Lago Luane (4)

Dogs Unknown

E-Bikes Unknown

This trail starts in the little hamlet of Richardette. It's an, at times (OK, often), steep climb obviously unless you're going down. The short (0.5km/0.3mi) section to the Stazione Sperimentale alpina Vezzani is paved. The experimental station was a laboratory for local farming and forestry practices, but it now lies abandoned and in a state of decay.

After that, the climb continues on a gravel forest road up to the Lago Alpe Luane (lake) situated in a small plateau. From the lake, you have a grand view towards the north across the val Susa (valley) towards France. The lake also signals the entrance of the Parco Naturale del Gran Bosco di Salbertrand (Nature Park of the Grand Forest of Salbertrand), which protects a large forest and several mountain peaks in the area.

Past the lake, the trail narrows to a singletrack as it climbs steeply through the forest towards a road junction known as the Ferro di Cavallo (horseshoe). There's nothing special about this spot other than the big horseshoe bend in the road.

This trail is probably best done in the downhill direction (watching of course for hikers), but it's described here as part of the Gran Costa dal Sauze d'Oulx loop.