Orobie… you’re magnificent!
With peaks rising above 2000m, crystal clear lakes and a dense network of paths and mountain refuges, it is not surprising that the Orobie are very popular and popular in all seasons.
If you’ve never been there, you’ll find eighty kilometres of peaks, valleys, pastures and woods, where you can find mountain pastures, farmhouses and refuges. It is a paradise for mountaineers and hikers and the ideal destination for tasting typical mountain products.
One hour from the city and the Orio al Serio international airport, the Orobie Park, a mountain park of environmental and naturalistic value, is ideal for outdoor sports activities, both in summer and in winter.
Do you know what one of the best parts of the Orobie is? The 220 alpine lakes: reserves of crystalline water, precious and of rare beauty, some with a particular shape, like the Gelt Lake that looks like a heart.
OROBIE PATH
Trekking enthusiasts can walk the Orobie Path, a route that winds through the peaks and takes us into the heart of the Orobie, offering unmissable panoramas and the opportunity to have special encounters with marmots, chamois, ibex and, if you are very lucky, with the majestic golden eagle.
The trail is divided into two different itineraries, one on the eastern side and the other on the western one.
The Western Orobie path starts from Cassiglio and after 6 stages takes us to the Calvi mountain refuge in the Brembana Valley. On these paths you will find the Gherardi Refuge, the Benigni Refuge, the Balicco Refuge and the Longo Refuge as points of support for refreshment and overnight accommodation.
The Eastern route, consists of 8 stages and is a ring: it starts and ends in Ardesio and along the way are the Alpe Corte refuge, Gemelli Lakes, F.lli Calvi, Brunone, Coca, Curò (here there is the highest hostel in Europe) and the Albani Refuge.
ITALIAN ALPINE CLUB MOUNTAIN REFUGES
There are 17 CAI (Italian Alpine Club) mountain refuges and they represent important resting places in the Orobic arc. Whether just passing through or destinations to reach, they offer numerous services to visitors. The mountain refuges are very traditional, but there is a continuous and constant attention to the needs of people and the environment, which translates for example in the creation of access for people with mobility difficulties, WIFI connection, ecological solutions and child-friendly solutions. Today the refuges are open to everyone: hikers, mountaineers and enthusiasts looking for contact with nature.
ANTONIO CURÓ NATURE ITINERARY
In addition to the Orobie Path, you can take the Antonio Curò nature itinerary: it starts at a high altitude, from the Curò mountain refuge, into the basin of Lake Barbellino and reaches the Vivione Pass, passing by the Tagliaferri Refuge. Along the way, you’ll come across rare and protected animals and flowers.
THE PRESOLANA
The Orobie have a queen. Did you know?
The Presolana, a dolomite massif that you can circumnavigate. Along the ring you will find the Albani refuge, the Cassinelli cabin and the Olmo refuge.
WEB AND MOUNTAIN
Want to document yourself before you leave? Or are you in town but you can’t do without a climb? At Palamonti you will find the “mountain refuge in the city”, Bergamo’s CAI headquarters. You will find a library, full of material about the mountains and exhibition spaces with themed exhibitions. The best part of this structure is the climbing gym, suitable for all ages.
From the comfort of your own home, you can connect to geoportale.caibergamo.it/,
where you can find all the updated information about Bergamo’s mountains, especially regarding the mountain refuges and paths. Thanks to the WebGIS system, hikers with smartphones or tablets can view detailed maps of the paths leading to the refuges through geolocation on their device and, thanks to this system, it is possible to understand their position by activating the GPS.
Download Orobie Active for free. It is a brand-new app full of proposals and routes ready to be discovered.
With the special Google Trekker View cameras, Bergamasque Alps was created: it allows you to follow the paths from the valley floor to the 17 CAI mountain refuges, providing a 360-degree view of the surrounding environment. Find it here: google.it/maps/streetview/#bergamasque-alps
