Streams
Park geography
Detailed mapping of mountain peaks, forest habitats, and regional landscape features
Val Grande National Park: Structured Geographic Profile, Terrain, and Protected Boundaries
Examine the geographic characteristics of Val Grande National Park in the Piedmont region of Italy. This profile provides structured insights into the 170.21 square kilometer protected area, featuring elevation data, defined mountain ridges, and diverse temperate forest habitats.
Italy's premier Alpine wilderness area
Val Grande National Park
Val Grande National Park is Italy's largest wilderness area and one of the most significant protected landscapes in the Alps. Located in the Piedmont region of northern Italy, within the Province of Verbano-Cusio-Ossola, the park encompasses a dramatic mountain environment characterized by deep valleys, steep ridges, and extensive forested slopes that descend toward Lake Maggiore. The park's territory includes the Val Grande and Val Pogallo valleys, along with portions of the Vigezzo, Cannobina, and Ossola valleys. Established in 1992 and significantly expanded in 1998 and again in 2023, the park protects an area of approximately 17,000 hectares that has remained essentially uninhabited since the end of World War II. This combination of dramatic Alpine scenery and complete wilderness character makes Val Grande unique among European protected areas, offering visitors a rare opportunity to experience a landscape where nature has reclaimed territory previously shaped by centuries of human activity.
- Location
- Italy
- Park type
- National park
- Established
- 1992
- Area
- 170.2 km²
- Highest point
- 2,310 m
Location overview
Mapping regional placement within Piedmont and Verbano-Cusio-Ossola
Geographic Location of Val Grande National Park in Italy
Val Grande National Park is situated in Italy within the Piedmont region and Verbano-Cusio-Ossola. Regional records confirm its status as an entirely domestic, inland protected landscape.
- Countries
- Italy
- Regions
- Piedmont, Verbano-Cusio-Ossola
- Primary location
- Piedmont
- Geographic setting
- Inland
Boundary and coordinates
Interactive protected-area geometry and calculated spatial metrics
Val Grande National Park Boundary Map and Spatial Extent
Mapped boundary outlines provide spatial context for the protected area and its surrounding terrain. Accompanying facts cover derived surface area measurements, coordinate limits, and geographic spans.
- Boundary area
- 169.9 km²
- Boundary perimeter
- 184.2 km
- Northernmost point
- 46.1072° N
- Southernmost point
- 45.9364° N
- Easternmost point
- 8.625° E
- Westernmost point
- 8.2649° E
- Geographic centre
- 46.0302° N, 8.4511° E
- North–south span
- 19 km
- East–west span
- 27.9 km
Elevation and terrain
Mountain relief with twenty displayed features within
Val Grande National Park terrain and 2,310-metre high point
Val Grande National Park has mountain relief, a 2,310-metre highest point, and twenty displayed features recorded within. Saddles lead the set, with springs, streams, a river, mountain range, forest, and cave entrance also represented.
- Highest point
- 2,310 m
Selected named natural features
Streams
Rio Arsa
Streams
Rio dei Rughetti
Viewpoints
La Rupe dei Re
Streams
Rio Frua
Mountain saddles
Bocchetta dei Pianesc
1,730 m
Environmental setting
Temperate forests, mountain relief, and valley systems across recorded terrain
Val Grande National Park Environmental Classifications and Physical Settings
Recorded habitat types and landscape features serve as interpretive categories for physical relief across the terrain. Stored classifications connect specific environmental metrics to related atlas destinations where available.
- Relief
- Mountain
- Water
- Minor water
- Forest cover
- Mostly forested
Landscape features
Mountains · Forest · Valleys · Rivers
Habitat types
Temperate broadleaf forest · Temperate coniferous forest · Montane forest · Alpine meadow
Park atlas
Browse other Alpine wilderness areas and protected landscapes across the Piedmont region and beyond, tracing their geographic context.
Discover More National Parks and Protected Areas Near Val Grande National Park, Italy
After exploring Val Grande National Park, discover other national parks and significant protected areas located across the Italian Alps and surrounding regions of northern Italy. Compare their unique geographic features, conservation focuses, and regional spread to deepen your understanding of the protected landscapes connected to Val Grande's dramatic Alpine wilderness.
Nature reservePiemonte
About 20 km away#1 closest
Southwest
Riserva speciale del Sacro Monte di Varallo: Nature Reserve and Woodland Geography
Exploring the protected boundaries and forest terrain in Piemonte
Riserva speciale del Sacro Monte di Varallo is a compact nature reserve in the Piedmont region, distinguished by its Renaissance-inspired woodland and elevation above the Valsesia valley. This protected landscape combines ecological richness with historic chapel architecture, offering a study in the intersection of natural terrain, cultural heritage, and Alpine foothill geography.
- Area
- 0.217 km²
- Established
- 1990
- IUCN
- V
- Relief
- Upland
Nature reserveCanton Ticino
About 22 km away#2 closest
Northeast
Auenschutzgebiet Maggia: Protected Floodplain Geography and Alpine River Dynamics
Nature reserve located within the Canton Ticino, Switzerland
Investigate the natural topography of Auenschutzgebiet Maggia, a protected floodplain system spanning thirteen kilometers through the Lepontine Alps. This reserve provides a detailed look at how alpine hydrology maintains a diverse mosaic of gravel islands, wet meadows, and riparian forests in a high-energy mountainous environment.
Regional parkValais
About 36 km away#3 closest
Northwest
Landschaftspark Binntal: Alpine Geography and Regional Protected Area in Valais, Switzerland
Mapping deep mountain valleys and glacial alpine terrain
Landschaftspark Binntal serves as a vital protected area in the Valais Alps, showcasing a vertical sequence of ecosystems from river gorges to 3000 meter peaks. The park preserves a living cultural landscape alongside significant mineralogical heritage, offering a detailed view into the high-altitude geography and remote valleys that define this distinctive corner of the Swiss mountain landscape.
- Area
- 180 km²
- Established
- 2008
- Relief
- Mountain
- Climate
- Alpine
Nature reserveLombardia
40 km away#4 closest
East
Lago di Piano Nature Reserve: Glacial Geography and Protected Wetland Landscapes
Protected marshland basin in the Lombardy pre-Alps
Lago di Piano sits as a rare lowland wetland oasis carved by ancient glacial activity in the Lombardy foothills. This reserve preserves a complex network of floating vegetation, reed beds, and drumlin-framed valleys, providing a vital study of pre-Alpine geography and protected-area conservation within northern Italy.
- Area
- 0.72 km²
- Relief
- Lowland
- Climate
- Temperate
- Access
- Easy access
Nature reserveValais
About 43 km away#5 closest
Northwest
Aletschwald Nature Reserve: Geographic Insights and Protected Alpine Landscape Context
An ancient high-elevation forest ecosystem in the Swiss Valais.
Situated between 1,600 and 2,200 meters, Aletschwald represents one of the few remaining managed-free subalpine forests in the Alps. The reserve maps the interaction between glacial retreat and forest advancement, featuring a dense mosaic of Arolla pines, larch, and pioneer mosses across diverse lateral moraine formations.
- Area
- 4 km²
- Established
- 1933
- Relief
- Mountain
- Climate
- Alpine
Regional parkCanton of Graubünden
44 km away#6 closest
Naturpark Calancatal: Protected Alpine Valleys and Mountain Geography in Graubünden
Mapping regional landscapes and mountain terrain in Southern Switzerland
Spanning 13,900 hectares, Naturpark Calancatal protects a near-entire alpine side valley defined by the Calancasca stream. From high glacier-fed headwaters to Mediterranean-influenced gorges, the park offers a unique look at the diverse mountain terrain, alpine pastures, and protected forests within the Canton of Graubünden.
- Area
- 139.21 km²
- Established
- 2024
- Relief
- Mountain
- Climate
- Alpine
Nature reserveLombardia
About 50 km away#7 closest
East
Riserva naturale Valle Bova: An Atlas Guide to Lombardia's Protected River Valley
Karst geology, gorge terrain, and pre-Alpine forest ecosystems
This protected area centers on the Bova stream valley, a significant geological enclave featuring the Buco del Piombo cave and the Orrido di Caino fissure. The reserve terrain demonstrates the complex relationship between northern Italian river systems and pre-Alpine mountain slopes, providing a distinct geographic profile for hikers and regional researchers alike.
- Area
- 3.91 km²
- Established
- 2007
- IUCN
- IV
- Relief
- Upland
Protected areaSwitzerland
52 km away#8 closest
North
Rhonegletschervorfeld Protected Area: Alpine Glacier Geography and Mapping
Proglacial landscape and glacial history in the Swiss Alps.
The Rhonegletschervorfeld provides an unparalleled view into the geomorphology of the Swiss Alps, showcasing a continuous record of ice loss through moraines, exposed bedrock, and emerging meltwater systems. Situated near the Furka Pass, this protected area serves as an essential reference for glaciology, offering a clear visual timeline of glacier retreat that has shaped modern alpine tourism and climate science. Explore the mapped terrain where the Rhone River headwaters emerge from the retreating ice.
- Area
- 13.58 km²
- Relief
- Mountain
- Climate
- Alpine
- Access
- Easy access
MoriAtlas Explorer
Continue Your Atlas Exploration of Val Grande National Park's Geography
Deepen your understanding of Val Grande National Park by exploring its specific mapped boundaries and its regional geographic context within Piedmont. MoriAtlas provides structured data to help you navigate protected landscapes and understand their place in the broader atlas of Italian natural areas. Discover more about the park's terrain and its significance in conservation geography.
Browse next
Global natural geography
Explore related park routes
Explore MoriAtlas Global ParksBrowse All MoriAtlas ParksGlobal Park Map DiscoveryMoriAtlas: Browse All CountriesBrowse All MoriAtlas ContinentsNational Park Environment AtlasGrand Canyon National Park AtlasYellowstone National Park AtlasYosemite National Park Atlas and GeographySerengeti National Park AtlasGalápagos National Park Protected LandscapeBanff National Park Geography and AtlasKruger National Park Atlas EntryUluṟu-Kata Tjuṯa National Park AtlasExplore Uluru-Kata Tjuta National Park GeographyPlitvice Lakes National Park AtlasFiordland National Park Protected LandscapeGreat Smoky Mountains National Park AtlasAfghanistan National Parks and Protected AreasAlbania National Parks and Protected AreasAlgeria National Parks and Protected AreasAmerican Samoa National Parks and Protected AreasAndorra National Parks and Protected AreasAngola National Parks and Protected AreasAntarctica National Parks and Protected AreasAntigua and Barbuda Park List