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Quality : very good
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Location
Italy
PIEMONTE
CN
ORMEA
VALLE TANARO

Key to symbols   
Stage point (start or end of stage)
Intermediate accommodation possibility
Summit
Pass
Town, village
Other locality

Catering
Doctor
Chemist
Bakery / grocery
Hardware / sports shop
Post
Bank / cash dispenser
Train
Coach
Taxi
Open automobile access

A Tarred or paved road
B Dirt track
C Mule trail
D Mountain trail
E Equipped trail (cables, ladders)
F No trail

Stroll / tourism (broad, non-exposed trail)
Hiking (mountain trail, in places narrow and exposed)
Alpine route (equipped or very exposed section, snow field, blocks)
R152 Ormea » Garessio
  |   6h55   |   22.9 km   |   791 m   |   957 m

From Ormea the trail climbs the left slope of the Armetta stream through woodland. The trail is somewhat faint in parts, and now and again crosses a track that leads to villages further up. Above Isola Lunga the route descends steeply towards the village and, after crossing the Tanaro river, runs alongside the state road between Ormea and Garessio. It’s possible to choose a variant practicable by mountain bike, too, from Ormea to Caprauna, without passing from Garessio.

Point Segment
Name Services Information Marking
Ormea
754 m
| C  2.3 km / 1h05
Villaro
1028 m
| C  2.8 km / 1h05
Carià
1164 m
| C  4.4 km / 1h00
Nasagò
665 m
| C  2 km / 1h00
Ponte Isola Perosa
649 m
|   2.3 km / 0h40
Battirava
627 m
| C  9.1 km / 2h05
Garessio
588 m
Detailed route description
Other long-distance trails and alternative routes
Via dei Saraceni trail.
Useful topographic maps
  • 8 ~ IGC ALPI MARITTIME E LIGURI (1: 50000)
  • 3 ~ ASF, CAI-CAF, MARGUERAIS-MONGIOIE (1: 25000)
Useful guidebooks
  • Alpi Marittime, voll.I-II, L.Montaldo, F.Salesi, E.Montagna ~ Collana Guida Monti d'Italia, CAI-TCI (ISBN )
  • Camminaitalia, Cannobini, Carnovalini, Valsesia ~ Le guide di Airone, Mondadori (ISBN 1995)
  • In Cima alle Alpi Marittime, voll.I-II ~ Blu ed., Peveragno (CN) (ISBN )
  • Auf der Via Alpina durch Seealpen und Ligurische Alpen ~ fernwege.de (ISBN 978-3937304-50-2)
Comments

Favourites, criticisms ? Make your personal comments on this stage. For more general notes please use the comments section of the page Over to the Via Alpinists.
 


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  • Greybeard - 2023-07-20
    Garessio has two supermarkets on North side of main river, several banks with ATMs, numerous other shops bars and restaurants, and a bus service up and down the valley.
  • Berta - 2018-08-26
    Bed & Breakfast Porta Rose in Garessio kann ich nur empfehlen, ich finde es ist die beste Unterkunft auf der ganzen Via Alpina. Freundliches, praktisches Zimmer mit Kleiner Terasse, unglaublich gutes Frühstück mit hausgemachter Marmelade und Kuchen und wirklich gute Information zur Via Alpina und den nachfolgenden Refugios. Ein wunderbarer Platz im historischen Zentrum.
    Automatic translation [Google]
    I can only recommend Bed & Breakfast Porta Rose in Garessio, I think it is the best accommodation on the whole Via Alpina. Friendly, practical room with a small terrace, incredibly good breakfast with homemade jams and cakes and really good information about the Via Alpina and the following Refugios. A wonderful place in the historic center.
  • Elisabeth - 2016-11-18
    J.L. Giraud dit qu'il n'y a plus d'hôtel à Ormea ? Il y en a au moins trois. J'ai logé en demi-pension (45 €) à l'hôtel*** de l'Orme (très bon accueil).
    La Via Alpina suit le sentier "Balcons d'Ormea" fruit de la restauration par une association des anciens chemins qui reliaient les petits hameaux perchés au-dessus de la vallée du Tanaro. L'Office de Tourisme m'a donné un dépliant sur ce sentier avec une carte très précise qui m'a été très utile.
    Automatic translation [Google]
    JL Giraud says there is no more hotel in Ormea? There are at least three. I stayed half board (45 €) at the hotel *** de l'Orme (very welcome). The Via Alpina follows the path "Balcons d'Ormea" fruit of the restoration by an association of ancient paths that connected small hamlets perched above the valley of Tanaro. The Tourist Office gave me a leaflet on this trail with a very precise map that was very useful to me.
  • Jean-Claude - 2015-10-15
    A Ormea, je suis parti directement à Colla di Nava en suivant le sentier A15 qui passe par le Monte Armetta, et le Passo di Prale.
    Automatic translation [Google]
    A Ormea, I went directly to Colla di Nava A15 following the path that passes through the Monte Armetta and the Passo di Prale.
  • PORTAROSE, Garessio - 2014-06-27
    For any problem or help in planning your trip throughout this part of Via Alpina, between Garessio and Ormea, you can get in contact with us here :

    PORTA ROSE
    Via Cavour 110, Garessio, CN
    Phone : +39 (0) 174 81140 ; +39 3333427397 ;
    +39 3771583417
    Email : info @ portarose.it

    PORTAROSE is a Bed & Breakfast for travelers, tourists and walkers crossing the Ligurian Alps. We are based in the medieval area of Garessio, on the Via Alpina path and the San Bernardo Colle, access of Alta Via Monti Liguri between the Mediterranean Sea and the Alps...
    EJNOY YOUR HIKE !
  • Jean-Louis GIRAUD - 2013-05-20
    Encore une longue étape. J'ai suivi une longue trace montante ...mais sur la rive droite du Rio ARMETTA , avant de retrouver la trace plus haut sur les flancs de la Vallée . Trés beau parcours au travers de vieux villages isolés, parfois désertés et en ruines avec de magnifiques oratoires qui marquent l'itinéraire de leur présence dans des paysages abandonnés.J'ai terminé par le sentier de la vallée. Il n'y a plus d'hotel à ORMEA. Aprés recherches, j'ai trouvé un hebergement dans une ferme auberge :
    LA VECCHIA CASCINA
    Reg. Campi, 102
    Tél 00 39(0)174.803602
    00 39.349.7022911
    Service navette

    Automatic translation [Google]
    Still a long stage. I followed a long upward track ... but on the right bank of the Rio Armetta, before returning to the top mark on the Valley flanks. Very beautiful route through old remote villages, sometimes deserted and in ruins with beautiful shrines that mark the route of their presence in abandonnés.J'ai landscapes completed by the Valley Trail. There is more to ORMEA hotel. After research I found a lodging in a farmhouse: LA VECCHIA CASCINA Reg. Campi, 102 Tel 00 39 (0) 174.803602 00 39.349.7022911 Shuttle Service
  • Henk Nouws - 2012-09-03
    As far as I could figure out, the trail is not climbing to this village "Guado", as stated above. I think the trail is climbing to Torre dei Saraceni and returns on the other side of the valley, a nice walk. It goes up to about 900m, nothing more. Anyway, this is the path I took, but no sign of the Via Alpina...
    On the northern side of the Tanaro valley, the Via Alpina follows the Balconata di Ormea, a trail leading past deserted villages over old mule paths. I think this is a very interesting trail. But I had great difficulties in finding the right path. The GPX from this website is too rough and erroneous. There are signposts and waymarks. I hope the correct path will be available from Openstreetmap one time.
  • Ezio Michelis - 2012-06-13
    Ho letto che qualcuno preferisce percorrere la pista ciclabile che corre lungo il Tanaro da Ormea a Garessio, certamente più breve e facile. L'itinerario scelto, che segue il tracciato più a est della Balconata di Ormea, permette di vedere villaggi, chiese, terrazzamenti, piloni votivi e altro ancora di una montagna che è quella un tem,po abitata da moltissime persone e oggi quasi disabitata. La fatica è poco di più rispetto alla pista ciclabile.
    Automatic translation [Google]
    I've read that some prefer to take the bike path that runs along the Tanaro from Ormea Garessio, certainly shorter and easier. The chosen route, which follows the route to the east of the Balcony of Ormea, lets see villages, churches, terraces, votive pillars, and more of a mountain that is a tem, some inhabited by many people today and almost uninhabited. Fatigue is little more than the bike path.
  • Sabine_Bade - 2009-06-25
    Eine Alternative zur offiziellen Strecke, ohne viel Auf und Ab, bietet der Uferweg entlang des Tanaro, der Ormea mit Garessio verbindet (auf orografisch rechter Seite). Etappenlänge dann 12,5 Km, Wegzeit 2,5h.
    Automatic translation [Google]
    An alternative to the official line, without many ups and downs, offers the riverside path of the Tanaro, the Ormea with Garessio connects (on orographic right side). Leg length then 12.5 km, travel time 2.5 h
Last update : 2019-12-18