Plan of Saint Anthony

The Valle dell’Alleigne, also known as Valle della Legna, is an area of exceptional beauty that is well worth a visit, particularly in early summer during the flowering season or in autumn when the larches turn golden.
The Piano di Sant’Antonio, the destination of our walk, is a stunning pastureland crossed by a stream. On the ascent, the route takes a high traverse across the valley along a path that is not always clearly visible. Alternatively, it is also possible to ascend and descend via the main valley floor mule track.

From the Pont-Saint-Martin motorway exit, turn left towards Aosta.
At the roundabout, continue on the left, still heading towards Aosta.
Drive past Donnas to reach Bard; after the town, at the roundabout, turn left towards Champorcher.
Pass through the village of Hône and enter the Val di Champorcher. Continue past Pontboset towards Champorcher. After passing a tunnel, take the next hairpin bend on the left onto the road descending to Outre l’Eve. Follow this road, cross the stream, and before reaching the hamlet, park on the right where the path begins.
From the Verrès motorway exit, turn right towards Turin, pass Arnad, and at the roundabout turn right towards Champorcher.

Take the lovely mule track that climbs the valley and continue upwards (noting a monumental ash tree on the left) almost to Plan Bouc. Just before reaching it, take the path on the left to cross the stream.
The path now ascends through the steep coniferous forest with wide hairpin bends. Continue to around 1,700 metres, where on the right the path begins to traverse the entire mountainside. Follow it with its undulating course (be careful in some clearings where visibility is limited) until you reach Alpe Borrion.
Continue along the contour with occasional short ascents, then descend diagonally to meet the main mule track in a clearing with large boulders. Follow it to the left, negotiating a short steep section, then ascend past a beautiful pool of the stream and shortly afterwards cross the little bridge at the start of plan of Saint Anthony, where the walk ends.
The return follows the same route to the clearing with the large boulders. Continue along the right-hand side of the stream, cross it, pass beneath Alpe Ourty, and continue along the opposite bank through a large pasture. The path then climbs above the stream through larches until reaching the houses of Plan Bouc, from where you can return to the car via the outward path.