Beginner Express Aosta Trail

Starting from the roadside at Champlong, this route leaves the valley bustle behind and spends the whole day climbing towards one of the quietest corners of the Gran Paradiso region. Forest paths, rushing streams and high waterfalls gradually give way to open pastures and broad, glacial valleys. As you reach the final basin, Lago Miserin appears like a sheet of silver between pale rocks and grass, with a small chapel and the stone refuge watching over the water.

From the bus stop, a track leads through larch and spruce to the floor of the Ullaz valley, where you follow the stream upstream. The path crosses wooden bridges and passes a series of waterfalls, with occasional viewpoints back towards the main Aosta valley. Higher up, it swings into broader meadows dotted with boulders and summer farms, with marmots whistling from the slopes and the ridges of the Gran Paradiso massif lining the southern skyline.

Beyond the last pastures, the trail steepens across rougher ground and climbs in long zigzags towards the Miserin basin. When you crest the final rise, the chapel of Notre Dame de la Neige and the dam appear ahead, with the lake stretching away behind them. A final stroll along the shore brings you to the refuge, perched just above the water. Here you can drop your pack, refill your bottle and watch the evening light slide across the surface of the lake.

After tackling the major passes, this stage from the peaceful shores of Lago Miserin feels like a gentle release of breath. As the trail winds out of the basin, the small chapel and surrounding peaks gradually disappear from view. After a short ascent, you reach a wide balcony overlooking the valley. The rest of the day involves a relaxed wander downhill through open pastures and quiet side valleys, with Monte Rascias (2,783 m) and Monte Dondena (2,543 m) providing a picturesque backdrop.

First, the path circles above the lake, then it rises gently across grassy slopes towards a broad shoulder dotted with boulders next to Lago Pontonnet, passing between Lago Nero and Lago Bianco. From here, you follow old shepherd paths down in a series of zigzags, passing ruins, water channels and small streams sparkling in the sun. The descent gradually steepens, but the trail remains clear as it traverses meadows and rocky outcrops. With each bend, new views of the Champorcher Valley open up.

Lower down, the route eases into wider pastures where cows graze around weathered barns. A final contour brings you to the grassy terrace of Rifugio Dondena, which is nestled above the valley floor. It's the perfect place to relax, enjoy a drink, and recharge your batteries for the next day.