Monte Maggiorasca and Lago Nero, from Rocca d'Aveto

Access

From Lavagna, go up the ss 586 to Rezzoaglio. Here, continue left, ignoring the signs (on the right, the ss 654) and take the shortcut (which you take to the right, after 2 km from the centre of the village) that more quickly leads to Allegrezze (sp 86 di Caselle) and, shortly afterwards, to Santo Stefano. With another 3 km, you climb back up to Rocca d'Aveto, where there is a large car park and chairlift (about 90 km from Genoa).

Introduction

We have read that the Santo Stefano ski lifts have also opened the second section (check the dates) with which you can easily reach the summit of Mount Bue (1777 m). The trip up to the capital of the Val d'Aveto is not exactly comfortable, but it can be done every now and then. the ticket for the two sections of the lift is €12 return, plus an inexplicable €3 deposit for the card... But then it's all manual...

Description

From Monte Bue (1777 m), there are no signposts for Lago Nero. To the right, a very steep descent leads to a saddle where the track comes up from Prato della Cipolla. Continue straight on, finally coming out at the summit statue of Maggiorasca (1804m). Retrace your steps to the saddle and here, a few metres beyond the marker post, you will notice a track to the right, without any signposts. It narrows immediately and enters the forest to the left (clearly visible). Once out of the vegetation, it splits into two: the left branch goes up and the straight one goes down. We opt for the latter until we join a track coming from the Prato Grande di Monte Nero hut. Turn left and gain a few metres to the Costazza saddle (1677 m). You descend into the forest to a further crossroads where you turn right for the water mirror. At the end, you touch the banks. Climb back up to the previous crossroads where you take a break from a bench (1h35 tot. and.). Afterwards, you descend through a beautiful beech forest to the Fontana Gelata (dried up). Turn left, regaining altitude. Continue to the Roncalla pass. We descend until we come close to the Lawn of the Onion. Continuing further on you reach the intermediate station of the chair lift (1h10 tot. ret.) with which you return to Rocca d'Aveto.

NB: in the case of the closure of the lift you must follow the indications that from Rocca d'Aveto lead to the edge of the prato della Cipolla and to the saddle that divides the Bue from the Maggiorasca (+2h15 A/R +450 m asl).

In summary. Dif. T/E (E due to lack of signposts in the initial part, after Maggiorasca) - 2h45/3h Total - 7 km - height difference +200 mt. Convenience: sufficient/discreet. Best time: in summer during the opening of the lifts. Tour interest: medium/high. 4

If you wish, here is the photo pdf file, with a little more information:

http://www.cralgalliera.altervista.org/MaggiorascaLagoNero021.pdf