Bivouac Punchia Stefano Alpe Bósa
1.8Bivacco Punchia Stefano Alpe Bósa
Piedmont, Italy
About
Bivacco Punchia Stefano sits at 2,270m on Alpe Bósa in the Vigezzo Valley of Piedmont. Approach from Malesco via the CAI path to Alpe Bósa—roughly 3 to 4 hours on foot. The bivouac serves as a base for ridge traverses and ascents in the Val Vigezzo sector of the Pennine Alps. It marks the junction between day-hiker terrain and serious mountaineering routes.
The bivouac holds 12 beds in basic mountain shelter style. Drinking water is available on-site. There are no meals or cooking facilities—bring a stove and all food. The hut operates year-round, though winter access depends on conditions and self-sufficiency. Expect exposed alpine terrain; this is a working mountaineer's shelter, not a staffed rifugio.
Contact CAI Vigezzo directly or check rifugio.net and cai.it for current access and booking. Winter ascents require Alpine knowledge and equipment. July and August see the most traffic. Book ahead if you need to confirm bed availability, though the small capacity means walk-ups may find space on quieter days. Cell reception is unreliable; plan accordingly.
The bivouac holds 12 beds in basic mountain shelter style. Drinking water is available on-site. There are no meals or cooking facilities—bring a stove and all food. The hut operates year-round, though winter access depends on conditions and self-sufficiency. Expect exposed alpine terrain; this is a working mountaineer's shelter, not a staffed rifugio.
Contact CAI Vigezzo directly or check rifugio.net and cai.it for current access and booking. Winter ascents require Alpine knowledge and equipment. July and August see the most traffic. Book ahead if you need to confirm bed availability, though the small capacity means walk-ups may find space on quieter days. Cell reception is unreliable; plan accordingly.
Frequently Asked Questions
Book directly with CAI or check rifugio.net; as a bivacco with 12 beds, aim for at least 2-3 weeks ahead during summer weekends, especially if you're planning a ridge traverse that requires an early start.
Open roughly June to September depending on snow conditions; it's unmanned, so expect basic conditions and bring a headtorch and map for navigation.
Approach from Malesco via CAI path to Alpe Bósa—allow 3 to 4 hours on foot at normal hiking pace to reach the bivacco at 2,270m.
No meals or cooking facilities—bring all food, fuel, and a stove if you want hot meals; water is available on-site but treat it or bring purification tablets.
No—this is a bivacco for mountaineers planning ridge traverses and technical ascents in the Pennine Alps; the approach and altitude are fine for fit hikers, but the lack of staffing and facilities makes it unsuitable for families or those seeking comfort.
Quick Facts
- Managing club
- CAI
- Season
- –
- Total
- 12
- Dormitory
- Emergency
- 12
- Private rooms
Facilities
Drinking water
Contact & Booking
- Phone
- Website