Article: Roppolo and Lake Bertignano, the Buon Cammino route: a loop trek and what to wear
Roppolo and Lake Bertignano, the Buon Cammino route: a loop trek and what to wear
Are you planning the Buon Cammino route between Roppolo and Lake Bertignano? It's a loop walk rated as tourist-level difficulty. It starts and ends in Piazza Municipio, in Roppolo. The route sheet lists 3 hours and 30 minutes with 244 metres of elevation gain, and files it under walks, family hikes and trekking.
Where the route starts
Route map
The line follows the GPX track published by the cited source. Use it for orientation, but always check signs, conditions and notices before setting off.
We’ll send you links to this route’s official GPX track and its starting points.
Notify me when my size arrives
Views along the route
Route facts
- Length: 13 km (computed from the GPX track)
- Elevation difference: 244 m
- Starting altitude: 307 m
- Highest point: 425 m
- Loop route: yes
You don't need mountain gear. You do need shoes with a trail sole, a layer against the wind and a light backpack with water and a spare layer. One stretch needs preparation: on the way to the Pioglio pond, a map or GPS track helps you stay oriented.
If you're still missing a few pieces, in the Ski Sises trekking selection you'll find boots, jackets and backpacks for outings like this. Before you choose, look at what the route asks of you.
What to expect from the Buon Cammino loop
The route sheet describes it as an easy loop through the landscape of the Ivrea morainic amphitheatre. You start at 307 metres above sea level and finish the loop in the same square, so you don't have to retrieve your car at the end.
The signage is dedicated to the Buon Cammino route and is easy to recognise. It helps, but it isn't enough everywhere. The stretch toward the Pioglio pond is exactly where the route sheet recommends a map or GPS. Download the track at home and save it offline: searching for it on the trail, perhaps with little signal, only wastes your time.
Along the way you pass the ancient Purcarel quarry, which testifies to human presence in these lands since the Neolithic, more than 3000 years ago. It's worth a stop. If you pause there or to eat, allow for the day running longer than the stated duration.
Before you shoulder your backpack
In Piazza Municipio, the route sheet notes plenty of free parking and a fountain with drinking water. It's fine for a top-up, but leave home with your bottle already full.
The same morning, double-check:
- the updated weather forecast, especially rain and wind;
- trail conditions and any official notices from the municipality or tourist board;
- the GPS track saved offline or a paper map for the stretch toward Pioglio;
- your start time against the daylight hours, which shrink in autumn and winter.
From here we can't tell you whether the trail is passable today or what state the ground is in. After days of rain, get informed before setting out. No garment, however good, replaces the assessment you make on the spot.
Layers for the whole year, adjusted to your pace
The route sheet lists the walk in winter, spring, late spring/summer and autumn. That doesn't mean every day is suitable for heading out: it means your layers should be adapted to the season. Uphill you warm up, at stops you cool down. A heavy jacket zipped up from the square soon ends up in your backpack.
In the cold months a simple combination works: a breathable base layer, a light warm layer and a windproof shell to open and close. A hat or neck warmer goes in your backpack. From late spring you can lighten up, but the windproof stays: it weighs little and you'll appreciate it at stops.
For a tourist loop that starts at 307 meters, a heavy hard shell or a stiff boot is overkill. They add weight and cost without giving you a real advantage on an outing like this.
Hiking boots, not mountaineering boots
When it comes to footwear, the choice matters more than the jacket. Look for a hiking boot with a lugged sole and some ankle support. For men, the Renegade Evo GTX Mid Men's Shoes Dark Brown/Black are designed for trekking and day hikes. They have a mid-cut build, a Gore-Tex membrane that keeps moisture away from your foot, and a Vibram sole for natural terrain and mixed trails.
Products mentioned in this article
For women, start from the women's trekking shoes and choose a low or mid model with a trail sole, ruling out those labeled for mountaineering. Whichever boot you pick, try it on with the socks you'll wear, preferably in the afternoon, when your foot is a little more swollen. Your heel shouldn't lift, and on descents your toes shouldn't touch the front.
Two outfits for the Roppolo loop
Men: black and blue, light shell and mid boot
This look works as a system. The Dolomiti Wind Hooded Men's Jacket Black/Steel Blue acts as the shell: it protects against wind, has a hood, leaves you free to move, and can be worn over other technical layers. Being compact, it stays in your pack until you need it. Underneath go the Groove Men's Pants Black, made of stretch polyester, with a Regular Fit cut and zip pockets for small items.
Products mentioned in this article
On your feet, the Renegade Evo GTX Mid Men's Shoes Dark Brown/Black; on your back, the Ubic 25 Backpack Black/Dark Blue. The 25 liters hold your water, a warm layer, and the jacket when you take it off. A waist belt and chest strap stabilize the load, mesh side pockets hold your bottles, and a rain cover is built in. Black, dark blue, and brown go well together, and no piece is oversized for an outing like this.
Products mentioned in this article
One limit to be aware of: the Dolomiti Wind description speaks of wind protection, not waterproofing. If rain is forecast, add a waterproof shell chosen from the men's trekking jackets.
Women: warm layer and softshell for fall and winter
The Polar Style Women's Jacket Blueberry is a warm polyester layer, light and breathable while you walk. On cool, windless days you can wear it on its own; otherwise it becomes the mid layer under a shell. The women's fit follows the body without restricting your arms. The Breeze Women's Pants Sage Green are made of softshell nylon with a DWR treatment, have an elastic waist with belt loops and zip pockets, and are designed for cold weather.
On your back goes the same Ubic Backpack 25 Black/Dark Blue, with bottle holder and rain cover. For your feet, pair it with a hiking shoe chosen as explained above: on a tourist loop, a model built for mountaineering is more than you need. Fleece doesn't stop the wind the way a shell does. If the day is exposed or damp, keep an outer layer in your pack, chosen from the women's trekking jackets.
Where you can spend less
In summer, the Breeze Women's Sage Green Pants, designed for the cold, can be too warm: a lighter pair is better. The Groove Men's Black Pants, on the other hand, are described as suitable even for the hottest days. The same goes for the Gore-Tex membrane: it's useful on damp ground, but matters less when the trail is dry and hot.
You don't have to buy everything at once. If you already have a good hiking shoe, often all you're missing is a light windproof shell. If you already have the shell, the shoes are usually what makes the most noticeable difference.
If you'd like advice on hiking shoe sizing or on layers for the colder months, stop by the store in Biella or write to us, telling us which model you're looking at in the trekking collection.
What to check before you leave
Shortly before heading out, double-check the weather forecast and trail conditions on the official local channels. Also verify access points, any temporary notices, and the hours of the services you plan to use: this information can change and should be read on the day itself, not taken for granted.
Two ways to build the look
AI-generated outfit scenes grounded in the linked product photographs. The landscape is illustrative.
FAQ
How long does the Roppolo and Lake Bertignano loop of the Buon Cammino take?
The tourist information sheet indicates 3 hours and 30 minutes, with 244 meters of elevation gain. Start and finish are both in Piazza Municipio in Roppolo. If you plan to make stops, for example at the Purcarel quarry, allow some extra time.
Is the Buon Cammino route from Roppolo suitable for families?
The difficulty is rated as tourist level, and the sheet also lists it among the family hikes. Before setting out, consider how used to walking your children are, the day's weather, and the up-to-date trail conditions.
Do you need a GPS for the Roppolo and Bertignano loop?
The route has dedicated Buon Cammino signage. On the stretch toward the Pioglio pond, however, a map or GPS track helps you keep your bearings. It's a good idea to save the track offline before leaving home.
What shoes should you wear on the Buon Cammino route at Roppolo?
A hiking shoe with a trail sole is enough, low or mid depending on the season. Mountaineering boots are overkill for a tourist loop. Try them on with the socks you'll actually wear and check that your heel stays firmly in place.
Can you do the Roppolo and Bertignano loop in winter?
The sheet lists the route as open in winter too. In the colder months, dress in layers and, that same morning, recheck the weather, trail conditions, official notices, and available daylight hours.
Ski Sises on Google
Choose Ski Sises as a preferred source: you'll see our guides and news more often in Top stories on Google.
