The intense green of the meadows is protected by the very high peaks of the Gran Paradiso National Park. The extraordinary, almost blinding blue of two small artificial but beautiful lakes, as if they were created by Mother Nature herself. A place where eagles dare, but also lovers of two wheels, because Colle del Nivolet almost immediately lost its original function as a “construction site” road and became a real dream. One-way, quite far from the usual itineraries, but very rich in the magic that the mountains offer, which is even more beautiful to admire in this particular context.
Colle del Nivolet on a motorbike. Itinerary
Map
Way
Our itinerary to explore Colle del Nivolet starts from Turin. From there we take the SP25 and SP23 and touch the Canavese area up to Rocca Canavese, which is 33 kilometers away. Continue towards Pont Canavese and then turn onto the SP460 until you reach Royal Ceresole, dominated by the beautiful scenery of Lake Ceresole. From there, the climb up the SP50 to Nivolet begins, which ends after about 20 kilometers.
Everything you need to know about Colle del Nivolet
The path that leads to the top Colle del Nivolet it’s much newer than you think. It was built in 1931, in the middle of the fascist era. At that time the creatures. spread like an avalanche all over Italy’s artificial lakes and hydroelectric power plants. The goal of obtaining electricity without resorting to foreign sources radically changed Italian geography. The area was no exception Valsavarenche, where two new lakes were created: Serrù and Agnel. However, an asphalt road was needed to connect them with the valley floor, which would allow the passage of heavy vehicles.
Thus was born the ascent of Colle del Nivolet, an 18.5 km long route that spans just over a thousand meters high. Ceresole Reale is located at an altitude of 1,580 m above sea level, Nivolet reaches 2,612 m above sea level. The arrival at the top was justified by Renzo Videsott, president of the company Gran Paradiso National Park, with the possibility of taking tourism to high altitudes. Of course, at that time cars were not widespread and motorbikes even less so. That is why today, almost a century later, there is access to the hill strictly especially from the point of view of the environment.
The Nivolet road cannot be considered a real pass because it rises from the ridge of Piedmont and passes into the territory of the Aosta Valley, without going back down though. He blocked the construction of the asphalt wine road in Valsavarenche, which was supposed to take place in the seventies environmental pressures. A section of the Aosta Valley is cut off, stopping in one Dirt road on Arolley Cross about 11 kilometers from Valsavarenche.
A journey to be experienced
So to recap:
- Colle del Nivolet is asphalted up to Rifugio Savoia, just beyond the border of the Aosta Valley
- Section Dirt road starts just beyond the Savoia Refuge and reaches the Pont, but is not motorable
Colle del Nivolet is the 18th highest road in Europe, the fifth only in Italian territory after Torre del Filosofo, Sommeiller, Stelvio, and Gavia. Cycling, hiking, star tourism. When it comes down to it, you have a choice reason to visit Colle del Nivolet. Above all, however, there is breathtaking nature, which alternates between the barren landscape typical of high altitudes and green mountain glades.
A climb that stays accessible only in the summer months (approximately between June and October), it is completely blocked by snow for the rest of the year. This is why many choose it in winter for cross-country skiing or hiking snowshoe trips, which are extremely popular between Piedmont and Valle d’Aosta. In the summer, you can climb to the top on a motorbike, on foot, or on a bicycle. Just as it happened in 2019 during the Giro d’Italia, which for the first time reached Lake Serrù at an altitude of 2243 m above sea level For those who love trips, however, they are at Nivolet two alpine refuges: Città di Chivasso at 2604 meters and Albergo Savoia at 2534 meters above sea level.
