Val Grande National Park National Park

Address: Val Grande National Park, Piedmont, Italy

Website: https://www.parcovalgrande.it/

Val Grande National Park is a protected wilderness area in the Piedmont region of northern Italy and is widely described as one of the largest continuous wilderness areas in the Italian Alps. It is characterised by steep, forested valleys and remote mountain terrain.

Hiking is the principal visitor activity, with a network of trails that cross valleys and ridges; routes range from short valley walks to longer excursions connecting isolated hamlets and mountain passes. The park is valued for river valleys, mixed broadleaf and conifer woods, and views into surrounding Alpine massifs.

The area was traditionally used for pastoralism and small-scale mountain agriculture; during the 20th century some valley communities were abandoned and the forest regenerated, leading to the park’s current wild character. The park was later protected to conserve its natural and cultural landscape.

Val Grande sits in the western Alps of Italy in Piedmont, inland from Lake Maggiore and near the town of Domodossola, within steep-sided valleys that rise into alpine ridgelines.

• No-road wilderness: Val Grande is noted for its lack of roads and dense network of footpaths; many valleys are accessible only on foot, so multi-day routes and mountain huts are commonly used by visitors.

Val Grande is accessed from the Ossola valley; common entry points include the town of Verbania and villages such as Cicogna. Regional buses run to some trailheads in summer; otherwise travel by car or arrange local transfers.

• Some valleys are steep and poorly signposted; use official maps and local guides for routes into the wildest parts.
• Be prepared for sudden weather changes and river crossings-pack appropriate gear and waterproof footwear.
• Public transport is limited; a car is useful to reach trailheads, but check local bus timetables in summer.