Pis del Pesio – Pesio valley

After passing the barrier, we set off immediately to the right of the refuge hut along the diagonal stretch that then moves into a delightful wood of fir trees.

We cross a number of wooden bridges, initially over a stream at the side and then the torrent flowing from the Saut waterfalls; after a downhill stretch, we reach the signpost for path leading to Pis del Pesio.

However, do not continue in this direction but cross the bridge and, leaving the gravel track returning on the right to the village of Ardua, follow the signs to the left leading to the fauna observatory. It is an easy and enjoyable alternative which is ideal if you have children with you because they can see deer and fawns living freely inside a large, protected enclosure.

After passing the observatory, the path gradually descends towards the Pesio stream and, after crossing it, continues uphill to rejoin the direct route we did not take beforehand.

Sudden steep slopes in the woods, which in the spring are impregnated with the intense bouquet of wild garlic, take us close to the Gias Fontana clearing (1218 m).

A few metres further on, we make a short detour to the right (path H12 for Colla del Vaccarile) which descends slightly to take us to the stream where we stop to admire the wonderful Gias Fontana waterfall flowing from the Pesio springs (which we will reach shortly).

Returning on our footsteps to the crossroads, we now continue towards Pis del Pesio and, after the clearing, enter an evocative, mixed wood with beech and pine trees leading to the crossroads for Gias degli Arpi (signpost).

Here, do not take the path to Gias degli Arpi – which we will pass by later – but turn to the right into increasingly dense wood towards the steep rock faces supporting Testa di Baban (2060 m), where the Pis waterfalls originate (1440 m).

It is a truly amazing place. The water flowing out of these rock faces, sometimes copiously and sometimes less so depending on the amount of snow and rainfall that has fallen higher up, comes from tunnels, lakes and siphons underneath the wide Càrsene basin. Feeding the Pesio torrent, water gushes from the rock face in unexpected waterfalls falling by twenty to thirty metres from burrows in the rock created over time.

After stopping to admire this spectacle, we descend the last stretch to the crossroads. We then turn right towards Gias degli Arpi, reaching it after an ascent of about ten minutes into the woods. Located on the road leading to Passo del Duca, it is a beautiful place with delightful panoramic views towards Colla Vaccarile (2050 m), Punta Mirauda (2157 m) and Punta Labiaia Mirauda (1971 m). It is an ideal place for a stop near its attractive fountain.

We continue the descent along a fine path winding gently through the broad Prel wood amidst fir and beech trees. After taking a large semi-circle, we cross the stream on the footbridge over the splendid Saut waterfalls, which collect water from the Saut and Sestrera wide valleys. A safe route guides us to the most panoramic and spectacular points for admiring the waterfalls.

On reaching the opening called Il Salto (1184 m), we descend along the gravel track for just under two kilometres back to Pian delle Gorre where we end the loop.