Grigna Settentrionale via Balisio (+ a night in Rifugio Luigi Brioschi)

The trail up to Grigna Settentrionale can be classified as E, it is steep but never presents any difficulties or big exposures up untill you get onto the ridgeline, this is the only part that could be classified as EE, but is still not very difficult. I would recommend doing this route counter clockwise.

Starting from the car park at an elevation of about 830 meters it is an easy start following the concrete road up the mountain through the forest. You quickly pass an agriturismo where you could get some local products if you want to. You follow this road all the way up to 1100m where you take a sharp right going up into the woods.

It’s an easy trail but always going up untill you leave the shade of the woods and enter alpe cova at an elevation of about 1300m, this is a perfect spot for a break and there is also a water source here at his location. From here onwards you’re no longer covered by trees and the path gets gradually more steep but in a way that you never really have to use big steps which is quite nice.

The first time I was passing through here I wasnt sure which road to follow as there is a sign saying that it’s forbidden access but I guess this is only applicable to cars as this is the usual way up here. Below is a picture of which trail to go up.

Again a very steep but easy road as of now passing Rifugio Anonietta where you could grab a coffee or snack on go. You then arrive in Pialeral where there are some cows, you get beautiful views of the South/East face you’re about to go up. After Pialeral you basically go straight up this face following the trails. It is very straightforward and steep, but never difficult. At about 1900 meters of elevation you pass by a really nice bivacco, it has some benches and you can shelter inside in case you get some bad weather. We took another break here and enjoyed our lunch, you’ve already climbed over 1000m at this point and have about 500m up left to go.

From the bivacco onwards you’re now very exposed to the weather and there is no longer any spot to hide untill you are at the Rifugio, the trail zigzags straight up the slope untill you reach the ridge at an altitude of about 2280 meters.

Reaching the ridge is really rewarding as you finally get to see the other side of the mountain as you’ve basically been going straight up it. The trail on the ridge is not really difficult but due to the exposure and height it could be classified as EE. There is a blue rope on your right side to keep you on the safe side. This is the last bit of climb untill you’re at the summit of 2410 meters! If you’ve picked a good day you will be rewarded with amazing views all around you. There is a metal plate at the top which shows you what mountain is which. You’ll be able to see pretty much all of the Orobies, and as far as Monte Rosa and the Appennines on a good weather day.

Here we finished for the day and spent the night in the Rifugio, although the hike can also be done in 1 day as I’ve done before.

Going down you could take the same way but I recommend the one that you can see above in the map. You follow the ridge going south untill you arrive at a little stone bivouac, this one is quite dirty and it’s not open, but it does allow you to shelter from the weather as there is a canopy. Here you take a left and zigzag straigh down the mountain. You then arrive in an absolutely beautiful valley which was full of flowers when we were there.

From here it gets a little less steep and you’ll meet the other trail that you followed on the way up at around Pialeral.

Then it’s just a matter of following the same route down as you went up and finally reaching your car again! When we arrived at the parking place there is a little stream nearby where you can refresh yourself a bit if you want to.

All in all this route up the Grigna Settentrionale is a very beautiful but long excursion, you can decide to split it up and stay in the rifugio or do it in 1 day. It will be rewarding and enjoyable both ways and this is one of the hikes that I can really recommend to anyone if you’re decently fit.