Lacs d'Orgials, Martel and Aver

A superb circular hike, allowing you to discover no fewer than five lakes through magnificent landscapes at the foot of Mount Malinvern. It is located entirely in Italian territory, close to Isola 2000, starting from the Col de la Lombarde road on the Vinadio side.
In addition to the lakes, the hike offers superb views of the peaks overlooking the Rio Freddo valley at the foot of Malinvern, which is omnipresent during the first part of the circuit.

Details

2227699
Creation:
Last update:
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  • Walking
    Activity: Walking
  • ↔
    Distance: 16.89 km
  • ◔
    Duration according to the author: 7 hrs 
  • ▲
    Difficulty: Very difficult

  • ⚐
    Back to start: Yes
  • ↗
    Ascent: + 1,525 m
  • ↘
    Descent: - 1,522 m

  • ▲
    Highest point: 2,621 m
  • ▼
    Lowest point: 1,580 m
  • ⚐ Country: Italy
  • ⚐
    Area: Alps
  • ⚐ City: Vinadio 
  • ⚑
    Start/End: N 44.212379° / E 7.145177°
  • ❏
    IGN map(s): Ref. 3640ET
  • Hour-by-hour weather

Photos

Description of the walk

The start is about 1.5 km after the summit of the Col de la Lombarde, on the Italian side. A trail starts on the right side of the road. You have to look carefully to see it from the car, but there is a sign attached to a rock. You can park two or three cars about ten metres below the trailhead, on the right side of the road.

(S/E) Follow the trail uphill towards Colle Orgials and Colle dei Morti as indicated by the signpost. You will soon reach a signpost (numbered 352) located at the intersection of two trails.

(1) Continue towards Colle Orgials, leaving the trail to Colle dei Morti on your left (return trail). You will then begin a climb through a very rocky landscape. The trail is clear and marked in red and white. Reach Colle Orgials.

(2) You can make an optional round trip to the peak of the same name (interesting viewpoint).

(3) Descend to the previous junction.

(2) Continue right on the path that winds down towards the Orgials lakes (or Valletta), the first of which can be seen from the pass.

(4) Pass the Orgials Lakes (the trail overlooks them, but a path allows you to reach the shores if you wish) and reach a marker located at the intersection of two trails. Follow the direction of Rifugio Malinvern. The trail now passes through a much greener landscape and is very pleasant.

(5) You will reach a third small lake, located on a flat area, which you will leave on your right as you continue eastwards. After this plateau, the slope descends steeply to the Malinvern Refuge.

(6) Reach the Malinvern Refuge and continue on the track on the right that descends along the Rio Freddo valley, heading north. Reach a marker (numbered 349).

(7) Continue along the track towards Vinadio.
Note: if you want to make a shorter loop, you can follow the signpost for Lago Sottano d'Aver and then rejoin the route at Lac Inferiore. Reach another signpost (unnumbered).

(8) Follow the signs for Lago Martel, taking a path that climbs up into the forest on the left (west). Here begins a long and challenging climb up a very steep path. The first half of the climb is very shady and there is a stream halfway up where you can cool off. Reach Lake Martel.

(9) Turn left to make a round trip to the south (about 10 minutes) to admire Lake Nero.

(10) Retrace your steps.

(9) Continue towards Lago Soprano d'Aver. From here, there is no real path, so follow the numerous red and yellow markings and cairns. The climb is particularly steep, mostly over scree, where you may need to use your hands.

(11) Reach a small plateau and continue to follow the cairns westwards. There are regular cairns and red and yellow markings, which you should follow to the lake.

(12) At the upper Lac d'Aver, follow the signpost for Lago Sottano d'Aver. Begin a relatively steep but fairly short descent. You will soon see the lake. Reach the signpost for Lac d'Aver Inférieur.

(13) Keep to the right towards Colle dei Morti. This is the start of a final climb, which is quite challenging due to the distance already covered and the elevation gain. The slope is relatively steep (about 400m of elevation gain from the lake to the pass).
If you reach this lake directly from marker 349, don't hesitate to make the round trip to Lac d'Aver Supérieur.

(14) At Colle dei Morti, you will see the top of the Isola 2000 ski slopes again. Follow the path downhill towards the south-west. It is impossible to lose the trail, as it is marked by two rows of stones. You will come back to marker 352, which you passed at the start.

(1) Turn right to rejoin the section of path taken on the way up until you reach the road and the starting point (S/E).

Waypoints

  1. S/E : km 0 - alt. 2,271 m - Route du col de la Lombarde
  2. 1 : km 0.29 - alt. 2,320 m - Beacon 352
  3. 2 : km 1.32 - alt. 2,579 m - Colle Orgials
  4. 3 : km 1.45 - alt. 2,621 m - Cima d'Orgials
  5. 4 : km 2.92 - alt. 2,323 m - Overlooking the Orgials Lakes (or Valletta)
  6. 5 : km 3.64 - alt. 2,155 m - Lake on a grassy plateau
  7. 6 : km 5.59 - alt. 1,835 m - Malinvern refuge
  8. 7 : km 7.48 - alt. 1,649 m - Beacon 349 (follow Vinadio)
  9. 8 : km 8.1 - alt. 1,580 m - Unnumbered marker
  10. 9 : km 10.37 - alt. 2,166 m - Start and finish at the viewpoint
  11. 10 : km 10.6 - alt. 2,183 m - View of Lago Nero
  12. 11 : km 11.85 - alt. 2,309 m - Small plateau
  13. 12 : km 12.6 - alt. 2,345 m - Lake Aver Supérieur (Soprano)
  14. 13 : km 13.33 - alt. 2,133 m - Lower Aver Lake (Sottano)
  15. 14 : km 15.35 - alt. 2,481 m - Colle dei morti
  16. S/E : km 16.89 - alt. 2,271 m - Route du col de la Lombarde

Notes

Although magnificent, this hike is long and very physically demanding, mainly due to the steep climb (more than 1,000 metres of elevation gain) between the Rio Freddo valley and Lac d'Aver Supérieur. It is therefore reserved for experienced hikers, especially as the section between Lac Martel and Lac d'Aver Supérieur can be a little tricky.

Some maps show a path that would allow you to reach Lake Aver Superior from Lake Martel via Lake Nero, but I couldn't find it and the route seemed risky, so I followed the official route marked on the ground. It is supposed to rejoin the official route at point .

If you don't make the return trip to Nero Lake from Martel Lake, you can still see it because after passing through the scree (between points (9) and (11)), you take a section of trail that runs along a ledge, offering a beautiful view of Martel and Nero Lakes.

Please note: from Lake Martel until you return to the starting point, there is almost no shade on the route.

You may want to consider doing the loop over two days, with Lake Martel or Aver Supérieur as beautiful places to camp

Reviews and comments

4.8 / 5
Based on 3 reviews

Reliability of the description
5 / 5
Ease of following the route
4.7 / 5
Route interest
4.7 / 5
danielfr40
danielfr40

Thanks, it was my mistake
But it's kind of you to have changed it for scatterbrains like me
I saw it from the balcony path above

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restefond2800
restefond2800

Hello

Thank you for your feedback and sorry you missed Lago Nero. I have changed the title of point 10 as you suggested!

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danielfr40
danielfr40

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Aug 21, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

A lovely loop with easy trails.
However, it is 16 km long with a significant elevation gain
However, the climb to Lac Martel is steep.
And the climb over the boulders after Lac Martel is difficult, the only difficult section for me.
I don't read the descriptions at each waypoint and I missed Lake Nero.
Perhaps you could rename point 10 to "viewpoint over Nero Lake" for absent-minded people like me. Otherwise, too bad for the absent-minded, they should read the description.
I'm a bit annoyed with Visorando, which classifies long or steep hikes as very difficult, when I know my limits. All I need to do is read the distance and elevation gain
However, I need to know the technical difficulty, as I usually can't manage the very difficult technical sections, and difficult ones double my time.
I'd classify it as difficult.
In any case, thank you for the route and the very precise description

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Jubulbe
Jubulbe

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Jun 24, 2022
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

Please note, do not look for the plaque on the rock marking the start of the hike, as it has been removed

However, there is a red and white mark on it that is quite easy to spot.

A magnificent, uncrowded hike. Thank you for the excellent guide.

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lorenzo1962
lorenzo1962

Excellent!
Thank you

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restefond2800
restefond2800

No problem!
It's possible that the loop is longer than 16 km, but that's the distance that was recorded when I did the hike with Visorando tracking active throughout the walk.
But I agree with you that it also seemed longer than the 16 km advertised...
Personally, it took me 7 hours.
It's not a big deal, but it's probably a good idea to point out that the distance may not be entirely accurate.
I hope you enjoyed the hike anyway!

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lorenzo1962
lorenzo1962

Sorry, I wrote 6 km instead of 16 km (I forgot the 1), but I think the 16 km corresponds to a shorter loop arriving from Rio Freddo directly at Lower Lake Aver. We did the route in 8 hours and I'm pretty sure our average speed was much higher than 2 km/hour.
Thanks.

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restefond2800
restefond2800

Hello,

I can confirm that it is longer than 6 km, but the description clearly states that the distance for this hike is 16.9 km.

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lorenzo1962
lorenzo1962

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Oct 14, 2019
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good

Hello, I think there is a mistake regarding the distance, which seems longer than the 6 km stated

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