Lago della Rossa

Site overview

Lago della Rossa is an artificial lake, as it is blocked by a high dam, and it is the largest lake in the Lanzo Valleys. A large natural body of water already existed before the construction of the dam (late 1920s – early 1930s), though it was naturally smaller than the current lake. The reservoir of Lago della Rossa was built along with other dams at Lago dietro la Torre (located below Lago della Rossa) and Lago di Malciaussia (in the upper Viù Valley). The ascent to Lago della Rossa, where the feast of St. Camillus is held on the first Saturday of August, is one of the most popular hikes in the Valleys. The effort is rewarded by spectacular panoramas offered by some of the most well-known and imposing peaks of the Valleys. Another spectacle is provided by the lake itself when, at the beginning of the season, it starts to thaw and small icebergs can be seen floating on the water. Near the lake, there is a tiny chapel dedicated to St. Camillus and the comfortable bivouac of the same name.