Monte Mucrone via Oropa
Monte Mucrone is a mountain located in Piedmont about 1,5 hours away from Milan. It is a wonderful excursion which isn’t too challenging. I did this route on the 25th of december in 2023, there had been a lot of snowfall about a month prior but due to the warm temperatures later on almost all of it had melted. I did encounter very icy sections on the route though. But I never bothered to use the Microspikes that I had with me as there was always a dry patch to step on. The worst of it was around Lago Mucrone, as this is in the shade and around water.
Statistics
Length: 14.8km
Elevation gain: 1144m
Time: 5:30h
Highest point: 2335m
Date: 25-12-2023
Classification: E
Map
Map + GPX file
Route
The route starts around the Santuario di Oropa, a big sanctuary which is free and open for visitors, while you’re here, I definetly recommend having a look inside the sanctuary.
You can then start the hike from a big parking lot just behind the santuary. The parking lot is located at an elevation of around 1150m. I walked this route clockwise and I think that is the best way to do it.
From the parking lot you follow trail D11a/D11 all the way up untill you meet with the other path. This path is a wide path and very simple to follow. There is no exposure and it is easy to follow. This trail gives you great views of the Sanctuary and the valley you are in. At the first junction, you take a hairpin going to the left. Then you follow D11 all the way up untill you get to the end.
Here you turn left onto D24, which passes by Lago Di Mucrone at an elevation of about 1900 meters, meaning you have already done 750! This is a nice place to take a break and refill your water, as there is a water source at this location. When I was there, it was very slowly dripping, probably because the pipes were frozen.
After the lake you keep going up untill you reach the Bocchetta del Lago at 2026 meter. From here you have great views towards the other side looking at Monte Mars for example. From this point onwards the path gets a bit narrower but never exposed. Passing by an old lift station, you do the final stretch after which you will be rewarded with beautiful views of the surrounding areas. Being quite close to Monte Rosa, you get a great view of it.
Then you follow the same trail down up untill the path where you came up from, here you don’t go right, but continue going straight. You then very quickly reach an abandoned lift station and rifugio, which was quite fun to have a look around and see what remained. It looks like it was shut down during COVID but then never reopened again.
Now passing below the rifugio you follow a super well maintained trail with big stones which is easy to follow. If you are not tired and want some extra distance, you can decide to take route D13 or D14. I followed the main trail down which ends up at the road at the sanctuary where you started from!
Parking / How to get there
You can park just before or after the Santuario di Oropa, which was free when I went there. The parking places are very big so you should always have a spot to park.
Pictures
Extra information
While doing this hike, the D11b trail sparked my interest. This route goes basically straight up the slope of Monte Mucrone. This is an EEA classified route, meaning that you need to bring the proper equipment such as a helmet and a Via Ferrata set, if you do not have experience and/or the right equipment you should not attempt it.
I did this hike some time before starting my blog, this article is made from memory and might not be as detailed as newer hikes where I had already started the blog.
Testing