ALPE QUAGGIONE TREKKING | Tra i Laghi Casale Corte Cerro

Trekking on the Lakes: Alpe Quaggione

Alpe Quaggione (1, 142 m) is one of those magical places from my childhood — where I learned to eat snow with cocoa, got stung by nettles, rolled down grassy slopes, and even used wild sage to clean my teeth…

Duration: depends on your pace and how many stops you make. Consider between 1 and 2 hours.
Difficulty: EASY
Terrain: paved road, dirt paths, grass
Suitable for children. NOT suitable for strollers.

We are in the Strona Valley, in the municipality of Germagno, just a 15-minute drive from B&B Tra i Laghi. If you prefer, you can also reach it on foot with an uphill hike through woods, meadows, and alpine pastures — allow at least a couple of hours.

How to get to Alpe Quaggione

Let’s not overdo it — go by car!

Head towards the center of Casale Corte Cerro and, once you reach the church, turn left. Pass through the hamlet of Montebuglio and reach the village of Gattugno. From there, continue up to Alpe Colla. The road winds through narrow hairpin bends in the forest.

If you’re not comfortable driving on mountain roads, you can also reach Alpe Quaggione from Omegna, following the road towards the Strona Valley, direction Germagno.

After Alpe Colla, you’ll find Alpe Cardello — I recommend a stop here to visit its charming little church.

Shortly after, you’ll reach the parking area at Alpe Quaggione. Leave your car and start your walk to explore this fascinating alpine area, inhabited only during summer.

What you’ll see

The first highlight is the unique circular chapel dedicated to Madonna della Neve, designed and built in 1970 by the painter and sculptor Franco Ferraris.

Nearby, you’ll find the picnic area “Al Valarel, ” created by the Friends of Alpe Quaggione — a local association that has been preserving and promoting this area for decades. If you’re prepared, you can even enjoy a barbecue here.

A bit of history

This place also holds historical significance. It was here that partisan Bruno Rutto gathered around forty men to continue the resistance against Nazi-fascists after the battle of Megolo. This marked the birth of the “First Patriotic Group Filippo Beltrami, ” whose symbol was the green scarf of the Alpine troops.

Up to Monte “Zucchero”

Continue your walk: with the chapel behind you, follow the paved road that soon splits left and right. It doesn’t matter which direction you take — you’ll complete a loop and return to the same point.

At the top, you can reach Monte Zuccaro (1, 338 m), where a small chapel offers breathtaking views over the Strona Valley and both Lake Orta and Lake Maggiore.

Fun fact: as children, we used to call it “Monte Zucchero” (Sugar Mountain) … even though there was no sugar in sight!

If you’re lucky, you might also see paragliders taking off — many enthusiasts fly from here all the way down to Gravellona Toce.

Useful info

There are no bars or restaurants at Alpe Quaggione.

However, at Alpe Colla you’ll find a lovely restaurant-pizzeria run by Nicoletta and Michele — perfect for a coffee break, a snack, or even a pizza.

You can also visit the Monastery of Saints Peter and Paul in Germagno, where you can buy honey, jams, spreads, liqueurs, and other products made following traditional monastic recipes.

Picnic… even in the evening!

If you’d like to bring your own lunch, you can stop at “Non Solo Pane Market” in Casale (near the church), where they can also prepare sandwiches for you.
Alternatively, there’s the “Bottega di Sara” in Germagno.

Too hot during the day? Go for an evening picnic! Up at Quaggione, the air is always fresh — we do it often, and it’s incredibly relaxing.

Enjoy this lakeside trekking experience: a peaceful and refreshing walk among meadows, old mountain huts, grazing cows, flowers, and stunning views over our beautiful lakes. 🌿