Helsenhorn
3,272 m
Italy, Switzerland
Also known as Хелсенхорн, ჰელზენჰორნიAlso known as
Хелсенхорн · ჰელზენჰორნი
- Elevation
- 3,272 m
- Prominence
- 586 m
- Difficulty
- 5/10
- Easy alpine
- Best Season
- Aug–Sep
- Routes
- 1
AdvisoryReported 15 Jun 2026
Rifugio Città di Arona and the whole Alpe Veglia have no landline or mobile phone coverage; bookings and questions only by email, with replies not before 24 hours.
caiarona.it
Routes
1A long, wild ascent from the car-free Alpe Veglia: a waymarked path past Lago del Bianco and Pian d'Erbioi to the cabled step below Torre Vitali and Passo di Boccareccio (2,764 m), then a cairned traverse onto the small Helsegletscher and a steep, loose scree slope to the summit ridge. About 1,950 m of ascent from Ponte Campo; best split with a night at Rifugio Città di Arona.
Elevation Profile
approximate line- Distance
- 11.7 km
- one way
- Ascent
- +2,149 m
- −197 m lost on the way up
- High Point
- 3,272 m
- Time Up
- 9h 01m
- DIN 33466
- Time Down
- 6h 25m
- DIN 33466 · same way back
Park at Ponte Campo (1,320 m) above San Domenico di Varzo; the road on to Alpe Veglia is closed to private traffic. Walk the mule track up the Cairasca valley past the Groppallo chapel to the Veglia plain and Rifugio Città di Arona (1,750 m), about 1 h 30 min. Most parties sleep here. From just behind the hut a waymarked path climbs through forest to Lago del Bianco (about 2,160 m, about 1 hour). Pass it on the left, cross its sandy bed and climb grassy slopes to Pian d'Erbioi (2,265 m). Turn north across a boulder field and up the steep slope below the Torre Vitali pillar; a rocky section near the tower (about 2,760 m) is equipped with a steel cable and leads to Passo di Boccareccio, the Ritterpass (2,764 m). Beyond the pass there are only occasional cairns: traverse upwards along the flank of Cima delle Piodelle, drop a few metres onto the Helsegletscher and climb it east-north-east to the glacial plateau at about 3,032 m. From the plateau either traverse left over small rocks on a faint, cairned trace, or go right over snowfields to the notch at 3,184 m near Punta di Boccareccio. Both finish up a very steep, unstable slope of loose scree to the ridge, followed north to the summit. Allow about 6 h 30 min from Ponte Campo (about 5 hours from the hut) and some 11 hours for the round trip; descend the same way. The glacier is small and gentle, but crampons are needed and a crevasse can be visible late in the season.
Start
Ponte Campo1,321 m
- Train to Varzo or Domodossola on the Simplon line; shuttle bus from Varzo to San Domenico, some runs continuing to Ponte Campo (not verified for 2026)
- Parking at the trailhead
Stages
| Day | Stage | km | m ascent | m descent | Time |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Ponte Campo → Rifugio Città di Arona | 4.5 | 560 | 110 | 2h 39m |
| 2 | Rifugio Città di Arona → Helsenhorn | 7.2 | 1,588 | 88 | 6h 22m |
Waypoints
- Parking: Ponte Campo1,321 m
- Hut: Rifugio Città di Arona1,775 m
- Feature: Pian d'Erbioi2,261 m
- Col: Passo di Boccareccio2,763 m
- Summit: Helsenhorn3,272 m
Key Passages
- Cabled rock step below Torre Vitali
- Passo di Boccareccio (Ritterpass)
- Helsegletscher
- Steep loose scree to the summit ridge
Equipment
0/7 packedDownloads
Route confidence 75%Overview
A remote 3,272 m summit on the Swiss–Italian border above the car-free Alpe Veglia, highest point of the long Helse ridge. Technically easy (F) but long and loose, with a small glacier and little waymarking beyond the Ritterpass.
The Helsenhorn rises at the head of the Alpe Veglia basin in the Veglia–Devero natural park, on the frontier between Piedmont's Val Divedro and the Swiss Binntal. It is the high point of the Helse ridge, and its Swiss side holds the small Helsegletscher, which the normal routes cross. With about 590 m of prominence it is not a dominant mountain, but the summit gives a wide panorama for its modest height.
The usual approach starts at Ponte Campo above San Domenico: the Alpe Veglia plain beyond is closed to private cars, so the climb begins with a 1 h 30 min walk to Rifugio Città di Arona. From there a marked path leads past Lago del Bianco to a cabled rock step and the Passo di Boccareccio (Ritterpass, 2,764 m). Above the pass the character changes: sparse cairns, unstable debris, a short glacier crossing and a very steep scree slope to the summit ridge. From Switzerland the mountain is reached from Heiligkreuz in the Binntal up the Lengtal, a long and pathless T5 route across block fields.
The area is quiet and wild. Expect few people beyond the pass, and plan for a long day even from the hut.
Climbing Notes
Allow two days: walk to Rifugio Città di Arona (1 h 30 min) on day one, then about 5 hours from the hut to the summit and 3–4 hours back down to Ponte Campo on day two. In a single push from Ponte Campo the round trip takes about 11 hours with nearly 2,000 m of ascent. The terrain above Passo di Boccareccio needs route-finding and confidence on steep loose scree; carry crampons for the Helsegletscher (an ice axe is useful) and a helmet for the final slope.
The best period is July to September, once the hut is open and the snow on the steep slopes below the Ritterpass has gone; in June snow can be soft and rotten on the descent. There is no mobile coverage at Alpe Veglia, so leave plans with someone and book the hut by email in advance.
History
Camptocamp gives the first ascent as probably August 1887 by J. J. Weilenmann. W. A. B. Coolidge and Christian Almer the younger descended the south-south-west side on 26 July 1891.
Season
Best Aug–Sep- January: Not advisable
- February: Not advisable
- March: Not advisable
- April: Not advisable
- May: Not advisable
- June: Possible
- July: Good
- August: Best (best window)
- September: Best (best window)
- October: Possible
- November: Not advisable
- December: Not advisable
- Jan
- Winter; Alpe Veglia difficult to reach, avalanche terrain
- Feb
- Winter; ski-mountaineering only for experienced parties
- Mar
- Ski-mountaineering only
- Apr
- Spring snow; avalanche terrain
- May
- Spring snow
- Jun
- Hut opens around 20 June; steep snow below the pass, soft snow on the descent
- Jul
- Good once snow has cleared from the Ritterpass slope
- Aug
- Best period
- Sep
- Stable weather; glacier more icy
- Oct
- Hut closes in September/October; early snow
- Nov
- Winter conditions
- Dec
- Winter conditions
Access & Permits
- Hut Booking
- Rifugio Città di Arona (CAI Arona, 65 beds) opened on 20 June 2026 for a season running to September/October; book by email (info@rifugiocaiarona.com). A 9-bed winter bivouac next to the hut is always open.
- Fees
- Parking at Ponte Campo is paid in season
- Overnight fees at Rifugio Città di Arona
- Rules
- The road from Ponte Campo to Alpe Veglia is closed to private vehicles; walk the mule track
- Alpe Veglia lies in the Veglia–Devero natural park; park rules apply
- The summit is on the Italy–Switzerland border; the Swiss side is in the municipality of Grengiols
- Getting There
Varzo (San Domenico)
Milan Malpensa (MXP)
- By car: Simplon pass road (SS33) to Varzo, then the provincial road to San Domenico and on to the car park at Ponte Campo
- By train to Varzo on the Domodossola–Brig Simplon line, then shuttle bus to San Domenico (some runs to Ponte Campo)
- Swiss side: via the Binntal (Binn) to Heiligkreuz
Hazards
- Glacier
- Crevasses
- Rockfall
- Remoteness
- Weather
Huts & Shelters
1- 1,750 m
Rifugio Città di AronaHutStaffed
65 beds · June to September/October (opened 20 June 2026); 9-bed winter bivouac always open