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Quality : very good
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Location
Italy
PIEMONTE
CN
ORMEA
VALLE TANARO

Key to symbols   
Stage point (start or end of stage)
Intermediate accommodation possibility
Summit
Pass
Town, village
Other locality

Catering
Doctor
Chemist
Bakery / grocery
Hardware / sports shop
Post
Bank / cash dispenser
Train
Coach
Taxi
Open automobile access

A Tarred or paved road
B Dirt track
C Mule trail
D Mountain trail
E Equipped trail (cables, ladders)
F No trail

Stroll / tourism (broad, non-exposed trail)
Hiking (mountain trail, in places narrow and exposed)
Alpine route (equipped or very exposed section, snow field, blocks)
R151 Rifugio Mongioie » Ormea
  |   7h00   |   23.45 km   |   673 m   |   1433 m

From the Mongioie hut the route leads down to Viozene and then cuts across the slopes of the upper Tanaro valley along trails and minor roads. It skirts Mount Baraccone and continues halfway along the slope to the village of Quarzina. It then cuts across the scree slopes of Mount Castello di Quarzina. The trail heads past Chioraira and Chionea and then down through woodland to Ormea. This leg is practicable by mountain bike, too from Viozene to Ormea.

Point Segment
Name Services Information Marking
Rifugio Mongioie
1538 m
|   1.55 km / 0h35
Viozene
1255 m
|   1.3 km / 0h20
Casa Bruciata
1265 m
|   2 km / 0h35
Pian del Fò
1317 m
|   1.1 km / 0h15
Rio della Madonna
1229 m
|   3 km / 0h45
Fasce
1214 m
|   1.1 km / 0h15
Case Merea
1238 m
|   1.9 km / 0h50
Case Biranco
1450 m
|   2 km / 0h55
Chiesa di San Giovanni Battista
1515 m
|   4 km / 1h05
Chioraira
1097 m
|   1 km / 0h20
Chionea
1111 m
| C  4.5 km / 1h05
Ormea
754 m
Detailed route description
Other long-distance trails and alternative routes
Sentieri Saraceni trails.
Useful topographic maps
  • 8 ~ IGC ALPI MARITTIME E LIGURI (1: 50000)
  • 3 ~ ASF, CAI-CAF, MARGUERAIS-MONGIOIE (1: 25000)
Useful guidebooks
  • Alpi Marittime, voll.I-II, L.Montaldo, F.Salesi, E.Montagna ~ Collana Guida Monti d'Italia, CAI-TCI (ISBN )
  • Camminaitalia, Cannobini, Carnovalini, Valsesia ~ Le guide di Airone, Mondadori (ISBN 1995)
  • Auf der Via Alpina durch Seealpen und Ligurische Alpen ~ fernwege.de (ISBN 978-3937304-50-2)
Comments

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  • Greybeard - 2023-07-20
    The rifugio quarzina Is only open at weekends in 2023.
    The rifugio chionea is highly recommended. Excellent food including herbs from the garden. Interesting host Lorenzo, who speaks fluent English. +39 328 213 1183. If you don't need supplies or the ATM in Ormea, you can continue on the balcony route without descending into the traffic of Ormea, and reascending.
  • auf-guten-wegen - 2023-01-08
    Auf der "Balconata di Ormea" sind die Wege vorbildlich mit dem Via-Alpina-Logo beschriftet. Das Rifugio Quarzina, scheint bis auf weiteres geschlossen zu sein (Stand: Ende August 2022).
  • Jacques - 2022-07-31
    Attention, le franchissement du rio bianco n'est plus possible dans sa partie haute, et les nombreux panneaux sont malheureusement muets à ce sujet. Il faut passer à Viozene et rester sur la balconata d'Ormea.
  • daniel - 2020-03-12
    Ormea is a medieval beautiful small town. Two hotels and some private addresses. Hotel Italy near the abandoned train station still has an classical style Italian restaurant.
  • daniel - 2020-03-12
    Refugio Chionea is just before Ormea, so you might want to stay there. Quiet and friendly, recommended. The warden also works in the Ormea tourist office.
  • daniel - 2020-03-12
    After a long and boring track on the slope of the mountain you will want to stay in Quarzina (1340m), 1km past Case Biranco; just a little off the track but well worth it. Friendly young staff, splendid view over the valley that you are going to cross -and the first view of the Mediterranean!, good food etc etc
  • Henk - 2019-07-26
    Very interesting stage, together with R152. The "Balconata di Ormea" gives you a glimpse into the lives of farmer communities generations ago. Enigmatic ruined villages. In Viozene is a small shop, attached to one of the hotels.
  • Berta - 2018-08-25
    Haben in Ormea ca 1,5 km außerhalb an der Hauptstraße gewohnt. Villa Pinus 3486701878, www.villapinus.it oder booking com. Eine wunderschöne alte Villa mit schönen Zimmer und Garten. Leider die straßenseitig Zimmer etwas laut durch den Verkehr. Gutes Frühstück. Doppelzimmer mit Frühstück 60€
    Automatic translation [Google]
    Stayed in Ormea about 1.5 km outside on the main road. Villa Pinus 3486701878, www.villapinus.it or booking com. A beautiful old villa with beautiful rooms and garden. Unfortunately the street side rooms a bit noisy due to the traffic. Good breakfast. Double room with breakfast 60 €
  • Elisabeth - 2016-11-18
    Erreur de temps entre Chioraira et Chionea : il faut 40 mn et non 20 mn.
    Pourquoi la VA ne donne plus aucune information de logistique ? Il y a une épicerie à Viozene (depuis 1849 !) et tous les commerces à Ormea qui est une petite ville touristique.
    Automatic translation [Google]
    Time error between Chioraira and Chionea: it takes 40 minutes and not 20 minutes. Why VA no longer gives any logistics information? There is a grocery store in Viozene (since 1849!) And all the shops in Ormea which is a small tourist town.
  • robert - 2015-10-20
    Plutot que de escendre à Orméa possibilité de s'arréter au refuge Chionéa 393282131183 ; info@rifugiochionea.it . Excellent repas et petit prix . Le lendemain sentier balcon pour rejoindre l'étape 152
    Automatic translation [Google]
    Rather than escendre to Ormea opportunity to stop at the refuge Chionea 393282131183; info@rifugiochionea.it. Excellent meals and affordable. The balcony trail to reach the next step 152
  • Jean-Claude - 2015-10-15
    J'avais pris du retard en m'égarant après Viozène. A partir de Quarzina j'ai préféré suivre la petite route tranquille qui passe au village d'Aimoni, et descend à Ormea.
    J'ai trouvé une grande chambre lavabo à l'Albergo Nazionale 35€ avec petit déjeuner buffet. Très bonne adresse (13.08.2015)
    Automatic translation [Google]
    I had been delayed after Viozene me astray. From Quarzina I preferred to follow the quiet road past the village of Aimoni and down to Ormea. I found a large washbasin room at the Albergo Nazionale € 35 with breakfast buffet. Very good place (08.13.2015)
  • Sabine_Bade - 2014-02-16
    Auf- und Abstieg sind nicht so heftig, wie hier angegeben.
    Aufstieg knapp 700 m,
    Abstieg 1.280 m
    Automatic translation [Google]
    Ascent and descent are not as severe as it appears here. Rise nearly 700 m, descent 1280 m
  • Via Alpina International Secretariat - 2013-09-13
    There is a new hut/inn in Quarzina, between Case Biranco and the Lao lake! See details above.
  • Jean-Louis GIRAUD - 2013-05-20
    Longue étape qui parcourt les pentes boisées de la Vallée du Tanaro sur les sentiers et petites routes qui desservent les villages. C'est aussi un voyage dans le temps et l'histoire d'une région que je ne conaissais pas. Elle s'efface lentement au profit de la foret et des friches. C'est ainsi !
    A ORMEA, j'ai été surpris d'apercevoir l'affiche de la VIA ALPINA et la carte de l'étape. Elle figurait, bien positionnée, sur le panneau d'information d'une des places du bourg. J'ai pris une chambre à
    l'Hotel ITALIA ULMETA 43
    Via Le Générale Stefano Cagna
    Tel 00 39 (0)174 391147
    Email :reception@albergoitaliaormea.it
    Nuit / Petit dejeuner 40 €.
    Repas moyen. Il y a des pizzerias à proximité.
    Automatic translation [Google]
    Long stage running through the wooded slopes of the Tanaro Valley on trails and small roads around the villages. It is also a journey through time and history of an area that I do not conaissais. She slowly gives way to the forest and wasteland. So it is! A ORMEA, I was surprised to see the poster of the VIA ALPINA and the step board. She figured, well positioned on the information panel of one of the town squares. I took a room at the Hotel ITALIA ULMETA 43 Via Generale Stefano Cagna Tel 00 39 (0) 174 391147 Email: reception@albergoitaliaormea.it Night / Breakfast € 40. Average meal. There pizzerias nearby.
  • Sabine_Bade - 2010-12-12
    Übernachtungmöglichkeiten in Ormea:

    Albergo Nazionale www.albergonazionaleormea.it,
    Albergo Italia www.albergoitaliaormea.it,
    Hotel dell'Olmo www.hoteldellolmo.it
    Automatic translation [Google]
    Übernachtungmöglichkeiten in Ormea: Hotel National www.albergonazionaleormea.it, Hotel Italy www.albergoitaliaormea.it, Hotel dell'Olmo www.hoteldellolmo.it
Last update : 2019-12-18