The Limone Piemonte to Imperia stages

The route between Limone Piemonte and the Don Barbera refuge is a classic ascent for lovers of the Alpes-Maritimes, an ideal way to fully appreciate the beauty of Cuneo’s mountainous landscape. Leaving the station, take the narrow road leading to San Giovanni, home to the “Baptism of Jesus”, a painting by Beaumont bathed in eighteenth-century light.

The CAI L15 trail then climbs up to Colle della Boaria and the famous feats of military road engineering, through the green pastures of Gias Valletta, turning the 16 kilometres of effort into pure alpine contemplation.

The well-equipped Don Barbera refuge, popular with hikers, cyclists and others, is a privileged gateway to the Ligurian Alps, opening the way to Carnino, Monte Saccarello and the imposing monument to the Redeemer, offering spectacular panoramic views of the Ligurian Sea.

This is a medium-length stage, balanced between downhill and uphill sections. After leaving the Refuge Don Barbera, the route drops in altitude on an easy path, then on a wide, passable track, to reach the two hamlets of Carnino below, which are well worth a visit as typical examples of well-preserved Alpine architecture.

The famous Foresteria in the lower hamlet, with its beautiful outdoor garden, offers an opportunity to take a break before the magnificent ascent to the Col du Lagarè, the obligatory pass on the way to Upega. This is a change of slope, now on the border with Liguria and just a few kilometres from the famous Bosco delle Navette and the panoramic summit of Saccarello.

The section descends from the high pastures of Pian della Ciappa, between fragrant grass and patches of forest, in a triumph of alpine vegetation, before entering the typical lanes of Upega, an isolated and silent village of stone buildings huddled together on the sunny slope.

The Ligurian Alps are a fascinating ‘hinge’ between the Alpine peaks and the sea. On this RivierAlp stage, we leave behind the rocky massifs of the Argentera and Marguareis to immerse ourselves in bucolic landscapes and thousand-year-old forests.

Among these, the Forêt des Navettes stands out: 2,700 hectares of larch and fir trees that once provided wood for the Ligurian shipyards, now a showcase for biodiversity, home to orchids, deer and, above all, black grouse. The focal point is the Mont Saccarello massif and the CAI Sanremo T. Gauzzi and La Terza mountain huts, located on the road to Mont Frontè, the gateway to Liguria. It’s no coincidence that this area is also crossed by the Sentiero Italia and the Alta Via.

From here, between ancient military roads and breathtaking views over the Roya Valley, the sea is just a few days’ walk away as you head towards the historic villages of Triora and Bajardo.

A captivating stage of RivierAlp, the penultimate before returning to “civilisation” in Imperia after days of unspoilt trails and scenery. We cross a wild territory between the Arroscia and Argentina valleys, destined only for the most motivated and prepared hikers.

After leaving the refuges of Monte Saccarello, we cross the imposing Monte Frontè to discover the authentic Ligurian Alps along the Via Marenca, an ancient trade route between the Alps and the Ligurian Sea. The Garezzo Pass and Pian Latte Pass offer breathtaking panoramas, followed after the Mezzaluna Pass by dense beech forests to the Teglia Pass.

A demanding but sublime journey, perfect for those seeking the true wilderness, between Alpine ridges and fragrances that become Mediterranean. The section after San Bernardo di Conio (the only water supply point) is not to be underestimated: a series of small peaks will test even the most trained hiker before the finish.

The second and final stage of the Mont Saccarello-Imperia route offers a thrilling descent to the Ligurian Sea. Although less demanding than the previous stage, it is still suitable for motivated and well-prepared hikers. From the Col San Bartolomeo, the route continues through unspoilt countryside, between forests and shrublands.

After crossing the panoramic Passo del Ginestro, a popular crossroads for cyclists, you climb back up towards the Passo San Giacomo to cross the famous Cammino delle Terre Alte. The path then winds along the ridge between the provinces of Savona and Imperia, offering breathtaking scenery of high altitude pastures and a blue horizon merging with the sea.

The iconic destination is the Pizzo d’Evigno, with its characteristic jagged shape and majestic metal cross dominating the landscape at 360 degrees. In the distance you can see the port and theelegant historic centre of Imperia, the final destination on this route, which is well worth a visit before setting off again, perhaps by train.