Gran Paradiso, in the Western Alps of Italy’s Valle d’Aosta and Piedmont regions, is Italy’s oldest national park, established in 1922. It began as a royal hunting reserve created by King Victor Emmanuel II in 1856 to protect the Alpine ibex, which had been hunted almost to extinction. Every Alpine ibex alive today descends from the small population that survived here.
At a glance
| Best time | June to September (summer); May and October for ibex at lower altitude |
| Getting there | About 1.5 to 2 hours by road from Turin |
| Time needed | 2 to 4 days |
| Big draws | Alpine ibex, marmots, chamois, bearded vultures, golden eagles |
| Good for | Hikers, families, photographers |
Alpine ibex
- By the early 1800s, fewer than about 100 Alpine ibex survived, all in the Gran Paradiso massif. Protection allowed numbers to grow, and ibex from here were used to restore populations across the Alps. Today there are around 50,000 in the Alps. See our Alpine ibex profile.
- Males have huge curved horns, and fights between males in the autumn and early winter rut are dramatic.
- In summer, ibex graze at high altitude; in spring and autumn, they come lower and are easier to see.
Other wildlife
- Alpine marmots: whistle warnings from burrows in the high meadows.
- Chamois: agile goat-antelopes on steep slopes.
- Bearded vultures: reintroduced to the Alps, now nesting in the park. See our bearded vulture profile.
- Golden eagles, ptarmigan, black grouse and alpine choughs. See our golden eagle profile.
- Wolves have returned to the park in recent years.
Best valleys
- Valsavarenche: trails to the Nivolet Plateau and mountain huts; excellent for ibex and marmots.
- Valnontey (Cogne): easy walks, the Paradisia Alpine Botanical Garden, and ibex on the slopes.
- Val di Rhêmes and Valle Orco (Piedmont side, including the Nivolet road).
When to go
- May to June: ibex and chamois at lower altitudes; spring flowers.
- July to August: high meadows, marmots, hiking season; ibex higher up.
- September to October: autumn colours; ibex descending.
- December: the ibex rut, in snowy conditions.
Tips
- Start early: animals are most active in the morning.
- Keep your distance and never feed wildlife.
- Bring layers: mountain weather changes quickly.
- Stay in mountain huts (rifugi) for sunrise wildlife watching.
Frequently asked questions
Where is the best place to see ibex in Gran Paradiso? Valsavarenche and the Nivolet Plateau, and around Cogne’s Valnontey.
When is the best time to see ibex? Late spring and autumn, when they come down to lower slopes.
Are marmots easy to see? Yes, in summer they are common in high meadows.
Can I see wolves in Gran Paradiso? Wolves have returned, but sightings are rare.
Related guides
- Abruzzo: Marsican bears and wolves
- Rewilding Europe
- Banff and Jasper wildlife guide
- Animal profiles: Alpine ibex, Bearded vulture, Golden eagle
Cover photo: Alberto Peracchio, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons