Where there was ice now there is ...: Trekking across the lake of Alta Val Nure.

"Where there was ice now there is ...": borrowing a famous song sung by Celentano, with these two daily itineraries we invite you to discover the lakes of the upper Val Nure on foot, in the hinterland of Piacenza.

The disappearance of the glaciers has in fact left patches of greenery and small lakes in the upper Val Nure, to be discovered on foot along paths suitable for everyone, which wind through the woods.

A lively and diverse nature animates the paths that lead to Lake Moo, now devoid of water, to Lake Bino and, on the other side, to Lake Nero. 

Trekking across the lake of Alta Val Nure.

Peculiar species of flowers and plants come to life in this rare environment, far from human contamination, where the encounters that can be made along the way are mostly animals. As a starting point, we recommend that you keep the town of Ferriere , which allows you to reach the entrance of the two paths that we propose to you at a distance of a few kilometers by car

The first is a route of 6 km outward and the same number in return (on average 3 + 3 hours of walking): Canadello - Lago Moo - Lago Bino - Prato Grande. 

The second is a circular route of about 7.5 km in all (on average 4 hours of walking): Selva - Lago Nero - Buche - Selva. 

First stop - Lake Moo.

On the first day, a comfortable dirt road, closed to motorized vehicles in every season, connects Canadello, 3 km from Ferriere, to Lake Moo. 

 If you want you can also follow the path n. 021 of the CAI, which coincides for long stretches with the road, cutting some hairpin bends. 

 After the last bend you arrive in front of the largest basin of the Piacenza Apennines, where there is a small oval mirror: “ the Moo Lake ” at about 1100 meters high. 

The lake, now extinct due to the invasion of marshy flora, was formed thanks to the geological mechanisms produced by the ice that descended from Mount Ragola . 

Second stop - Lake Bino.

 Continuing beyond the area of ​​Lake Moo, climbing up the eastern slope of the lake, you reach a large driveway that leads to Lake Bino , of morainic origin, or consisting of deposits due to the ancient presence of a glacier. 

At about 100 meters higher than the Moo, Lake Bino has a greater flow of water: a natural pool overlooking the valley, whose partly accessible banks alternate with rocky fragments that slide steeply into the water. 

Note the flowering, starting from late spring, of numerous buttercups, newts and water lilies, which give an ancestral sense to the landscape: an ancient, uncontaminated place, where nature brings with it ancient memories of its slow and continuous transformation. 

Third stage - Prato Grande.

Leaving also Lake Bino and having passed the summit of the route, the itinerary continues on the suspended shelf of the Prato Grande, also of glacial origin. 

 

It is a vast grassy surface that in ancient times housed lake basins, which disappeared due to burial and peat bog. 

 

Here you will often encounter grazing herds, high altitude birds such as hawks and buzzards, and the area is also rich in mushrooms. 

 

Once you have reached the end of this first route, from here you just have to retrace your steps to reach Canadello. 

 

Fourth stage - Lago Nero.

 

On the second day, starting from Ferriere, continue by car to Selva and, about 3 km from the town, along the road, on the right, there is an indication for Bivacco Sacchi, Monte Bue and Fontana Gelata, to take until you reach two large open spaces on the side of the road that allow you to park. 

 

 Leave the car, take the CAI path 007 and, after about ten minutes, you will find yourself in front of a crossroads with signs for Dogana, which you neglect. 

 

Continuing in the beech forest, in about ¾ of an hour you arrive in the locality of Fontana Gelata, where of course there is also a spring. Crossing the stream on the left you will find the signs for the CAI path 011 for Lago Nero, which offers suggestive views of the surrounding mountains. 

 

 Following the path in the woods, in about ¾ of an hour, you finally reach the enchanting Lago Nero, nestled between beech and silver fir trees and nestled in the glacial basin bordered by a morainic hillock of glacial origin. Below, on the right, two vast meadows are the result of the burial of two ancient glacial lakes. 

 

To conclude the loop returning towards Selva, you must then take path 001 and then, from Le Buche, path 005 (alternatively you can return from Lago Nero on your own steps). 

Source.