Vo’ Waterfall

Vò Waterfall is one of the main summer destinations in Val di Scalve. In about half an hour, you reach a wonderful waterfall formed by the homonymous stream: a 25-meter drop immersed in the greenery of the surrounding woods.

Starting point:

The Vò Valley opens just before the town of Schilpario, near the small village of Ronco, between Monte Bognaviso (2287 m a.s.l.) and Pizzo Tornello (2687 m a.s.l.); at the bottom flows the Vò river, which gives its name to the entire valley. The excursion starts at the very beginning of the Vò Valley, near the large parking lot located HERE.
During the summer, parking in the Vò area is paid via scratch-and-park tickets. For more information CLICK HERE

Route:

The trail leading to the waterfall is wide, well-maintained, and clearly marked. It is easy and therefore suitable for families with children.
Once you find parking in the large spaces along the road that runs next to the Vò stream, continue on foot along the road, which turns into a mule track and trail CAI no. 413/a, leading to the Ex restaurant Vò Chalet (now closed) and the waterfall. Here the vegetation alternates between spruce, mountain pine, alder, and hazel trees. Wildlife includes chamois and other wild animals.
Once on the mule track, be careful not to take the trail on the right at the fork (CAI no. 414), which would lead you, after a long walk, to the Venerocolo Pass, Rifugio Tagliaferri and then into Valtellina (Aprica).

Along the way, you will find an example of a “poiàt”, a structure made of branches and small logs used for making charcoal, which was vital for the people who once lived in the area.

The ancient mule track was historically used to reach “la reglana”, a furnace for melting ore, traces of which remain just before the waterfall. For centuries, Val di Scalve developed mining work that supplied iron already in Roman times. See Andrea Bonicelli Mining Park.

A few meters before the waterfall, the trail loop continues along a wooden footbridge leading to the opposite bank of the river. After crossing the river, going right, the mule track (CAI no. 413) climbs toward Rifugio Tagliaferri, while keeping left returns to the small village of Ronco.

Soon after passing the bridge (do not cross it yet), you’ll see the Vò Waterfall, a beautiful 25-meter cascade. Here you can take a rest at the picnic area and take photos near the waterfall. We recommend not getting too close, as the area can be very slippery and dangerous. As there are no trash bins, please take all your waste (including organic waste) home with you to respect the environment.

Return

For the return, we recommend crossing the small bridge before the waterfall and descending along this side of the river.
On the way back, after passing the small wildlife observation hut near a green clearing, you can see a squared rock altar with a cup mark on top and a cross on the side: it is a druidic altar, once used for ritual ceremonies, attesting to the presence of humans in the area since ancient times.
Arriving at the village of Ronco and walking a few hundred meters along the asphalt road, you can return to the starting point.

The Vò Waterfall, during winter, freezes and becomes a popular destination for photography enthusiasts and ice climbers.

Share photos of your walk in the Vò Valley with the hashtags #ValdiScalve #CascatadelVo