parco nazionale gran paradiso

A huge space for the adventurer whether on foot, cycle or car. Breathtaking landscape blanketed by a backdrop of wild rugged mountains. This is a place to take your time with and forget about the outside world and all of its troubles. See it for yourself!

I've hiked on trails starting from Ceresole Reale (which is in Piedmont), and throughout Cogne (in Aosta; spent the night there at a B&B). Gran Paradiso is one of my all-time favorite national parks, and possibly the most beautiful I've ever been to. The trails are well-marked and the people at info centers (in the center of Turin, or in the small towns that surround the park) are helpful. You can do day-trips, stay overnight in a B&B, or trek into the wilderness and stop at the many refuges along the way. Expect spectacular views and perfect little Alpine towns everywhere. I plan on going back in the late spring and I can't wait!

Truly, a must visit! We parked in Valnontey on the Aosta side of the park and had an expectedly so-so lunch at a tourist type spot at the entrance to the park. But then we took the first trail we could and almost immediately we were passing waterfalls and stunning views. We saw one of the locally famous Ibex goats watching us make our way up the hillside. We both wish we could have stayed many days longer to experience more of the park!

This is a lovely park - but unless you're an avid hiker, you won't see much of the remakable beauty. WC's are OK, but not great at the Valnontey entrance. Plenty of parking.

My second visit to Gran Paradiso, to finish walkng the Alta Via 2. Unbelievable views, quiet and calm surroundings, not many walkers (late september is already a little risky!) and very difficult mountain passes. Not for the faint-hearted... But so beautiful and demanding!

One of the few places where the elusive Ibex can still be seen. Lots of wildlife including Chamois and marmots. Many birds and butterflies and flowers in season. (Too many people ignoring the keep dogs on a lead rule! Bah!)

What a beautiful place! Views like this are just not available in North America! Mountains and valleys all within 20 or 30 minutes from the parking lot. Just breathtaking.

Views around every corner. We saw dozens of long horned Ibex grazing. We visited in late April and there was too much snow in the upper elevations for casual hiking, but there was plenty to see, and no admission fees!

Visited the park 3 times - each an attempt to get to the top of Gran Paradise. First two tries were totally scuppered by the weather. Third time the weather was not great but we ploughed on regardless and got there in the end. Did it as a ski-tour which I would think is the best way. I could imagine that the summer ascent would be a bit of a 'plod'. The main feature of the park is the absence of chair lifts, etc. so if you want to get high it has to be through your own efforts.Never got to see any views but I am told by those that have been in better conditions that they are pretty good.

We did a short, easy hike from Combe towards the Gran Paradiso. Quite an impressive scenery even for somebody living in central Switzerland.

I am already an old man but I have discovered the alpine walks only lately, too late! It is one of the best and worst experiences possible, to go high in the mountains, experience lots of hardship and difficulties, and get to places where not many people get and see unbelievable sights. I have now walked in the Pyrenees, in Switzerland, in France and in Germany, but Gran Paradiso beats them all. This trip to Gran Paradiso lasted five days and I walked about half the distance I had planned (and some bits twice when I got lost!) I did mostly the Alta Via Nr 2, which is the most difficult (although everything there is classified E for extreme...) and demanding. It is not for faint-hearted, not for overweight, not something to be done on a moment's notice. You must be in good shape, able to walk up very steep mountains starting from around 1500 m and reaching up to 3000. It is hard! But sooo rewarding when you are up there. But of course one mistake I learned is that never think that the worst is over now. It can get worse. I don't know which is worse, to climb up a steep cliff or to go down... But in the end there is an enormous reward. I have lots of photos to prove that! The best time to visit is definitely September, when it is still warm, all the Italians have vanished and the refugios are still open. You don't need to carry much stuff as the places are very comfortable and you will always find a hotel (although once I had planned to stop in an enticing place, just to be disappointed because it was closed and the next place was an hour walk away. I don't want to scare you; there are lots of easy paths (avoid the Alta Via!) and there is everything for everybody. One alternative is to walk with a light backpack from one valley to another and another is to come by car, leave your stuff in the car or hotel and walk very lightly on day trips. But then you lose the possibility of seeing every day something new and not being dependent on one place. There are very good guidebooks (the Cicerone is the best) but don't trust them 100 per cent. One unpleasant experience I had was that when I had just descended a very high slope and was approaching la Joux - the path was closed and nowhere to go (backtracking was out of the question 5 pm...) I noticed that others had ignored the closure so I went and it was not fun as the track had been left uncared for. I never found you why, because I took a dangerous short track and got to another path, but it was a quite unpleasant experience. But no matter, I am going there again next year, this time with the family! The views, the places, the loneliness, the stillness, the extremes!

If you like the great outdoors and a bit of fresh air then visit Italy's Gran Paradiso's National Park in the Aosta Valley.Plus, if you want to climb one of the finest 4000m Alpine Peaks in Europe then make a short 2 day trip up the Valsarevenche Valley to the start of the 1.5/2hrs forest track walk up to the Mountain hut where you can relax and prepare for the next mornings trek up to the Peak of Gran Paradiso a little over 4200m a d some of the most amazing views of the Western European Alps.

Looking for moderate or hard treks ? Go to Gran Paradiso. Get the maps form the tourst office in Aosta and pick your trip - try the rifugio treks during the summer as you can buy food here. All valleys are beautiful. Hiked with family and kids loved the treks - ranging from 3 - 8 hours and varying difficulty.

This park is definitely underestimated.You can reach the park from north - Cogne , or South – Ceresole Reale.The park is well kept as a nature's heaven and therefore no 'artificial' attractions.There are many well marked trails/paths in the valleys and mountains, vary in length and difficulty. Water streams and waterfalls, beautiful Alpine lakes, outstanding views are everywhere.Lillaz waterfalls near Cogne and the road to Colle del Nivolet from Ceresole Reale are not to be missed.Overall a splendid place to tour !!!

The bus trip from Aosta to Cogne has amazing views, castles and slopes. Cogne was very nice too. Gran Paradiso is a real paradise, we had an amazing hike in the snow - great easy and secure paths - and we saw some animals as well! I want to go back in the summer!