Servin Loop

Anello Val Servin - profilo

An interesting loop hike, at Balme doorstep, allows visiting a side valley with the possibility to meet wild animals and visit old pasture huts and hamlets. Boards along the trail illustrate historical and naturalistic backgrounds.  The trail is sufficiently marked, even in wintertime, so as to be accessible with snowshoes.

Indications

Suggested period
All year around
Starting point
Balme
Elevation gain
+ 205 m; - 205 m
Difficulty
E
Travel time
1.30 - 2 hrs
Trail indication
214B

Recommended for

  • Hikers
  • Families
  • Snow-shoes
  • Everybody

Access

Reach Balme residential area and, level with the church, enter the tiny street crossing the stream and park your car in the wide area in front of the ski lift.

Itinerary

Follow the county road up to S. Anna little church, enter the straight tiny street overtaking the fountain among the houses and, shortly, you will exit on a plateau. Walk toward the steep climb on the left and reach the Arbosetta. From the latter, the Servìn valley opens up. Follow the dirt trail climbing down to Frè hamlet. Miners established this settlement. During the summer it is possible to visit a dwelling set up exactly as in the old times, illustrating the original customs and traditions.  Cross the hamlet, climb the meadows in front of it overlooked by the Chioss pasture.  Enter a thick wood and then climb down to the valley bottom and reach a hut close to a big boulder.  The trail now follows the creek, which it crosses through a small wooden bridge, and shortly arrives at the Pontat waterfalls. You will now cross the head of the valley, and, having overtaken the creek through a wooden gangplank will reach Pian Salé.

The trail is now all downwards. At first you cross a couloir, then wide meadows and at last you enter a beech wood. Following the trail between cliffs, climb down until reaching the “ghiacciaia”, a natural cleft that could be filled by snow through a natural pit. Shortly after, you reach a bridge and, having crossed it, you arrive on the square.  Climbing diagonally through the paved hamlet alleys you will exit in front of S. Anna little church. Follow the county road and reach the starting square.

Bibliography

“Escursionismo per tutti” di Roberto Bergamino e Umbro Tessiore Ed. Arti Grafiche San Rocco.

Cartography

Alte Valli di Lanzo – carta n° 17 L’Escursionista & Monti editori; Valli di Lanzo – carta dei sentieri 3 Val d’Ala e Val Grande.

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