Piedmont offers beautiful landscapes, one of these is in the mountains over the small town of Biella, in the northern part of the region, close to Aosta Valley. I want to share with you a brief experience that I had on a lake in the mountains in Biella some time ago. I was in a place called Lake Mucrone. Mucrone is the name of the local mountain part of the Alps. On it, there is a very small but lovely lake. My suggestion is to go there if you are around the region. You can go up walking on the pathway or use the cableway.
The Mucrone mount is 2553 meters high and it offers a marvelous view of the alps and the green area of Biellese. There are trails to walk in spring-summer, meanwhile in winter, when it snows, you can also ski. Since I love to walk in nature and especially in the mountains, I have been there in the warmer season some months ago. To explain to you why I recommend a visit there if you like nature, mountains, and lakes, I will use my pictures, taken during my trip to a lake in the mountains. Before to see the pictures, let me give you some more tips and information about Lake Mucrone.
A lake in the mountains: how to get there
To reach a lake in the mountains you can’t use a car, but you need it if you are not already in the place. So how can you go to Lake Mucrone? I am going to explain how I went there. I started the trip from Turin. So I used the highway to go to Biella. My exit was “Rondissone” because the first part of the highway is free. Then you drive for around 45 minutes following the signal to “Biella”. Otherwise, you can go out to “Santhià” and from there the road is almost all straight. If you come from Milan go out to “Carisio”. When you arrive in Biella follow the direction to Santuario di Oropa, an amazing monastery full of art and history, also related to the Savoia Royal Family. About this, I will write more in another post. If you go to Biella by train, then you find a bus to Oropa.
In Oropa you park the car (in Piazzale Busancano) and you choose to go up walking, you will need at least a couple of hours. But mainly it depends on your speed and on the stops you will do on the way. Follow the directions of the pathway D13. In my case, I used the cableway (the return tickets cost €12,50). I was up in a few minutes. Do you think I lost the chance to conquer the summit? Sure, I, unfortunately, did it, but I enjoyed more a lake in the mountains. Don’t expect something big, but I am sure you will like it. Then you have to walk around the mountain and not only to stay on the lakeside.
The lake
At an elevation of 1894 m, its surface area is 0.01713 km². Of course, on a mountain, you can’t expect a big lake. Since 1800 it’s one of the major destinations for local tourism and this place was one of the favorites of the famous painter Lorenzo Delleani, who lived between 1840 and 1908. A lake in the mountains from where starts the Oropa creek. It is a symbol of the area and inside you can also swim. Don’t forget anyway that the water is called. On one side there is a fountain dedicated to Italian sharpshooters corp, founded in Biella.
What to do there
There is a mountain retreat where you can taste the local “polenta” or just drink something. Then you can explore Mucrone, enjoy the panorama and admire the beautiful colors of the lake and its reflections. The best time to see it is with the fog, because of the mysterious and superb atmosphere. But avoid that type of weather if you want to go around and walk. You can get really lost. Wear or at least have with you a sweater because the temperature there is always… a bit cold. Use some waterproof boots or waterproof mountain shoes. I suggest then to visit the Santuario di Oropa and if you like it also the Adventure Park and the Botanical Garden. A day to Lake Mucrone and its surroundings will be good. For technical information check the cableway website.
The lake and view
Now I don’t have to write more words, because I guess the pictures can show you the landscapes better than me. I think it is a unique place and if you plan a visit to Piedmont, insert a day to Lake Mucrone, you will never regret it! Check out also my other travel experiences!
Your pics look so inviting. I am wondering how difficult it is to hike there?
Thank you! The way to go up walking is not so hard. Albe because there are some abandoned houses. They were used to go up with donkeys to bring buidling material, food and so on. So it is pretty easy. But it is long and it goes up, so you need time. In case there is a cableway.