The Tailly Lakes and the Val d'Otro: the Valsesia that stays wild
Above Alagna, at the foot of Monte Rosa, glacial lakes and the gorges of the Val d'Otro cross one of the most authentic Walser valleys in Piedmont.
Massimo Beltrame, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons
In Alagna Valsesia, the last village of the upper Sesia Valley, the roads end and the real mountain begins. We are at around 1,190 metres, right beneath the southern face of Monte Rosa, in a village founded centuries ago by the Walser, the people of Germanic origin who settled these high pastures around the massif. While many head straight for the lifts and the most photographed peaks, here you need only turn your back on the valley floor to find silence again.
The Val d'Otro
The route climbs towards the Val d'Otro, a side valley that opens just above the village. It is a world apart: steep meadows, cottages of stone and wood, wooden fountains and Walser hamlets where time seems to slow. Along the climb, water is everywhere, gathered in narrow gorges and carved among smoothed rocks, with small waterfalls you come upon almost by chance when leaving the main paths.
The glacial lakes
Higher up you reach the glacial lakes, set among moraines and scree at the foot of the ridges. The two Tailly Lakes, the best known in the valley, lie above 2,300 metres: the lower basin is deep and sometimes retains sheets of ice even in summer. They are mirrors of dark water, ringed by rock and sparse high-altitude pasture, where the wind and the sound of water are often the only sounds.
The loop and the effort
The loop demands trained legs and a full day: significant elevation gains, stretches over scree, and weather that changes quickly. It is best to set off early, carry water supplies and warm layers, and respect the pastures, cottages and grazing animals. Much of the area falls within the Alta Valsesia Natural Park, a protected zone to be crossed with a light step.
When to go
Walking is at its best from late June to September, when the snow has withdrawn from the high trails. Alagna remains a worthy alternative to the more crowded Alpine resorts: you come here to walk and to listen, not for the crowds. Leave your car in the village, sleep in a Walser cottage and give the Valsesia the time it deserves.
Related guides: Hidden Piedmont: off-the-beaten-track villages among Occitan valleys and Monferrato · An alternative to Lake Como: the romantic, peaceful lakes of northern Italy · Alternatives to Lake Como: the romantic, peaceful lakes of northern Italy.
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Practical info
When is the best time to visit The Tailly Lakes and the Val d'Otro?
The recommended time is June, July, August and September, when it is less crowded.
Is The Tailly Lakes and the Val d'Otro crowded?
The Tailly Lakes and the Val d'Otro is a very quiet destination compared with the more touristy ones.
Where is The Tailly Lakes and the Val d'Otro?
The Tailly Lakes and the Val d'Otro is located in Alagna Valsesia, Piedmont, Italy.
Altre alternative a Cervinia e Courmayeur
Guide selezionate dalla nostra redazione, tutte alternative alla stessa meta affollata:
Inhabitants at each census (source ISTAT, historical series via Wikipedia).
How to get there
- 🚆 Nearest station: Alpe Ciarcerio ~15 km as the crow flies
- ✈️ Nearest airport: Aeroporto regionale della Valle d'Aosta / Aéroport régional de la Vallée d'Aoste AOT ~46 km as the crow flies
Nearest points as the crow flies (source OpenStreetMap): actual times depend on the roads, often mountain ones.
