Bacchi Rossi Refuge - Vens Lakes Refuge

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On thissecond day of the Tour of Mount Aiga from the Ferrere Refuge, you will pass through Plan de Belvédère, where there is a tin shelter overlooking the Rio Forneris valley and a fountain. You will also pass below Lake Emma, Monte Peiron at 2,796 m and Pointe Testa di Garbe at 2,749 m, to arrive, after a few hairpin bends, at Col de Fer at 2,584 m. You will then head towards Small Pass of Tortisse and the Vens Refuge, the end of this stage.

This walk is part of a multi-day hike: Three-day tour of Mont Aiga starting from Camp des Fourches

Details

n°7622267
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  • Walking
    Activity: Walking
  • ↔
    Distance: 4.60 mi
  • ◔
    Average duration: 4h 10 
  • ▲
    Difficulty: Moderate
  • ⚐
    Back to start: No
  • ↗
    Ascent: + 2,359 ft
  • ↘
    Descent: - 807 ft
  • ▲
    Highest point: 8,501 ft
  • ▼
    Lowest point: 6,158 ft
  • ⚐ Country: Italy
  • ⚐
    Area: Alps
  • ⚐ City: Argentera 
  • ⚑
    Start: N 44.358676° / E 6.954999°
  • ⚑
    End: N 44.316755° / E 6.94192°
  • ❏
    IGN map(s): Ref. 3639OT
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Photos

Vens Lake Refuge
The rock with holes
Aiguilles de Tortisse
Belvédère private refuge

Description of the walk

Departure from the Bacchi Rossi Refuge after a hearty breakfast!

(S) Turn right at the square. At marker 305, head towards Colle del Ferro, along the same lane taken the day before, passing the village museum and under the bell tower of the ruined church. You will reach a fork in the road.

(1) Turn left onto the path leading down to Rio de Ferrere.

(2) Cross the wooden bridge and climb back up towards the woods to reach the left bank of the Rio Forneris.

(3) Go up the valley and, at the junction with the Pontebernardo path, continue straight on towards Colle del Ferro. At Plan de Belvédère, there is a tin shelter overlooking the valley and a fountain.

(4) Continue towards Colle del Ferro, passing under Lac d'Emma, Monte Peiron and Testa di Garbe peak to arrive, after a few hairpin bends, at Col de Fer, the French-Italian border. Marker 35 is located here.

(5) Turn left to easily reach small pass de Tortisse, marker 35a.

(6) Descend south towards the Refuge de Vens and reach the start of a series of hairpin bends.

(7) Continue along these hairpin bends and, after crossing a stream, you will reach the Refuge de Vens (E), today's stop.

Waypoints

  1. S : mi 0 - alt. 6,211 ft - Rifugio Becchi Rossi
  2. 1 : mi 0.12 - alt. 6,211 ft - Fork towards Rio di Ferrere
  3. 2 : mi 0.23 - alt. 6,171 ft - Rio de Ferrere
  4. 3 : mi 1.07 - alt. 6,427 ft - Pontebernardo Trail
  5. 4 : mi 2.02 - alt. 6,969 ft - Map of Belvedere
  6. 5 : mi 3.36 - alt. 8,458 ft - Col du Fer (2584m)
  7. 6 : mi 3.65 - alt. 8,494 ft - Collet de Tortisse (2591m)
  8. 7 : mi 4.04 - alt. 8,212 ft - Start of the switchbacks
  9. E : mi 4.6 - alt. 7,776 ft - Refuge de Vens

Notes

This route passes through a protected area, which may be subject to special regulations:

Worth a visit

(S) In Ferrere, you can visit the churches and the village museum.
(6) It is possible to extend the day's walk by climbing up to the Aiguilles de Tortisse.

Other walks in the area

Walking Refuge de Vens - Camp des Fourches

Visorando Member
Refuge de Vens - Camp des Fourches
↔7.34 mi ↗+2,090 ft ↘-2,441 ft ◔5h 10 ▲Moderate
⚑Departure from Saint-Étienne-de-Tinée (Alpes-Maritimes)
Thisthird and final stage of the Tour du Mont Aiga starts from the Refuge de Vens and crosses a balcony below the slopes of the Aiguilles de Tortisse to the north-east of the Lacs de Vens. After passing the Crête de la Côte and descending to the Maisons Forestières de Tortisse, you will walk along a balcony path beneath the slopes of the Tête des Mourres to reach the Morgon plateau and climb back up to Laussets and finally to the Lacs de Morgon. At the large Morgon lake, you will descend eastwards into Salso Moréno to rejoin the path of thefirst stage and Camp des Fourches. It is possible to see chamois early in the morning and, of course, marmots throughout the day.

Walking The Lacs de Vens from Le Pra

Visorando Member
Les Lacs de Vens depuis Le Pra
↔9.74 mi ↗+3,481 ft ↘-3,478 ft ◔7h 30 ▲Difficult
⚑Departure from Saint-Étienne-de-Tinée (Alpes-Maritimes)
A magnificent hike in the Haute-Tinée offering varied panoramas and one of the most beautiful series of lakes in the Mercantour! The climb from Le Pra is gradual and easy, with the Cime de la Bonnette behind you. You then pass under the strange Aiguilles de Tortisse before arriving at the Col du Fer (view of Mont Viso). After the Collet de Tortisse, you arrive at the arch, where you can enjoy a splendid panorama of the Lacs de Vens and the peaks of the Trou de l'Âne!

Walking Circular Vens loop via the Vens torrent, return via Tortisse

Visorando Member
Boucle de Vens par le torrent de Vens, retour par Tortisse
↔12.11 mi ↗+3,898 ft ↘-3,875 ft ◔9h 00 ▲Difficult
⚑Departure from Saint-Étienne-de-Tinée (Alpes-Maritimes)
This is a variation on the traditional hikes to the magnificent lakes of Vens. Although the last section on tarmac between Le Pra and the car park at the start is not the most attractive, this circular route takes you through both the Vens and Tortisse valleys, with a more pleasant climb along the torrent and a breathtaking descent from the Col de Fer.

Walking Lakes Morgon and Laussets at the start of the Camp des Fourches

Visorando Member
Lacs de Morgon et de Laussets au départ du Camp des Fourches
↔6.86 mi ↗+2,060 ft ↘-2,054 ft ◔4h 55 ▲Moderate
⚑Departure from Saint-Dalmas-le-Selvage (Alpes-Maritimes)
A beautiful, accessible hike starting from Camp des Fourches. You will cross the Salso Moreno sinkholes to discover the superb lakes of Morgon and Laussets. You are in the Mercantour National Park, where there are regulations to be observed, with fines of up to €1,500 for non-compliance. See practical information.

Walking The Agnel and Salso Moreno Lakes

Visorando Member
Les Lacs d'Agnel et le Salso Moreno
↔4.51 mi ↗+1,562 ft ↘-1,562 ft ◔3h 25 ▲Moderate
⚑Departure from Saint-Dalmas-le-Selvage (Alpes-Maritimes)
This hike, starting from Camp des Fourches, will take you through the magnificent Salso Moreno valley, characterised by its many winding streams amid marmot meadows and numerous sinkholes. You will climb to the small Lacs d'Agnel lakes, overlooking this pretty cirque at the foot of the Roubines Nègres. You are in the Mercantour National Park, where there are regulations to be observed, with fines of up to €1,500 for non-compliance. See practical information.

Walking Pelousette and Mont des Fourches forts

Visorando Member
Fortins de Pelousette et du Mont des Fourches
↔5.12 mi ↗+1,775 ft ↘-1,791 ft ◔3h 55 ▲Moderate
⚑Departure from Saint-Dalmas-le-Selvage (Alpes-Maritimes)
A beautiful climb takes you to a summit at 2,757 metres, from where you can enjoy a 360° panorama of many of the high mountains in the surrounding area. These forts were built at the end of the 19th century to prevent Italian troops from entering the country via the Salso Moreno valley. They were occupied during both World Wars but were never actually used.

Walking Camp des Fourches - Ferrere Refuge

Visorando Member
Camp des Fourches - Refuge de Ferrere
↔6.25 mi ↗+1,381 ft ↘-2,615 ft ◔4h 05 ▲Moderate
⚑Departure from Saint-Dalmas-le-Selvage (Alpes-Maritimes)
This first stage of the Tour du Mont Aiga starts from Camp des Fourches on the Bonette road and, via the Col des Fourches, descends into the large Salso Moreno valley, which you climb back up to the Col de Pouriac. From the Col de Pouriac, you quickly reach Bassa di Colombart and then, after a long descent through the mountain pastures, the charming village of Ferrere. You may encounter flocks of sheep in Salso Moreno and, at night, the wolves that prey on them.

Walking Three-day tour of Mont Aiga starting from Camp des Fourches

Visorando Member
Tour du Mont Aiga en trois jours à partir du Camp des Fourches
↔18.20 mi ↗+5,856 ft ↘-5,873 ft ◔3 days ▲Difficult
⚑Departure from Saint-Dalmas-le-Selvage (Alpes-Maritimes)
Three days of hiking in Haute-Tinée and Alta Val Stura in Italy, starting from Camp des Fourches, with balanced stages and no technical difficulty. This tour will allow you to discover Salso Moréno, the charming village of Ferrere in Italy and the Refuge des Lac de Vens.

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