Covarey (Champdepraz) – Rifugio Barbustel (Champdepraz)
We enter the heart of the Mont Avic Nature Park, where we follow a comfortable route with few climbs through forests, streams and alpine lakes.We will have the opportunity to cross the largest forest of hooked pine in the Aosta Valley, following the route that was once used to transport iron ore to the valley.The stretches along the stream and lakes are particularly striking.The final part, among the last larch trees and mounded rocks, takes us to an environment reminiscent of Canada.
Most usefull data
| Difficulty | E |
|---|---|
| Uphill slope | 980 m |
| Total length | 7.800 m |
| Total time | 3h 30m |
| Assiduity | high |
| Recommended period | Jun - Jul - Aug - Sep |
Map
Other technical data
| Start point | Covarey (Champdepraz) |
|---|---|
| Start elevation | 1.260 m |
| Arrival point | Barbustel Refuge (Champdepraz) |
| Arrival elevation | 2.200 m |
| Max elevation | 2.200 m |
| Exposure | nessuno |
| Downhill slope | 30 m |
|---|---|
| Uphill time | 3h 30m |
| Trail sign | 5C |
Start point description
From the highway exit of Verrés, turn left in the direction of Aosta. After a couple of kilometers, on the left, you will find the junction for Champdepraz with signs for the Mont Avic Nature Park. You go through the entire village and begin to climb the Chalamy valley, with its many hairpin bends. You continue until you reach the parking lot of Covarey, where you leave your car.
Trail description
From Covarey continue along the asphalt road with limited traffic, pass the Visitor Center, where a large model of the Mont Avic Natural Park territory is visible, and continue until you reach the small Veulla parking lot where the road ends.
From here take the stone-bottomed road (used in the past to transport ferrous material) that passes above the beautiful chapel and gently crosses the wooded side of the valley.
Cross some small streams and then skirt the Chalamy stream to reach the Servaz huts (if you head to the left, you will reach the remains of the blast furnace in a few minutes). Go up the back of the huts along the path that with steep turns continues into the woods; you will cross the junction of the path coming from Prà Oursie.
After a flatter area, and passing a monumental pine tree, you reach Lake Servaz (often invaded by a showy bloom of water buttercups). You skirt the lake and climb up into the woods to a knoll. From this point, you descend slightly until you cross the stream coming from Lake Bianco.
The trail crosses on level ground, passes near a renovated hut and climbs up among mounded rocks on which there are several erratic boulders, i.e., boulders left by the glacier as it melted, to reach a lookout with signs created by the park. From here, in a short time, you reach the Barbustel hut, today's destination. After a well-deserved rest, from the hut it is advisable to descend to the small bridge located between Lake Bianco and Lake Nero and ascend to the other side, enjoying a beautiful view of Lake Bianco with, in the background, Monte Rosa and, a little further on, Lake Cornuto and another monumental pine tree.
