Pian delle Betulle and Alpe di Paglio

Discover a mountain that is still authentic and traditional, including forest walks, views and gourmet stops. Alpe di Paglio, along with Pian delle Betulle, are two perfect destinations for spending a day outdoors, pleasing all mountain lovers.

There are many things to see and they are essentially based between trekking activities, bike rides and gourmet stops at the many mountain huts.

How to get there

Getting to Alpe di Paglio è very easy: directly by car from Casargo in about 15 minutes. You can leave your car in the large parking lot and then go explore the area.

The Pian delle Betulle, on the other hand, can be reached by cable car from Margno, on foot in 15 minutes from Alpe di Paglio, or in 1 hour and 30 minutes starting from Margno or Crandola with a 700-meter elevation gain.

Alpe di Paglio

On arriving on the Alpe, you will be enchanted by the views from this location.
We are located at an altitude of 1,440 meters. The Alpe di Paglio è the starting point of many hikes, among the most famous being Pian delle Betulle (about a 15-minute walk), Alpe Ombrega, Pizzo Tre Signori, Cimone di Margno and Valvarrone.

Finished your hike you can enjoy a healthy relaxation in the large meadow of Alpe di Paglio, years ago a ski slope, now instead a destination for many families for a picnic or simply to sunbathe and enjoy the crisp mountain air.

Pian delle Betulle

Another thing to see in the area è the Pian delle Betulle (1,501 meters), a beautiful mountain resort in the’Alta Valsassina.

The Pian delle Betulle è also known as the "Last Paradise" for the extraordinary beauty and the feeling of peace and tranquility that it conveys to visitors, with its alpine pond, the little church of the Alpini and the typical mountain houses framing the landscape.

Excursions

Pian delle Betulle è the starting point of many trekking excursions and walks on scenic trails. Here are some tips below:

1. Lares Brusa

One of the easiest and most suitable walks for everyone leads to Lares Brusaa, 1,708 meters, the burned larch forest.
It is a 1-hour hike where along the way there are picnic tables, a chapel dedicated to the fallen and a large meadow, perfect for a relaxing stop.
Also, magnificent views of the valley and mountains around Lake Como.

2. Biandino Valley

The beautiful Val Biandino é a side valley of the Valsassina that departs from the village of Introbio until it enters to the northeast at the slopes of Pizzo Tre Signori. It can also be reached by a splendid 3-hour, 30-minute round trip hike and 400 meters of elevation gain from Pian delle Betulle past alpine lakes, scenic views and small churches to the Tavecchia refuge.

3. Mount Cimone

Another hike to do on the Pian delle Betulle è the one that leads to the top of Monte Cimone, a stupendous ring-route of 7 km and 300 meters of elevation gain that offers views towards the lakes of Como and Lugano and, more in là in clear days, to Monte Rosa.
Don't forget your camera!

Jungle Raider Park

Adrenaline lovers cannot miss the Jungle Raider Park, an adventure park built in the trees.
The park è consists of five courses with a different level of commitment, the degree of difficulty of which is a function of the type of links used to go from one tree to another and the height from the ground of the course.
The park è perfect for a day trip with children but also for adults.

Info: Jungle Rider Park

pian delle betulle

Bicycle Paradise

The whole area of Pian delle Betulle è the ideal playground for bike lovers especially mountain bikes or pedal-assisted ebikes. Among the most popular itineraries we have the Alpe di Paglio – Pian delle Betulle ring from Casargo, 13 km and 700 meters of elevation gain.

Winter

Hiker's paradise in summer, another snowshoeing and skiing paradise in winter.

Pian delle Betulle turns into the perfect place for snow lovers, where many trails and forest roads are passable with snowshoes or crampons to take a walk amidst the silence of the forest.

For skiers, there are ski lifts in operation whose opening però è è somewhat discontinuous. Alpine ski trails are technical and fun although not very long.

. If you are coming to ski, better inquire in advance about slope openings.

Finally, there is also a very long and beautiful slope that leads to Alpe Paglio, but from which it is not possible to go back up, as there are no lifts to return to Pian delle Betulle; therefore, recommended mainly for ski mountaineers.

stays-in-shelter

After so many hikes through the trails of Pian delle Betulle and Alpe Paglio you are sure to get hungry. There are many opportunities to taste traditional local dishes in refuges or typical little restaurants, admiring splendid views of the mountains.

Many refuges can be reached by a hike, while others can be reached directly by car. Here are the ones we have chosen for you:

1. Rifugio Ombrega

From Alpe di Paglio, with a hike of about 7 km each way and an elevation gain of 400 meters, you reach the Rifugio Ombrega where you can eat very well and admire a beautiful view of Premana, in the distance.

2. Rifugio Disolin

Near the Alpe di Paglio parking lot, the Rifugio Disolin offers excellent home cooking with typical local dishes of great quality.

3. Rifugio Tavecchia

At Pian delle Betulle a hike leads to the interior of Val Biandino where we find the Rifugio Tavecchia at 1,500 meters d'height. Typical cuisine but also versatile according to the needs of customers, such as vegetarians and various food intolerances.

4. Baitok Restaurant

Also in Pian delle Betulle, this hotel also offers restaurant with traditional cuisine, typical dishes such as " Polenta e Bagnarel": buckwheat polenta, ricotta cheese smoked over the fireplace and seasoned diluted in butter and cream. To end your day at Pian delle Betulle and Alpe di Paglio with gusto.