Historic Mountain roads

You turn left from Sestriere for Sauze di Cesana and after the village of Grangesises you will encounter the sign for Valle Argentera. The dirt road is in good condition until the bottom of the valley at the junction for the Alpe Plane farmhouse. From the Monte Nero car park (1912 m) you can continue only with off-road vehicles.

Open from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m., the road is subject to a toll. The single daily rate is € 5 for cars and motorbikes, € 10 for camper vans, caravans and vans and is collected at Ponte Terribile. Access is limited to 350 vehicles, given the availability of authorised public parking areas located along the valley. To respect the coexistence of motor vehicles, people on foot, bicycles and horses, the speed limit is 20 km/h.

Transit on Strada Comunale del Lens (Ponte delle Albere - Valle Argentera junction), on Strada di Cima Bosco and on Strada Comunale from Bessen Bas to Brusà del Plan is forbidden for unauthorised motorised vehicles.

Valle Argentera (or Valle Ripa) is a typical alluvial valley rich in water and meadows, surrounded by ridges and ancient alpine pastures. In some parts, crags form on the slopes with waterfalls that remain frozen in winter and are therefore a destination for ice climbing enthusiasts. The woods are abundant with larch trees that turn golden in autumn and the landscape boasts beautiful meadows, rhododendron and bilberry bushes and birch woods. The flowers, especially orchids, are spectacular, and the butterflies are also remarkable. The rocks and shrubs are habitats for rock ptarmigan, black grouse and rock partridges. Beyond the ridges are other areas of community importance: the Val Thuras and the Val Troncea Park.

In the proposed walk, a slight diversion is recommended for the Col Mayt climb (2709 m) where there is a small boundary stone, a point from which there is a splendid view of both the Italian and French sides.