The Rat path

Pleasant hike recommended for families in all seasons. Rat is the name of the strip of vineyards, woods, meadows, and rocks located further east compared to the strip of woods and rocks crossed by the path. To venture into this unspoiled environment, you need to reach the hamlet of Palu', the easternmost part of Poggiridenti Piano, near the border with the municipality of Tresivio. After reaching the few houses of the district and passing a washhouse, you follow a stretch of country road to find the start of the path at an altitude of 340 m. The path starts to climb steeply up the mountain side in the shade of the thicket, among maples, ferns, and ivy branches colonizing the dry stone walls. A series of thirty signs created by the children of the Gianni Rodari primary school in Poggiridenti, placed at various points of the ascent, illustrate the local flora and fauna. Continuing along the path, at a certain point you encounter a landslide body that extends at the foot of Prede'ra del Rat, the green stone quarry. After passing the short stretch of boulders, the path continues to climb. At this point, the trail turns left and continues with some steep switchbacks. Then it turns right and passes close to a rock, where you reach the gorge of the Vedelin valley stream, a suggestive place with a pretty little waterfall. Continuing among dry stone walls you find a maple grove; after passing a series of steps carved into the rock, you proceed through the forest, among locust trees and ash trees. Having passed the woods on the left, at 490 meters you reach a dirt track running level. Turning right, after a very short climb, you reach the provincial road Panoramica dei Castelli, just to the right of the bridge over the Rogna stream, on the border between Poggiridenti and Tresivio. From here you can descend the ascent route or complete the loop by continuing towards Santa Casa and then descend along the road passing through the vineyards.