Nasta Lake, the Highest in the Park
- Trail Conditions: On foot
- Departure: parcheggio gias delle Mosche (1,600m)
- Arrival: Lago di Nasta
- Duration: 3 hour/s 30 minutes
- Difference in height: 1,200m
It is the highest perennial lake in the Park and, for this reason, it is often covered with ice until late spring. It lies in a high-mountain environment characterized by peaks and pinnacles, snow fields and heaps of stones busy with herds of ibex and with rock ptarmigans.
The lake is surrounded by some of the most famous 3,000m high mountains of the area: Cima di Nasta, Baus, and Bastione. A good place to stop during the tour is Remondino Mountain Hut, renovated in the year 2000, situated along the way. In the surroundings it is possible to observe several botanical species, including Saxifraga florulenta.
Follow the valley bottom carriage road up to Pian della Casa (1,760m) and take the marked trail, on the left, leading to Remondino Mountain Hut. You will cross, with a traverse, the slopes of Madre di Dio chain and enter Vallone Assedras, where you will quickly climb following hairpin bends. After crossing a footbridge on a creek, you will reach a marked junction. Leave the detour to Colle del Mercantour, take the uphill trail and cross the creek again. After crossing an old Gias, you will climb among big boulders and afterwards, after a traverse, you will find yourself in a small valley surrounding the big rock where the mountain hut is situated.
Continue along a trail climbing across the stony ground behind Remondino (sparse red marks) in the direction of the ramparts of smooth stone connecting the spurs of Cima di Nasta and Cai Chain. Overcome the obstacle by following a small rocky gully and granite crags giving access to the basin which, on the left, houses the lake (1 hour from the mountain hut).
