Open Travel Guide
Hiking in Piedmont

Piedmont Hiking & Trekking Guide 2026

Where to walk in Piedmont — from easy half-days to serious treks, with honest difficulty grades.

By Updated Reviewed by Daniel Mercer

Piedmont has 4+ hiking trails covered in this guide, led by Valnontey to Rifugio Vittorio Sella, Gran Paradiso, Colle del Nivolet from Lago Serru, Gran Paradiso and Sacra di San Michele Approach (Sentiero dei Principi). Each entry below includes the practical details — what it costs, when to go, and how to plan around it.

Piedmont (Piemonte) is a large region in northwest Italy, ringed on three sides by the Alps and sloping down toward the Po Valley. Its capital, Turin, is a city of elegant arcades, royal palaces, and the landmark Mole Antonelliana. Beyond the city lie the UNESCO-listed vineyards of the Langhe, Roero, and Monferrato, home to Barolo and Barbaresco wines and Alba's prized white truffles, plus the serene shores of Lake Maggiore and Lake Orta. Piedmont is the birthplace of vermouth, gianduja chocolate, and the Slow Food movement.

Top trails

Routes worth lacing up your boots for.

  1. 1

    Valnontey to Rifugio Vittorio Sella, Gran Paradiso

    13km round trip5-6 hoursmoderate to challenging780m cumulative gain

    A classic alpine climb from the meadows of Valnontey up to the Rifugio Vittorio Sella at 2,584m in the heart of the Gran Paradiso National Park, one of the best places in the Alps to see ibex and chamois at close range.
  2. 2

    Colle del Nivolet from Lago Serru, Gran Paradiso

    10km round trip3.5-4 hoursmoderate450m cumulative gain

    A high-altitude walk through the lake-strewn plateau of the Nivolet, above Ceresole Reale on the Piedmont side of Gran Paradiso, with dam lakes, marmots and a panorama of glaciated peaks reached by the spectacular Nivolet road.
  3. 3

    Sacra di San Michele Approach (Sentiero dei Principi)

    6km round trip3-3.5 hoursmoderate560m cumulative gain

    The historic mule-path climb from Sant'Ambrogio in the Susa Valley up to the Sacra di San Michele, the dramatic abbey on Monte Pirchiriano that inspired Umberto Eco's The Name of the Rose and serves as the symbol of Piedmont.
  4. 4

    Sentiero del Barolo - Vineyard Walk in the Langhe

    11km loop3.5-4 hourseasy to moderate320m cumulative gain

    A rolling vineyard walk through the UNESCO-listed Langhe hills between Barolo and La Morra, threading the Nebbiolo vineyards that produce Italy's 'king of wines' with sweeping views, hilltop villages and cellar-door tastings.

Trail difficulty levels

Pick a route that matches your fitness and experience.

Easy

Mostly flat, well-marked paths. Suitable for families and casual walkers.

Moderate

Some elevation gain, longer distances. Requires basic fitness.

Hard

Significant climbs and exposure. Requires good fitness and route-finding.

Expert

Technical terrain, scrambling, or alpine conditions. Experience essential.

Local hazards

What to watch out for on the trail.

High

Sudden weather changes — always carry rain gear and warm layers.

Medium

Wildlife encounters — make noise on the trail and store food properly.

Medium

Trail conditions can deteriorate after rain — check recent reports before setting out.

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