Punta Marguareis
2,651 m
Italy, France
Also known as Пунта Маргарейс, Pointe Marguareis, +4Also known as
Пунта Маргарейс · Pointe Marguareis · Cima Marguarèis · მარგუარეისი · Pointe Marguareis / Cima Marguarèis · Маргуарейс
- Elevation
- 2,651 m
- Prominence
- 780 m
- Difficulty
- 3/10
- Mountain hike
- Best Season
- Jul–Sep
- Routes
- 1
RegulationReported 21 Sep 2026
From Monday 21 September 2026 the Alta Via del Sale road closes at 18:00, with last entry at 16:00, under a Limone Piemonte ordinance.
altaviadelsale.it
Routes
1Sources differ: E (summit section from the hut) (AlpiCuneesi 01.05) · E (Carnino to Rifugio Don Barbera) (Parco Naturale del Marguareis) · PD+ (ski ascent, S3) (Camptocamp)
The easiest way up the highest summit of the Ligurian Alps: from the hamlet of Carnino (1,390 m) at the head of the Val Tanaro through the Gola della Chiusetta to Rifugio Don Barbera by the Colle dei Signori, then across karst ground to Colle di Gaina and up grass and scree to the large summit cross. About 1,260 m of ascent and 4 hours up.
Elevation Profile
approximate line- Distance
- 8.2 km
- one way
- Ascent
- +1,280 m
- start → summit
- High Point
- 2,651 m
- Time Up
- 5h 20m
- DIN 33466
- Time Down
- 3h 40m
- DIN 33466 · same way back
From Carnino Superiore (about 1,390 m), reached by road from Ormea and Upega in the upper Val Tanaro, follow signs for the Colle dei Signori west above the village. The path climbs a series of steps towards the Gola della Chiusetta, with one sloping, delicate passage above the gorge, then continues west past a cross, the Selle di Carnino and the San Domenico pastures to Rifugio Don Barbera (2,079 m) just below the Colle dei Signori; about 2 hours and 690 m of ascent. From the east side of the hut, marker posts lead north across karst limestone riddled with dolines and sinkholes, joined by the track from the Colle dei Signori, then over scree and thin grass to the Colle di Gaina (Pas de la Galine, 2,357 m) in 45–55 minutes. Take the right branch: a slight descent on fine scree, then a steady climb over grass and small rocks to a grassy saddle at 2,507 m where the path from Colle dei Torinesi and Colle Palù joins. Path A44 turns north-west through scree; the last slope steepens and the track becomes faint, with sparse markers through outcrops to the summit cross. Allow 1h40–1h55 from the hut. The shorter left branch from Colle di Gaina follows the broad south ridge with a band of easy hands-on rock (EE). Descend the same way. In fog the karst plateau is a maze of grooves and hollows with almost no landmarks; clouds build early here, so start at dawn. Parties who drive the Via del Sale road to the Colle dei Signori can start at the hut and climb the summit in under 2 hours.
Start
Carnino Superiore1,390 m
- No public transport to Carnino was verified; a car is needed from Ormea
- Parking at the trailhead
Stages
| Day | Stage | km | m ascent | m descent | Time |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Carnino Superiore → Punta Marguareis | 8.2 | 1,280 | 22 | 5h 20m |
Waypoints
- Trailhead: Carnino Superiore1,390 m
- Feature: Gola della Chiusetta1,814 m
delicate sloping passage above the gorge
- Feature: Selle di Carnino1,902 m
- Hut: Rifugio Don Barbera2,087 m
- Col: Colle di Gaina2,354 m
- Summit: Punta Marguareis2,651 m
Key Passages
- Sloping, delicate passage above the Gola della Chiusetta
- Karst plateau between Rifugio Don Barbera and Colle di Gaina (route-finding in fog)
- Faint final slope through outcrops to the summit cross
Equipment
0/5 packedDownloads
Route confidence 80%Overview
The highest summit of the Ligurian Alps (2,651 m), on the Italian–French border where Piedmont, Liguria and the Alpes-Maritimes meet. A walkers' summit above a vast karst plateau, with a north face of nearly 500 m and a large summit cross.
Punta Marguareis (Cima Marguarèis in Italian, Pointe Marguareis in French) crowns the limestone massif that closes the head of the Valle Pesio, Val Tanaro and the French Roya basin. Its north face drops almost 500 m into the Vallone del Marguareis, while the south and west sides are a high karst plateau of grooved limestone, dolines and sinkholes that swallow the surface water into a large cave system, the Conca delle Carsene–Pis del Pesio system, which drains north to the Po. The Italian side lies in the Parco Naturale del Marguareis.
The summit, topped by a large cross, is a hike on its southern side. The easiest approach starts at Carnino at the head of the Val Tanaro and passes Rifugio Don Barbera by the Colle dei Signori; from the hut it is less than 2 hours to the top. From the north, longer and rougher routes climb from Rifugio Garelli in the Valle Pesio, including the steep, loose Canale dei Torinesi. The massif is circled by the multi-day Giro del Marguareis.
The main difficulty is navigation: clouds often form by late morning, and in fog the karst plateau has few landmarks. Chamois are common, and edelweiss grows on the upper slopes.
Climbing Notes
A long but technically easy day for fit hill walkers: about 1,260 m of ascent from Carnino, or about 600 m from Rifugio Don Barbera. Sleeping at the hut (open mid-June to mid-October) splits the effort and allows an early start before the clouds build. The final slope is steeper and only sparsely marked; the alternative south ridge from Colle di Gaina needs some easy scrambling.
Carry a map and a GPS track: in fog the plateau between the hut and Colle di Gaina is easy to get lost on. There is almost no water above the hut. In winter and spring the mountain is a ski-touring objective (Camptocamp PD+ from Carnino), and the information on summer routes does not apply in snow or ice.
On the Italian side, Parco Naturale del Marguareis rules apply: keep dogs on a lead, no drones without authorisation, and take your rubbish down.
History
The first known ascent was made in 1832 by the Genoese geologist Lorenzo Nicolò Pareto, by the south ridge. Another recorded early ascent was on 9 September 1882 by Emilio Beuf, Giovanni Dellepiane and Ugo Ponta. The Colle dei Signori is crossed by the former military road now known as the Alta Via del Sale, between Limone Piemonte and Monesi.
Season
Best Jul–Sep- January: Not advisable
- February: Possible
- March: Possible
- April: Possible
- May: Not advisable
- June: Good
- July: Best (best window)
- August: Best (best window)
- September: Best (best window)
- October: Good
- November: Not advisable
- December: Not advisable
- Jan
- Winter; ski-touring only for experienced parties
- Feb
- Ski-touring season; avalanche risk
- Mar
- Ski-touring season; avalanche risk
- Apr
- Spring ski tours
- May
- Melting snow; hut closed
- Jun
- Rifugio Don Barbera opens 15 June; snow patches on north-facing slopes
- Jul
- Main season; clouds build by late morning
- Aug
- Main season; afternoon thunderstorms
- Sep
- Clearer days and fewer people
- Oct
- Hut open until about 15 October; Via del Sale road shuts earlier in the day
- Nov
- Early snow; hut closed
- Dec
- Winter conditions
Access & Permits
- Hut Booking
- Rifugio Don Barbera: +39 0174 086157 or +39 333 911 7975, info@rifugiodonbarbera.eu.
- Fees
- Driving the Alta Via del Sale road (Limone Piemonte – Monesi) to the Colle dei Signori requires a paid ticket and booking for motor vehicles
- Rules
- Parco Naturale del Marguareis (Italian side): dogs on a lead and only on permitted paths; drones only with authorisation; mushroom picking requires a permit; take rubbish home
- Alta Via del Sale: on some weekdays the road is open to walkers and cyclists only
- Getting There
Ormea (Val Tanaro); Limone Piemonte; Tende (France)
Nice Côte d'Azur (NCE) or Turin (TRN)
- Car: Val Tanaro road (SS28) to Ormea, then via Ponte di Nava and Upega to Carnino (Briga Alta)
- Car: the unpaved Alta Via del Sale from Limone Piemonte or Monesi passes the Colle dei Signori near Rifugio Don Barbera (summer and autumn, toll and booking)
- No public transport to Carnino was verified
Hazards
- Weather
- Remoteness
- Avalanche
Huts & Shelters
1- 2,079 m
Rifugio Don BarberaHutStaffed
45 beds · 15 June – 15 October, weather permitting