Intermediate Aosta Trail

Leaving the high pastures around the refuge, this stage moves from one wild basin to another. The route climbs towards the head of the Grauson valley, where rocky ribs and small tarns sit beneath the long ridge running to Punta Tersiva (3,514 m). After crossing a high, windswept pass, the character changes completely. Ahead lies a broad glacial bowl, where Lago Miserin glints in a hollow of pale rock and grass with the next mountain hut on its shore.

From the buildings the path follows the stream upstream through gently rising meadows, passing stone barns and scattered boulders. Soon the trail steepens, zigzagging over rougher slopes into a hanging valley guarded by cliffs. A succession of shelves leads past a small alpine lake and on towards the rocky pass, where you step briefly onto a broken plateau with wide views over ridges and distant glaciers. From here the route drops into the Miserin basin on gravel paths and easy terraces.

Closer to the lake, the ground softens underfoot and the path curves along the shoreline towards a small chapel and cluster of buildings. The refuge stands just above the water, with its terrace looking straight across Lago Miserin and the surrounding peaks. Once you arrive, you can leave your pack in the dormitory, top up water at the fountain and watch the evening light slide across the surface of the lake.

From the high, quiet basin of Lago Miserin, this stage leaves the rocky cirque behind and heads towards the gentler pastures of Dondena. A short climb leads to the frontier pass of the Fenêtre de Champorcher, where you suddenly look out over a new valley and the peaks of the Mont Avic area. For the rest of the day the route follows easy balcony paths and old shepherd tracks, gradually descending towards meadows, streams and scattered stone buildings.

From the hut you first wander along the shoreline of Lago Miserin and cross the dam, with the small chapel at your back. The path then climbs steadily across grassy slopes dotted with boulders, zigzagging towards the Fenêtre de Champorcher. At the pass the view opens to steep faces, small tarns and the long valley of Champorcher. From here, a contouring trail leads west across the mountainside, crossing streams and passing rocky knolls where ibex and chamois often graze.

As you lose height the ground softens and the path curves into broad alpine pastures where cows and horses roam. Old stone walls, barns and a small chapel announce the approach to Dondena. The refuge appears on a gentle terrace above the valley floor, surrounded by meadows and crossed by clear streams. Once you arrive, you can stretch out in the grass, rinse dust from your boots in the water and watch the evening light slide across the surrounding peaks.

Leaving the wide pastures around the hut, this stage carries you into the rocky heart of the Mont Avic area. A gentle start along tracks and streams soon gives way to steeper slopes and balcony paths high above the valley. As you climb, views open towards Bec Barmasse and the distant Gran Paradiso group. Later in the day the terrain softens again, leading you onto a hanging plateau dotted with dark lakes, where the next refuge looks out over a ring of peaks.

From the buildings you follow a track across meadows and cross the torrent near the chapel of Notre Dame de la Neige. The path then climbs steadily through larches and open hillsides, passing old stone ruins and viewpoints above the valley. Higher up it steepens into zigzags, gaining around 500 metres towards a rocky shoulder beneath Bec Barmasse and the small Lago Vernouille. Here balcony paths weave across boulder fields and grassy shelves, with waterfalls glinting below and wide views towards the Gran Lago basin.

Beyond the high point the route undulates across gentle ridges, with scattered boulders and isolated pines. A short descent brings you to a chain of alpine lakes, where pale and dark water pools between granite slabs. Skirting their shores, you climb briefly to reach the refuge, perched on a rise above the lakes. Once you arrive, you can drop your pack, refill water at the fountain and watch the evening light drift over Monte Avic and the surrounding summits.

Leaving the quiet basin around the lakes, this final stage leads you out of the high country of Mont Avic and back to the valley. The day begins among larches, dark water and pale granite, then gradually trades rock for forest and pasture. As you lose height, the wild ridges retreat behind you and the Aosta valley opens ahead. By the time you reach the road, church towers and vineyards have taken over from peaks and passes.

From the hut, the path first contours above the chain of Barbustel lakes before turning into a steady descent. It drops through larch and spruce, passing viewpoints over Lago Bianco and a wooden boardwalk across a peat bog. Further down, you weave between boulders, clearings and small streams, with glimpses of Monte Avic behind. A series of zigzags then delivers you to the lower forest and the first stone houses of the valley.

Near the bottom, the trail joins wider farm tracks and quiet lanes, passing barns, chapels and clusters of houses. The sound of traffic replaces the rush of water as you approach the main road. A short walk along the verge brings you to the bus stop at Champdepraz, where you can drop your pack, look back towards the high ridges and start planning your next journey.