A daunting unpaved road to Bivacco Carmagnola
Bivacco Carmagnola is a high mountain refuge at an elevation of 2.840m (9,317ft) above sea level, located in the Province of Cuneo in Italy. It's one of the highest roads in Europe.
Where is Bivacco Carmagnola?
The hut is located in the region of Piedmont, in the northern part of the country, within the Maira Alta Valley. The hut was built after an abandoned military barrack.
When was the road to Bivacco Carmagnola built?
The road to the refuge is an old military road, built for defense purposes, part of the Alpine Wall, the most ambitious fortified system to defend Italy's borders.
Is the road to Bivacco Carmagnola challenging?
The road is totally unpaved, very steep, with some narrow sections. The last part of the road is extremely dangerous, and the road often disappears due to landslides. The road is really rough. The last 100 meters of the road are extremely narrow. Very challenging, some people find this track just too daunting. 4x4 vehicle required. Along the way it’s possible to have a closer look at the remains of barracks, casemates, bunkers and hiking paths and via ferratas on the area.
How long is the road to Bivacco Carmagnola?
Starting from Villaro, the road to the hut is 15.7 km (9.75 miles) long. Over this distance, the elevation gain is 1453 m and the average gradient is 9.25%.
Is the road to Bivacco Carmagnola open in winter?
It's one of the highest roads of the country. Accessibility is largely limited to the summer season.
Pic:Alberto Matta