversella is one of the historical climbing sites of North-Western Italy.
The climbing site of Traversella is home to so many routes of different difficulty levels nowadays that it can be said there’ something in it for every climber, from those taking the very first steps into this sport to fairly skilled practitioners training to keep up their level, all the way through to Plaisir climbing lovers and experienced climbers wishing to tackle highly demanding grades. Not to mention an area that’s been specifically equipped for kids, two minutes away from the refuge: an entire climbing section designed and riveted for baby climbers. The Climbing area includes some 500 routes, ranging from single to multi-pitch, subdivided into 21 areas for all skill levels and rope lengths.
(11 km from B&B FFR, 25 min by car + 30 min by foot to join the refuge, the owner of the climbing site)
Once you have tasted flight, you will forever walk the earth with your eyes turned skyward, for there you have been, and there you will always long to return. (Leonardo da Vinci)
Paragliding
You can fly on a tandem paraglider with licensed instructors and pilots from the Aero Club Italia – the Italian Aviation Association.
Conveniently facing towards Valchiusella’s plains and moraine amphitheatre, Mount Cavallaria (1460 m) offers a wide-angled landscape view; free-flight paragliders and hang gliders have been taking off regularly from its gentle slopes for over 20 years now. The site can be reached on foot starting from the town of Brosso, following the signs along the “Pian dei Muli” trail as high as 1280 m, then heading further on to “Cavallaria”.
Tandem paragliding gives anyone a chance to fly with licensed instructors and pilots from the Aero Club Italia – Italian Aviation Association. Flying as a passenger requires neither special sportsman skills nor physical training but just a tiny bit of teamwork with the pilot during take-off. Being comfortably seated in the typical paraglider’s harness, passengers can shoot pictures or short clips while flying. The Falconeye amateur sports association works in cooperation with the Cavallaria Paragliding Club, offering tandem paragliding flights including for groups as well as holding solo paragliding courses all year round.
A flight off Mount Cavallaria has a 1200 m altitude difference and lasts about 20 minutes under stable weather conditions, which is ideal for tandem paragliding as absolute beginners. Flights of longer duration are available on request.
(16 km from B&B FFR, 25 min by car to join the fiield flight)
All truly great thoughts are conceived while walking. (Friedrich Nietzsche)
Hiking and trekking
Mountains, hills, creeks, woods, hamlets, vistas and miles of trails, mule tracks and country roads: this is what the Valchiusella can offer to hikers.
Based on morphology, the valley can be subdivided into a hilly and a mountain area. Hills are on the right side of the valley, between Vistrorio and Brosso, and they face onto Ivrea’s moraine amphitheatre including the lakes of Alice and Meugliano and the reservoir of the Grizia Dam (a.k.a Vistrorio dam). The last leg of the so called Highway of Ivrea’s moraine amphitheatre runs along its entire length, and so does a thick network of trails and small roads. The mountain land that encompasses the upper part of the valley in a semicircle is rough, wild and uncontaminated, and still home to alpine shepherds. Mount Marzo, 2756 m, is Valchiusella’s flagship mountain while Monfandì, with its 2820 m, is its tallest. The valley is crossed by the Grande Traversata delle Alpi (GTA) hiking trail and a network of other trails leading to the most well-known summits and many small alpine lakes including Liamau, the lakes della Buffa, della Furce and Sucal.
A comprehensive guide written by Matteo Antonicelli, titled "Valchiusella a piedi" – valchiusella on foot, provides a list of 127 hikes: the author walked and reviewed every trail and route to unveil every single hidden beauty of theirs, be it a sixteenth century bridge, an old mine, an abandoned furnace or an old mountain lodge nestled among rocks. Those who prefer moderately challenging routes can pick from a wide range of hikes, given the relatively low altitude of the entire Valchiusella complex. However, those who like to call themselves experienced can’t but enjoy the hours spent in supreme solitude that are the distinctive mark of the few EE rated (experienced hikers) courses. Indeed, “red flagged” routes requiring less than a 5 hour walk just to complete the outward leg are rare.Two excellent maps published by Mu Edizioni make the perfect complement to the above guide, "Carta della Valchiusella" for the mountain area and "Carta della Valle Sacra for the hilly side, respectively.
