Nature park
Parco Naturale delle Capanne di Marcarolo
Bosio · Casaleggio Boiro · Lerma · Mornese · Tagliolo Monferrato · Voltaggio
Woods, pastures, streams and ridges mark the transition from Piedmont to Liguria. Capanne di Marcarolo is a broad Apennine landscape explored through the Lavagnina lakes, Monte Pracaban and the Benedicta memorial sites.
Between plain and sea
The park covers about 82 km² in the Ligurian-Piedmontese Apennines; the wider Natura 2000 site covers 9,552 hectares. Mule tracks and forest roads cross stream basins, grassland and summits above 1,000 metres. Clear days bring views towards the Ligurian Sea and the Alps.
Water, grassland and raptors
Beech and chestnut woods, dry grassland and rocky habitats support varied flora; Cerastium utriense was first described here. The short-toed eagle, a migratory snake-hunting raptor, is the park emblem. Streams and the Lavagnina reservoirs add aquatic habitats best observed from the paths.
Farmsteads and memory
Scattered farmsteads tell of grazing, woodland work and links with the coast. Ferriere recalls former mining. At Benedicta, monastery ruins and the memorial commemorate the April 1944 massacre; the Peace Trail connects this landscape with Resistance history.
Choosing your route
Start at Lavagnina for the lakes, at Capanne di Marcarolo for Pracaban, and use the signed parking areas for Benedicta. The network includes paths, mule tracks and gravel roads with climbs and rocky sections. Carry the park map, check current weather and notices, and expect fast-changing cloud and wind on the ridges.
Three ways to explore the park
The 2.5 km Lavagnina Lakes nature trail is a compact introduction to aquatic habitats. The roughly 5 km Peace Trail starts at Benedicta and crosses sites linked to the events of 1944. Longer ridge and mule-track outings reach Pracaban, Ferriere or the Gorzente lakes. Six marked routes also suit mountain bikes and e-bikes; check distance and ascent on the official map.
Places to discover
Open a place on the map to find your bearings. Follow permitted access routes and signs on site.
Laghi della Lavagnina
Starting point for the nature trail beside the reservoirs and towards Cascina Magge.
Open in Google Maps · Laghi della LavagninaBenedicta
Ruins, memorial and documentation centre form the focus of a route dedicated to Resistance history.
Open in Google Maps · BenedictaMonte Pracaban
Panoramic summit reached by routes starting near Capanne di Marcarolo.
Open in Google Maps · Monte PracabanTrails in the park 3
Asti, Alessandria and surroundings
Sentiero laghi lavagnina - valico eremiti
WalkingAround the starting pointAsti, Alessandria and surroundings
Sentiero capanne di marcarolo - monte pracaban
Asti, Alessandria and surroundings
Sentiero laghi lavagnina - cascina cornaglietta
Before you visit
What is the best starting point?
It depends on your destination: Lavagnina for the lakes, Capanne for Pracaban and Benedicta for the historical route.
Do the park and Natura 2000 site cover the same area?
No. The park covers about 82 km², while SAC/SPA IT1180026 covers 9,552 hectares.