Mont Avic Natural Park: a hidden treasure of the Aosta Valley to discover

In the heart of the Aosta Valley, between snowy peaks and inhabited valleys, lies the Mont Avic Natural Park, located in the municipality of Champdepraz. It is the perfect destination for those seeking peace and tranquility, and it extends for over 7,300 hectares, among the valleys of Champdepraz, Champorcher, and Fénis, brushing against the peaks of Mont Avic (3,006 m) and Mont Glacier (3,185 m). It is a corner of alpine paradise, far from mass tourism, but which can offer great satisfaction to those who visit it.

The Park is home to the largest hooked pine forest in the Aosta Valley, a 980-hectare wood that creates a "little Canada" atmosphere, given its enormous lakes and the pines reflected in them. Inside the Mont Avic Park, there are 14 lakes, where the Gran Lago is the largest natural basin in the region, while the Bianco, Nero, and Cornuto lakes, near the Rifugio Barbustel, form a triptych of water mirrors that look painted. Then there is another unmissable gem, the "Path of the Planets" (Sentiero dei Pianeti), an educational route that reproduces the solar system to scale. And keep an eye out for the ancient mines: in the Val Chalamy, there are traces of copper and iron, boasting a humble and mining history as well. The colors are sparkling: 10,000 species of butterflies fly through the park, providing emotional experiences.

Visiting Mont Avic will give you the chance to form a deep connection with nature for a few hours. Trails like the one to Lago Muffé or the Rifugio Dondena, reachable in just 15 minutes from a parking lot, offer spectacular views in a short amount of time. The Covarey Visitor Center, with its interactive natural history museum and a scale model, is perfect for families and the curious. The park is easily reachable from the Verrès or Pont-Saint-Martin toll booths: Mont Avic is an invitation to discover an authentic Aosta Valley, where every step reveals a natural and cultural story.

Cover photo credit Parco Naturale Mont Avic