Visible even hundreds of kilometers away, the eastern slope of Monte Rosa can be said to be the only Himalayan wall in Europe: an immense, dizzying bastion of rock and ice that rises for more than two kilometers at the head of Valle Anzasca.

It is therefore no coincidence that the proposed trip is always very busy, also thanks to the chairlift that significantly reduces the time to climb. In practice it is possible to reach, without difficulty, right under the wall, in a unique scenario not only in Italy, but in the entire continent.
From Macugnaga (60 km from Verbania) continue by car to the hamlet Pecetto, at 1358 meters above sea level. We then walk along an unmistakable dirt road (heading west) that goes into the woods, reaching the plateau of Alpe Burki (about 1600 meters).
The climb continues along a comfortable path in the Rado Forest, up to the basin where the building of the CAI Saronno Hut is located. A last short climb then leads to the Belvedere plateau, located on the morainic bump that divides the language of the homonymous glacier in two: altitude of 1940 meters, 1.30 hours from Pecetto.
Note: the Belvedere, on which there is a private refuge restaurant, is also reached by a chairlift that starts in Pecetto, of course can be used during periods of operation.
Continuing the excursion, from the Belvedere you reach, always on a comfortable path, the southern branch of the glacier, which you cross without difficulty on morainic debris.
Once reached the opposite moraine, the path heads south, reaching the now nearby Rifugio Zamboni—Zappa at the Alpe Pedriola: 2065 meters altitude, 0.45 hours from the Belvedere, in total 2.15 hours from Pecetto.
The return takes place along the same path as the climb, and takes 30 minutes to the Belvedere, and about 1.30 hours total up to Pecetto (not using the chairlift).
Variation: from the hut we recommend completing the trip reaching the not far Lake of Locce (altitude 2209 meters), and the wonderful & amp; nbsp; Ephemeral Lake, both reachable in about 30 minutes on a convenient walk south, along trail tracks.

Travel time: 3.45 hours - (1.15 using the chairlift).
Starting altitude: m. 1358
Difference in altitude: about 750
Difficulty: E — Hiking
Recommended period: June - October
Region: Piedmont
Province: Verbania
Valle/area: Valle Anzasca Are you interested in other excursions in neighboring areas? Discover the other wonderful excursions in the Piedmont region!