M11 trail to Col de la Finestra from San Giacomo

Hiking trails & Routes

France

Provence-Alpes-Côte D'Azur

Provence

Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur

Nice

Saint-Martin-Vésubie

M11 trail to Col de la Finestra from San Giacomo

Hard

4.7

(127)

576

hikers

M11 trail to Col de la Finestra from San Giacomo

07:22

20.5km

1,240m

Hiking

Historic alpine pass climb through Maritime Alps with ibex, WWII fortifications, and Italy-France border views.

Last updated: September 17, 2025

Tips

Your route passes through a protected area

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Waypoints

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0 m

The Fenestre Casemate

Highlight • Trail

It divides Italy from France, and the Maritime Alps National Park from the Mercantour National Park. It can be reached from the Italian side, via an easy mule track in two hours from the Piano del Praiet.

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1.16 km

Ruins

3.82 km

Piano del Praiet

Highlight • Natural

Wide plateau leading to Colle di Finestra

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4.12 km

Rifugio Soria Ellena

Highlight • Mountain Hut

The refuge has been recently renovated, has a dining room on the ground floor, a beautiful terrace with tables and bedrooms on the upper floors. We stayed overnight in tents …

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4.80 km

View of Vallone della Barra

Highlight • Viewpoint

Coming down from the Soria Ellena Refuge you have a beautiful view of the Vallone della Barra and the enchanting mountains that surround the hamlet of San Giacomo di Entracque.

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7.18 km

Piazzale dei Cannoni

Highlight • Viewpoint

Superb viewpoint before arriving at the Ellena Refuge.

Translated by Google •

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10.4 km

San Giacomo Trailhead

Highlight • Trail

Area with parking and refuge from which you can set off on excursions of varying length/difficulty

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10.5 km

Entracque Dam

Highlight • Monument

20.5 km

End point

Way Types & Surfaces

Way Types

11.8 km

8.17 km

339 m

195 m

Surfaces

18.6 km

1.70 km

135 m

111 m

Elevation

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Highest point (2,460 m)

Lowest point (1,220 m)

Weather

Friday 9 October

8°C

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Comments

November 6, 2022,Escursione Rifugio Soria

Soria refuge then up towards the Maura lake.
But unfortunately we had to give up on a path not visible due to snow! And ice sheets! 🙂❄️

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June 17, 2023,Escursione Lago della Maura

Nice ride with the possibility of seeing many stanbecchi up close!👍

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September 5, 2025,San Giacomo -Rifugio Soria Ellena Valle Gesso

The hike to the Soria Ellena Refuge is beautiful, suitable for anyone with a certain level of fitness, as it's about 15 km long with an elevation gain of 620 meters.
It's entirely on a dirt road (also suitable for bikers), which after the first 4 km, where it climbs more gently, turns into gravel and small rocks. The gradient …

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July 18, 2022,Rifugio Soria Ellena - Cuneotrekking.com

Easy excursion both for length and height difference. All on dirt.

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April 25, 2022,Escursione rifugio Elena Soria poi Quasi al colle delle Fenestrelle

Unfortunately we were unable to reach the col due to too much snow.
But we were lucky enough to see many animals

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June 13, 2026,San Giacomo di Entracque ,Rifugio Soria Ellena,Punta Fenestrelle

Superb hike in Val Gesso. Departure from San Giacomo di Entracque, we walk along the dirt road and trail sections to the Soria Ellena refuge. We turn back a bit and take the path that leads to Colle Fenestrelle, leaving the dirt road. From the signs indicating 1h45' to the pass, we take 1h10. From here you already get a …

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May 1, 2025,Escursione Verso il colle delle Fenestrelle

We climbed up to the Elena Soria refuge, then attempted to climb up to the Fenestrelle pass, but too much non-supporting snow! Lots of stamdecchi. ⛰️🌞👍

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