
Where is Lago di Malciaussia?
Italy, europe
5.8 km
1,823 m
moderate
Year-round
Okay, picture this: You're in the Metropolitan City of Turin, Italy, itching for some serious Alpine vibes. Punch "Lago di Malciaussia" into your GPS. This high-mountain lake sits pretty at almost 6,000 feet!
You'll wind your way up Strada Provinciale 32 (SP32), a roughly 6-kilometer (3.6-mile) stretch of road from the town of Usseglio. Be warned, some sections can be pretty steep, but it's mostly paved until the very end. Those last few meters? Unpaved – consider it your official "you've arrived" signal!
The road dead-ends right at the lake, originally named after the submerged locality of Malciaussia. Think of it as base camp for adventure! It's the perfect launchpad for hitting the trails, with Rocciamelone (a hefty 3,538 meters!) looming nearby. So, pack your hiking boots, camera, and sense of adventure – Lago di Malciaussia is calling!
Road Details
- Country
- Italy
- Continent
- europe
- Length
- 5.8 km
- Max Elevation
- 1,823 m
- Difficulty
- moderate
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