Alta Via della Valmalenco stage 4

This stage allows the transfer from the valley of Chiareggio to the pleasant basin of Lago Palù, passing through the pastures of Alpe Fora, the panoramic balcony of Rif. Longoni, and the boulder fields of Alpe Sasso Nero, abandoned, from which through a larch wood with a wide view there is a beautiful high view of Lago Palù.

There are several itinerary choices depending on the hikers' training level, their environmental preferences, and weather conditions. For those who are well-trained and prefer a "higher" variant, it is possible to shorten the Alta Via route by one day and combine stages 4 and 5, skipping the overnight stay at Rifugio Palù and proceeding directly to Capanna Marinelli-Bombardieri via the former Entova-Scerscen refuge near the lower Scerscen glacier. This itinerary allows one to move from the heart of the Disgrazia group to the foothills of the Bernina group.

In case of bad weather, it is instead possible to reach San Giuseppe from Chiareggio by public bus, then ascend to Barchi and continue along an easy dirt road to Lago Palù and its namesake refuge.

It is also possible to split the route, staying overnight at Rif. Longoni, to continue later on the base route of the Alta Via.