6:40 h
11.49 km
1246 m
787 m
DifficultWARNING: for safety reasons, the Municipality of Novate Mezzola announces that, until December 31, 2025, ordinance (no. 6 of July 28, 2022) is in effect closing pedestrian and bicycle traffic on the trail – Tracciolino route. To reach the Frasnedo Refuge, it is recommended to climb from Verceia via the road leading directly to Valle dei Ratti.
After the ancient huts of Codera, you arrive at the junction where to the right the Sentiero Italia descends to the bridge over the Codera stream, while the Sentiero Roma continues towards the Luigi Brasca Refuge owned by the Milan CAI, which can be reached in about 1h 30min along a valley floor path. The first is suitable for everyone, the second from the Luigi Brasca Refuge onward is recommended for experienced hikers equipped with gear. The Sentiero Roma is a high route that runs along the head of the Masino valley and allows reaching the Omio, Gianetti, Bonaccossa, and Ponti refuges. Both meet again in Valmalenco at the Bosio refuge near Alpe Airale after 4 or 5 stages. After crossing the bridge over the Codera, you also cross the characteristic bridge of the Ladrogno valley, after which the trail climbs to Cii (851 m), a charming location beyond which it continues in the woods up to 910 m altitude where it intersects the Tracciolino trail. This is an artificial path built in the 1930s to connect the Val Codera dam to that of Val Dei Ratti. Still keeping right, the Tracciolino allows crossing Val Grande, arriving at the foot of the climb on the left towards Cola. Here you leave the Tracciolino and, after crossing the Cola settlement, descend right onto the trail that leads to the Revelaso valley and resumes on the opposite side with a slightly exposed passage. Heading west-southwest, you reach San Giorgio di Cola (749 m) and turning left at the village washhouse, you climb to the cemetery. Now a small path climbs straight east and reconnects with the Tracciolino. We take it to the right, reaching a series of tunnels carved into the rock. After several curves and some bridges allowing crossing small valleys, some views open up over the val dei Ratti. The Tracciolino ends at the dam guardians' house of Moledana in Valle dei Ratti, from where a beautiful mule track climbs to Frasnedo.
