Oro Pass, from Bagni di Masino

Access

From Milan to Ardenno along state roads 36 and 38; near the railway station turn left towards Valmasino and follow the entire provincial road to Bagni del Masino. Free and pay car parks.

Introduction

A classic excursion up to the Rifugio Omio, located at the base of a series of rocky cusps crossed by a multitude of climbing routes of varying difficulty. The second part of the hike leads instead to the easy pass to Val Codera, located right at the foot of the eye-catching spire of Punta Milano. Good views towards the south face of Monte Disgrazia. 

Description

After passing the buildings of the Bagni del Masino thermal baths 1172m, continue on level ground, leaving the signs for the Gianetti hut to the right; then begin to climb up a stony path through a beech forest. After the ruined huts of the so-called Pian del Fango 1590m, a new section in the forest on a still steep track leads into the open at the caverns under huge boulders of the Alpe dell'Oro 1767m. Further on, you climb up the strenuous pastureland, often taking advantage of outcrops of granite slabs forming real "stone paths"; you soon reach the visible Rifugio Omio 2100m. Continue to the right following the signs for the Rifugio Gianetti, which head towards a buttress of the Cima del Barbacan; having reached the base of this rocky bastion, some writing on a boulder makes one deviate to the left to ascend a small valley that closes against the wall of the Punta Milano. Here, some serpentines among sparse pastureland and stones lead to the narrow notch of the Passo dell'Oro 2526m. The panorama towards Val Codera is limited and only extends as far as Alpe Averta 1957m. [Many maps in the area erroneously indicate as Passo dell'Oro the more visible grassy saddle 2574m NE of the Punta Milano]. Return along the outward route.