From Sant'Antonio start on a dirt road, following route 201 and reach the built-up area of Peccia and, a little further on, the old bridge of Napoleonic era. Leave the steep mule track that climbs towards Colle Valdobbia on the right and cross Stream Maccagno on the wooden bridge at an altitude of 1536 meters. The mule track flanks the stream almost flat for a quite long stretch. Then go up a ramp, cross Brook Tillio and, going around a bump, reach Alpe Buzzo Inferiore (1698 m). Here leave 206x route that leads to the left to Alpe Tillio and to Lake Tillio and continue past Alpe Buzzo Superiore (1718 m) until reaching first Alpe Pioda di Sotto (1830 m) and then Alpe Pioda di Sopra (1877m). From here following the route 205xa it is possible to go up to Alpe, Lake and the Bocchetta del Cortese (2562 m). Once past the pasture, cross Stream Maccagno on a bridge and attach the climb that leads to the Alpe Camino plateau at 2031 meters. From this plateau, home of an ancient lake, turn right to get around a spur and reach a small shelf, where route 205xb branches off to the right, leading to Lake Caudrola and Passo del Camino or Casera Nuova (2472 m). Instead, continuing almost flat, crossing again the stream, you reach soon Alpe Maccagno (2188 m) (hours 0.30-2.15). Cross the picturesque mountain pasture on the bank of a lake, go into the valley, pass some ponds and leave the tracks for Colle della Meia (itinerary 205xd) on the left and then those for Colle del Laghetto (205xc), reaches Lake Nero (2322 m). A final final stretch leads to Passo del Maccagno (2493 m), located between the Cornaccio on the West and Cima Morticci or Monte Cossarello. From the col the path drops to Piani di Loo from where it is possible to descend through the valley of the same name to the hamlets of Loomatto and Champsil (trail 12b of the Valle d'Aosta hiking network) in the Gressoney Valley. Instead, go straight towards the nearby Colle Lozoney (2395 m) from which, keeping halfway up under Lozoney Peak, you reach Colle della Mologna Grande (2356 m) and then descend quickly to the underlying Rivetti Refuge in Cervo Valley.
THE TOUR:
Great Crossing of the Alps - GTA: Northern Piedmont Section
THE STAGES OF THIS TOUR:
GTA Stage 1: Cannobio - Falmenta
GTA Stage 2: Falmenta - Malesco
GTA Stage 3: Malesco - Fondomonfracchio
GTA Alternative stage of Alta Valle dell'Isorno Stage 3A: Malesco - Alpe Cortevecchio
GTA Alternative stage of Alta Valle dell’Isorno Stage 3B: Alpe Cortevecchio - Alpe Lago
GTA Alternative stage of Alta Valle dell'Isorno Stage 3C: Alpe Lago - Campo Valle Maggia
GTA Stage 4: Fondomonfracchio - Capanna Alpe Arena
GTA Stage 5: Capanna Alpe Arena - Campo Valle Maggia
GTA Stage 6: Campo Valle Maggia - Bosco Gurin
GTA Stage 7: Bosco Gurin - Formazza Loc. Ponte
GTA Stage 8: Ponte - Riale
GTA Stage 8A: Canza - Lake Vannino
GTA Stage 8B: Riale - Alpe Cruina
GTA Stage 8C: Riale - Nufenen Pass
GTA Stage 9: Riale - Alpe Vannino
GTA Stage 10: Alpe Vannino - Alpe Devero
GTA Stage 11: Alpe Devero - Alpe Veglia
GTA Stage 12: Alpe Veglia - Alpe Solcio
GTA Stage 13: Alpe Solcio - Varzo
GTA Stage 14: Varzo - Alpe Arza
GTA Stage 15: Alpe Arza - Alpe Laghetto
GTA Upper Anzasca and Antrona Valleys Stage 15A: Alpe Laghetto Refuge - Andolla Refuge (through Pontimia Pass)
GTA Stage 16: Alpe Laghetto - Cheggio
GTA Alternative stage of Upper Anzasca and Antrona Valleys Stage 16A: Alpe Laghetto Refuge - Andolla Refuge
GTA Alternative stage of Upper Anzasca and Antrona Valleys Stage 16B: Andolla Refuge - Cingino Bivouac
GTA Alternative stage of Upper Anzasca and Antrona Valleys Stage 16C: Cingino Bivouac - Oberto Refuge
GTA Alternative stage of Upper Anzasca and Antrona Valleys Stage 16D: Oberto Refuge - Macugnaga
GTA Alternative stage of Upper Anzasca and Antrona Valleys Stage 16E: Macugnaga - Buon Pastore Refuge
GTA Alternative stage of Upper Anzasca and Antrona Valleys Stage 16F: Buon Pastore Refuge - Sant'Antonio di Val Vogna
GTA Stage 17: Antrona Locality of Cheggio - Colma Refuge
GTA Stage 18: Colma Refuge - Molini di Calasca
GTA Stage 19: Molini di Calasca - Pian Lago Alp
GTA Stage 20: Pian Lago Alp - Campello Monti
GTA Stage 21: Campello Monti - Rimella
GTA Stage 22: Rimella - Alpe Baranca
GTA Stage 23: Alpe Baranca - Carcoforo
GTA Stage 24: Carcoforo - Rima
GTA Stage 25: Rima - Sant'Antonio di Val Vogna
GTA Stage 26: Sant'Antonio di Val Vogna - Rivetti Refuge
