The park features the 'Ghiacciaio del Platasse', one of the few remaining small glacierets in the area.
It contains the 'Sentiero dei Franchi', an ancient trail historically associated with the passage of Charlemagne's troops.
The park encompasses the headwaters of the Chisone and Susa valleys, creating a natural watershed divide.
The Cerogne lake and the Ciardonnet basin are notable examples of glacial cirques within the park borders.
The area is home to the rare Alpine salamander, a species adapted to high-altitude cold environments.
Parco Naturale Orsiera Rocciavrè is a protected alpine wilderness covering approximately 11,000 hectares in the Cottian Alps. The terrain reaches altitudes ranging from 800 meters to the 2,890-meter summit of Mount Orsiera. The park preserves diverse ecosystems, including larch and beech forests, high-altitude meadows, and glacial lakes. It serves as a sanctuary for alpine fauna, notably the Alpine ibex, chamois, and golden eagles. Historic features include the ruins of the 18th-century Fenestrelle Fortress, which borders the southern edge of the protected area. The park is managed by the Ente di Gestione delle Aree Protette delle Alpi Cozie. Extensive trail networks link the valley floors to alpine huts such as Rifugio Amprimo and Rifugio Selleries. The geological composition is primarily characterized by metamorphic schists and gneiss. It remains a key site for studying alpine biodiversity and traditional mountain pastoralism.
The plateau area surrounding Rifugio Selleries, offering panoramic views of the Orsiera massif.
Check mountain weather forecasts specifically for the high peaks before ascending, as conditions change rapidly.
Carry sufficient water as natural springs can be unreliable during late summer droughts.
Pack binoculars to observe the ibex populations that frequently graze near the rocky scree slopes.
Attempting high-altitude traverses without mountain-appropriate footwear or experience in navigating steep, loose scree.
High-altitude trails and some mountain huts are inaccessible or closed during winter months due to heavy snowpack.
Stay on marked trails to protect sensitive alpine tundra; do not feed wildlife; pack out all waste.
