Corno Stella, from Foppolo

Access

A4 Milano-Venezia exit Dalmine. At the roundabout take the SS470 - Val Brembana - San Pellegrino Terme. Follow the road to Lenna - Piazza Brembana and from here continue right to Foppolo. Leave your car at the car park in the cable car yard.

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Introduction

Corno Stella is a well-known peak in the centre of the Orobic Alps. Located on the watershed between the Bergamo and Valtellina sides, it is a popular destination, especially in summer. Its central position offers the hiker a splendid view of all the Lombardy Alps: from the Orobie chain to the highest peaks of Valtellina. The normal route starts from Foppolo and, from an altitude of 2200 m, encounters a series of delightful lakes of glacial origin that satisfy the eye.

Description

Corno Stella is a well-known peak in the centre of the Orobic Alps. Located on the watershed between the Bergamo and Valtellina sides, it is a popular destination, especially in summer. Its central position offers the hiker a splendid view of all the Lombardy Alps: from the Orobie chain to the highest peaks of Valtellina. The normal route starts from Foppolo and, from an altitude of 2200 m, encounters a series of delightful lakes of glacial origin that satisfy the eye. From the car park, the first destination to reach is Montebello, the arrival station of the ski lifts. To get there, you can either walk along path no. 204, a dirt road that climbs to the left of the chair lift and then crosses the ski slope to the right in the direction of the Croce pass and finally climbs with a few bends to the top station, or you can climb directly up the ski slope under the chair lift, saving time. From the top station, take a wide path to the right that climbs up the southern slope of Montebello and reaches the mouth of Lake Moro, 2235 m, located in a very pleasant position between the Valcervia pass and the Corno Stella ridge. At this point it is easy to encounter groups of ibex grazing, not at all intimidated by human presence. After crossing the outlet of the lake, take trail 204 again, which climbs steeply up a stony area and then stretches further on to climb steeply up the western ridge of Corno Stella. On reaching the summit, walk along a section of ridge, then return to the south side along an exposed section of path and finally zigzag up to the summit cross (2620 m). From the summit, the Orobic peaks of Pizzo del Diavolo di Tenda, Cime dello Scoltador, Pizzo dell'Omo to the east; Monte Pradella, Pizzo Farno and Pizzo Arera to the south. To the north, Monte Disgrazia, Il Cengalo and Il Badile are clearly visible. To the west are the mountains of the Lecco area: the Grigne and Resegone. But one of the most beautiful things is the presence of magnificent lakes set among the mountains. These include Lake Publino with its dam, located below the Scoltador peaks; the aforementioned Lake Moro; the small lake of Corno Stella, partly still snow-covered, the view of which accompanies us along the ledge-path below the summit; and finally the lakes of the Carisole valley and the lake of Valle Sambuzzo. For the descent, it is advisable to retrace the outward path to Lake Moro and from here take the path that skirts the western shore of the lake and climbs with a moderate gradient to the Valcervia Pass (2319 m), on the watershed coast with the Valtellina, from where there is a magnificent panorama. It climbs further to the left along the western ridge and at an altitude of 2368 m descends to the south on the Bergamo side in a bucolic setting sprinkled with other magnificent lakes. We descend to the Alto e Basso delle Foppe lake, then over meadows to the Laghetti and finally descend again, and when the path turns left we reach Lago delle Trote. Along the southern shore of this latter body of water the path heads south until, after about ten minutes, you catch a glimpse of the upper station of the chairlift (Montebello) from where you return to Foppolo on the dirt track taken on the way up.