
Driving the curvy road to Serru Lake in the Alps
Italy, europe
N/A
2,275 m
moderate
Year-round
Lago Serrù is a stunning high-altitude reservoir perched at 2,275 meters (7,464 feet) in the Province of Turin, nestled in the heart of Italy's Piedmont region.
This gem sits in the eastern Graian Alps, straddling the border between Aosta Valley and Piedmont. It's actually part of the magnificent Parco Nazionale Gran Paradiso and sits alongside several other man-made lakes—Lake Agnel, Lake Ceresole, Lake Teleccio, Lake d'Eugio, and Lake Valsoera—all built to power hydroelectric plants in the region.
Getting there means tackling Strada Provinciale 50 (SP50), a paved road that definitely keeps you on your toes with some serious elevation gains reaching up to 12.3%. Fair warning: this route gets absolutely packed during summer weekends since it's your gateway to the famous Colle del Nivolet pass. If you're planning a visit, note that the road closes from mid-October through mid-May. And here's a heads-up for those summer trips—on Sundays in July and August, the final six kilometers are off-limits to vehicles, so plan accordingly.
Where is it?
Driving the curvy road to Serru Lake in the Alps is located in Italy (europe). Coordinates: 42.7775, 12.3413
Road Details
- Country
- Italy
- Continent
- europe
- Max Elevation
- 2,275 m
- Difficulty
- moderate
- Coordinates
- 42.7775, 12.3413
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