Bivouac Cortechiuso

Bivacco Cortechiuso sits at 1,883m in the Maritime Alps of Piedmont, on the watershed ridge between the Gesso and Vermenagna valleys. Reach it from Rifugio Soria (1,714m) in roughly 1.5 hours via waymarked trail—steep in places but straightforward in good conditions. The final approach crosses open terrain; winter snow and poor visibility make route-finding harder. From Limone Piemonte village (15km away by road), allow 3–4 hours on foot via the Gesso valley for a longer but scenic approach.

The bivouac is a small unmanned shelter holding 10 beds in two rooms. No guardian, no meals, no electricity, no water on-site. Bring your own stove, fuel, food, and sleeping bag. A wood stove provides warmth in shoulder seasons. The hut is a practical base for traversing the ridge or accessing peaks like Punta Marguareis (2,651m) and Monte Saccarello (2,201m). Open year-round, though winter access requires mountaineering experience and avalanche knowledge.

This is a self-service shelter run by CAI Cuneo. There is no booking system—arrive first and claim space as available. Come prepared for poor weather and self-sufficiency. Late June through September sees the most reliable conditions and fair-weather crowds. Spring and autumn bring fewer visitors but rapidly changing weather. Carry a 1:25,000 map and check conditions with CAI Cuneo before departure in winter or early spring.