Gran Collet and Col del Nivolet

It would be both unwise and unfair to eschew the national parks flagship and eponymous mountain range completely. This walk takes you from its foothills up to a high pass directly opposite, for stunning panoramas, and then peacefully decants into a new and dramatically different landscape on the plateau above southern Piemonte.

The walk starts from the roadhead at Pont, served by a midsummer bus from Aosta, in the foothills of Gran Paradiso itself. First off there is an easy, altitude-eating climb, up Vallone di Sayaz alongside the rushing stream. This is relatively gentle walking, over regrettably quickly, gradually bringing the entire prospect of the massive range into view. Grand Etret glacier sits at the head of the valley, overshadowed by the hulking Denti del Broglio. Gran Paradiso, 4,061m and the parks namesake, towers over even this neighbour.

Turning away from this vista is a wrench, but the exhilarating saddle you now climb to, turning to head west, slowly brings yet more into view. The ascent is tough, regularly treacherous underfoot through grassy bowls and precipitous terraces, and can be snowbound well into summer. Although relentlessly steep, its difficulty provides isolation that other paths around Gran Paradisos massif cant, and peace to match.

Take pictures early, for atop Gran Collet a granite shoulder intercedes into pictures: looking back, before you reach the lip, north to south run Becca di Montandayne, Piccolo Paradiso, Gran Paradiso, Tresenta and Ciarforon; Pont nestling beneath the improbably proximate goliath. Atop Gran Collet itself Mont Taou Blanc, above the wide Piano del Nivolet, and beyond, an area of lakes and small glaciers and snow-covered slopes; higher up, Punta Basei.

The other side is gentler, as is the entire landscape compared to the terrain you have just climbed. Inquisitive ibex and herds of chamois roam, and marmots dance unabashed in the verdant alpine pasture. The native golden eagles have, apparently, and much to shepherds chagrin, turned to the easier pickings of smaller lambs for their chase.

You join a path from Pont via La Croix de lArollay, an alternative route during bad or lingering weather in the high Gran Collet pass, and walk the floor of this ancient glacial valley. Still high up in the grand scheme of things, the meadows of Piano del Nivolet are here thickly covered with flowers, remarkably lush either side of a fast running river of glacial and snow-melt. Small wooden bridges cross the torrent, and cross again. Then, two large lakes, and a tarmac road to take you finally to the walks end at the Col del Nivolet.

This route can be combined with the Punta Basei walk to extend the trip beyond one day.

Cicerone - Walk 12

See our Gran Paradiso overview page for practical information.