Gran Paradiso - m 4,061

The highest peak of Gran Paradiso, 4,061 metres, was first reached on 4 September 1860 by the Englishmen Dundas and Cowell and the Frenchmen Payot and Tayrraz.

The village of Pont, at the end of the Valsavarenche, is the natural starting point for this ascent. After spending the night at Rifugio Vittorio Emanuele, reachable via an easy, well-marked trail, climbers ascend the west side: first over scree, then over glacier, up to a few metres below the Madonnina at the summit. Reaching it requires crossing a steep section over the Tribolazione Glacier, the main glacier of the massif, located on the northern side in the cirque beneath the summit at the head of Valnontey (Cogne). This passage is the main climbing challenge of an otherwise hiking route.

From the Madonnina, placed on the main summit, you can enjoy a stunning panorama: the impressive arc of the Piedmont Alps stretches to the Argentera and beyond, including Monviso.

Gran Paradiso also gives its name to the National Park, established in 1922 to protect the ibex, the main reason for creating the park under King Vittorio Emanuele II. In addition to ibex, the park is home to golden eagles and marmots.

The summit is not only visited in summer: the slopes are also popular for ski mountaineering in winter and spring.