An awe-inspiring road to Lago della Rovina
Italy, europe
9 km
1,540 m
moderate
Year-round
Lago della Rovina is a stunning high mountain lake sitting pretty at 1,540 meters (5,052 feet) above sea level in the Province of Cuneo, Piedmont, Italy.
Nestled within the breathtaking Natural Park of the Maritime Alps, the road up to the lake—locally known as Lago della Rovine—is completely paved, which is a nice surprise for such a remote spot. The route is called Strada Comunale Rovine and winds its way up from Strada Provinciale S. Giacomo over a 9km journey.
Fair warning: this isn't exactly a leisurely drive. The road gets seriously steep, with gradients hitting up to 12.5% at their worst, so you'll definitely feel those elevation gains. The lake itself serves as an upper reservoir for the Entracque Power Plant, a pumped-storage hydroelectric facility, which is pretty cool from an engineering perspective.
Once you reach the top, there's a convenient parking lot to leave your wheels. The scenery is absolutely worth the climb, but keep your eyes peeled—rockslides are a real hazard up here, especially after heavy weather. If you're planning to visit during summer or on weekends, expect company; the road gets genuinely crowded during peak season. Bundle up and time your visit wisely if you prefer a quieter alpine experience.
Where is it?
An awe-inspiring road to Lago della Rovina is located in Italy (europe). Coordinates: 41.8225, 12.3518
Road Details
- Country
- Italy
- Continent
- europe
- Length
- 9 km
- Max Elevation
- 1,540 m
- Difficulty
- moderate
- Coordinates
- 41.8225, 12.3518
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