FT1 - The Woodlands of Mt. Tre Croci
- Trail Conditions: On foot
- Duration: 4 hour/s 30 minutes
- Difficulty Level: E - Hiking (level)
- Difference in height: 225m
From the main square of Pogno, the town with the painted walls, head for via Mazzini, a road running parallel to the SP road entering the town center, becoming then via Soriso, and leading out of the town. At the end of the asphalt road, take the trail running along a brook, and you will immediately find yourself in the woodland. After crossing the bridge, the trail becomes a large and flat country road; the itinerary, cool and shady, becomes then narrow again, continuing to run along the torrent. In the valley bottom, cross another bridge: from here you can see the confluence of torrent Grua coming down from the right and, with a beautiful waterfall, noisily flowing into the brook running along the road.
The itinerary climbs on the slope, in a chestnut coppice woodland. At the end of the uphill trail, the woodland opens and offers the view over the opposite slope: here turn right and continue uphill along the forest road entirely surrounded by the woodland. Go ahead for a long stretch in the woodland, along the uphill trail, neglecting all the possible detours and following the FT4 red-white-red trail markers, take the trail set among the banks and developing uphill on a scoured and clayey soil. On the side of the trail, small erosive formations recall the famous Ciciu di Villar. In this stretch of steep uphill trail, the chestnut grove is scattered with beautiful birch tree specimens.
The itinerary continues with a flat trail and finally develops along the ridge (614m). At the following junction, turn right on the largest and flat road facing Orta Lake: below, the houses of Pogno and, farther away, Gozzano. You will find yourself at a crossroads with 5 branches: follow the central road neglecting two roads on the left and one on the right, following trail marker FT4. A last uphill stretch, and climb on the left the stairs leading to Mt. Tre Croci (674m), where you will enjoy a beautiful panorama on Orta Lake, the surrounding towns, and Mottarone.
Coming down from the mountain, turn left and continue on a short flat stretch up to the Chapel of the Crucifix characterized by some traces of frescoes. From that point, go back from where you came and take on the right CAI trail no. 791, first developing flat in the woodland and then downhill along a narrow trail with a red clayey roadbed, in some stretches with a bright red and in some stretches more blurred, and covered with a bright green moss. At the crossroads take the trail on the right, deeply dug by water and continuing in a cool chestnut grove characterized by isolated birch specimens and big wild heather bushed in the hottest points. Crossing trail no. 792, go ahead along a flat trail. The slight ups and downs are first confined along the bank where it is possible to see frequent surfacing roots of imposing chestnut tree specimens and cross then a saddle where, through small views among the thick foliage of the trees, you will see the surrounding landscape. Go gently downhill along a road sometimes large and sometimes confined, with quick views on the houses of Soriso and, again, Mottarone. The long downhill stretch, avoiding all the possible detours, leads to Madonna della Gelata Church you will find on the hill, on the right of the trail. Go beyond the Church and continue in the cool valley bottom populated with willows and alders, where several watercourses converge. Go beyond an artificial small lake and cross the bridge on Rio Püle until you find the asphalt road.
You will quickly reach Soriso and meet Via Don Pietro Mazzola, neglect it and go ahead touching the aedicule of Sant'Isep, continue uphill and go under an arch on Via Giulia Foncara (la Cüca), reaching the Town Hall square. Turn left in via Mons. Gaetano Mongini, and after an uphill stretch you will reach the entrance door of San Bernardo Church. Turn right in via Pogno, and along a short downhill stretch, you will reach via Teresa Bagarelli, leaving the town. The road gradually becomes a dirt road and directly leads into the woodland. After about one km of flat trail, you will find on the right of the road some stairs going down to Fontanino, with cool spring water. Go ahead until you will find a point where the ring-route ends and you will have follow the same route of the outward journey until you go back to the departure point, that is Pogno town center.
