Col della Barma

This hike takes you into the heart of the Mont Mars Nature Reserve.
The descent follows almost entirely the route of the famous Oropa procession, which takes place every five years.
In the central section, you can admire several lakes that make the valley even more scenic.
A visit to Barma Hut is not complete without trying a plate of its traditional green polenta.

From the Pont-Saint-Martin motorway exit, turn right towards Turin.
At the second roundabout, turn left in the direction of Gressoney.
The road climbs for a few hundred meters before turning right onto the Lys Valley road, which you follow all the way to Fontainemore.
Pass through the town center and continue for less than two kilometres, then, on the right, follow the signs for Coumarial. Continue along this road until it ends at the large car park.

From the end of the car park, continue along the rural road, passing two hairpin bends. At the junction, go straight until the first curve, where on the right a trail begins that climbs into the forest.
Follow the path through a beautiful fir and larch forest until emerging into a scenic clearing, where Alpe Creux is located, and continue until reaching the Alta Via no. 1 trail.
Follow this trail to the left until reaching Alpe Daré du Crest. Continue on level ground to a small pass overlooking the valley that leads to Col della Barma. Descend briefly to a stone pyramid, where you must turn right. The trail then descends the steep mountainside, with a few short equipped sections, until reaching Alpe Bonel.
From here, the trail climbs among rocky ledges, then traverses left to join the main path, which you follow downhill. Turn right and shortly reach the distinctive building of Alpe Lé Lounc, with its characteristic three-pitched roof and circular “crotin” with a slate roof.
Continue a short distance before taking a less-visible trail that descends to the right, skirting the marshy basin. At the end, climb through small valleys among glacier-smoothed rocks until reaching the Barma lake basin. Move to the left to reach Barma Hut.
From the hut, follow the beautiful, often paved mule track to reach Col della Barma. The return to the hut is along the same path. Then continue, skirting Lago Barmetta, and after a small ascent reach a pass. The trail descends steeply to Alpe Lé Lounc, and after passing it, continue straight toward Lago Vargno.
Cross a section of mule track built through a scree slope, then traverse pasture to arrive at Lago Vargno.
From here, follow the rural road (where the eight hairpins can be bypassed via a shortcut trail) to the junction leading up to Pian Coumarial. Take the uphill road for the first section, then continue on a flat stretch until returning to the car park where the car was left.