Starting point: Borgata Chesta 1,369 m – Municipality of San Damiano

Highest point: Monte Birrone 2131 m

Hiking time: 5 hours

Exposure: South / Southwest

Route type: out and back

Start by leaving your car in the small parking area at the hamlet of Chesta. Space is quite limited and can accommodate about ten cars.

From the parking area, follow the short road that climbs between the houses of the hamlet. After a few dozen meters, turn right passing by a votive pillar. Beyond this point, cross the open meadows above the hamlet for about fifty meters until you reach the dirt road used during the summer months.

Follow the dirt road to the right. The route immediately enters the woods and begins to climb with a very steady gradient, ideal for a relaxed progression with snowshoes. The road winds through deciduous and coniferous trees, alternating between brief open stretches and denser areas. After a section of constant ascent, the track makes a sharp curve to the left and shortly after passes, on the left side, a small group of well-preserved huts located around 1,500 m elevation. From here you begin to glimpse the pass that marks the first destination of the route.

Past the huts, the road bends with a switchback to the right. It’s important to continue following the main track: the open slopes ahead may tempt you to go straight, but they actually lead toward the Rio Chesta. After another sharp curve to the left, Colle Birrone (1,700 m) now appears clearly ahead and is reached without difficulty by continuing to follow the road that climbs with moderate gradient.

From the pass, a magnificent panorama opens up, dominated by the unmistakable mass of Monviso.

To continue toward the summit of Monte Birrone, from the pass follow the ridge to the right (eastward). The route leaves the road and climbs directly up the slopes heading toward a first wooden cross that appears in the meadows just before a band of larches. In this first section, the ascent is still quite gentle and steady.

Beyond this point, the gradient progressively increases. Continue always along the ridge. The final stretch, roughly the last 100 meters of elevation gain, becomes decidedly steeper and requires greater attention, especially with hard or icy snow, both on the ascent and descent.

The true summit of Monte Birrone is easily recognizable by the large metal cross that towers over it; the old wooden cross visible on the right during the ascent does not mark the highest point.

From the summit, the panorama is extraordinarily vast and rewarding. To the south, the pyramid of Monviso dominates the scene, rising isolated above the Alpine chain. At its feet, the peaks of Val Varaita and the side valleys are clearly visible, while turning your gaze westward, the entire Val Maira opens up with the succession of ridges and mountains that close the horizon. On clear days, the view extends far across a wide stretch of the Cottian Alps, with forests, snow-covered valleys, and small villages dotting the valley floor. The isolated position of the mountain makes this summit one of the most striking panoramic viewpoints in the area.

The descent follows the ascent route. If snow conditions allow, just before reaching Colle Birrone, near the wooden cross, you can cut directly across the meadows toward the valley floor, passing near some huts. This way you’ll reach a first forest road that leads toward Colle di Melle (a direction to ignore); continuing downward you’ll arrive near a charming chalet hidden in the woods.

Just below this point, you’ll rejoin the road taken on the way up, which you can comfortably follow back to the hamlet of Chesta and the parking area.

ATTENZIONE: L’escursionismo invernale, come tutte le attività outdoor, è potenzialmente pericoloso.

Occorre essere adeguatamente attrezzati e saper utilizzare il dispositivo di ricerca ARTVA.

For information on snow conditions and avalanche risk, check the AINEVA bulletin: https://bollettini.aineva.it/bulletin/latest.

Per le previsioni meteo: www.arpa.piemonte.it/bollettino/previsioni-meteorologiche