Trentino Alto Adige always has a lot to offer in every season of the year. You never run out of new places to explore in this region! Beyond the classic hikes in the Dolomites, there are many mountain trails with varying levels of difficulty. If you decide to spend your next holiday in this area, you’ll be spoilt for choice. But which are the must-do trekking routes? We want to recommend the 5 most beautiful trekking routes in Trentino Alto Adige. Roaming the mountains will inspire you even more to reach the peaks, discover new paths, and enjoy all the beauty of the mountain landscape. And there’s nothing better than having lunch in charming mountain huts after a challenging walk. Don’t forget the option of being guided by professional mountain guides for a fuller and safer experience. Here are our 5 most beautiful trekking routes. Choose the one that inspires you most and set off on an adventure!
Table of Contents
- Trekking on Cima Paganella
- Trekking in Val di Fumo
- Trekking in the Valle dei Mocheni
- Trekking in the Parco Naturale Gruppo di Tessa
- Trekking on the Renon Plateau
1 - Trekking on Cima Paganella
Located between Lake Garda and the Brenta Dolomites, Cima Paganella is well known and frequented in winter for its very long ski slopes. In summer, however, there are several alpine huts to reach, and the trekking we recommend is the one leading to the summit of this beautiful mountain. The hike starts from the town of Fai della Paganella and continues through beautiful green forests, along one of Trentino’s panoramic trails. Along the way, you’ll find real “balconies” at high altitude, but a mandatory stop is definitely the Belvedere. Here, the view opens on the Adige Valley, Cembra Valley, Latermar, Catinaccio, and finally the Sella Group. Once you reach the summit, the wonders don’t end: with a 360° view, you can admire the famous Dolomite groups and even Lake Garda. At the top, there is an important meteorological station. Starting on foot from the village of Fai or Andalo, you can also quickly reach the summit of Paganella with the lift. This convenient shortcut allows you to immediately embark on another even more surprising route: the Sentiero delle Aquile (Eagles' Path). From Cima Paganella, after an easy initial stretch, you need to be a bit careful walking beside the void, but a steel cable helps during the climb. At a certain point, the trail completely changes and passes through a natural cave to the Canalone Battisti. Continuing the trek for another thirty minutes, you can reach the Throne of the Eagle. For the return to the summit of Paganella, it’s recommended to take the beautiful Botanical Trail.
Back to table of contents
2 - Trekking in Val di Fumo
A little-known and still untouched valley, probably one of the most beautiful in all Trentino: we are talking about Val di Fumo, an extension of Val di Daone, also called “little Canada.” There is a fairly easy hike to do that leads to Lake Bissina, in the heart of the Adamello Brenta Natural Park. The trail crosses many pastures, among water mirrors and waterfalls, in a very evocative natural landscape. Trail no. 240 starts near the Bissina dam; in about forty-five minutes of walking, you pass the lake, and after more than an hour and a half, you will reach Rifugio Val di Fumo. Along the route, there are many meadows, flowering fields, and also animals grazing. The background soundtrack is the rushing water, present in several spots with some small waterfalls creating water plays along the entire trail. The lake water is so clear that all the surrounding mountains are reflected in it. Once you reach the opposite shore of the lake, you must follow the signs to the hut, among some slippery rocks because of the water. Climbing the valley alongside the Chiese river, you leave the woods and find yourself on very green pastures. Finally, crossing the river through the valley floor, you quickly arrive at the valley hut, at 1,997 meters altitude. In a panoramic position, right in the center of the valley, Rifugio Val di Fumo is the ideal destination for both curious hikers wanting to explore the Adamello Group and fishing enthusiasts.
Back to table of contents
3 - Trekking in the Valle dei Mocheni
A genuine “enchanted valley,” that’s how Valle dei Mocheni is described. Full of trails and landscapes all to be discovered, with a very ancient history surviving today in a mysterious Germanic language still present in the signage names. The uncontaminated nature everywhere among the woods, clearings, and alpine pastures is unparalleled. The climb to Lake Erdemolo, at 2,005 meters altitude, is an unmissable hike—and it’s easy to see why. At early summer, the rhododendron bloom takes place; their unmistakable bright pink color and delicate scent create a magical effect all around the lake, often still covered by snow and ice even in August. It’s ideal for a nice refreshing footbath after an intense walk. For those wanting to enrich the trekking, we recommend reaching Rifugio Sette Selle, in the Logorai chain, which is not far from the lake. The hike starts from the parking lot of Palù del Fersina, in località Vrottn, a starting point for various hiking trails in the valley. From here, take trail no. 343 towards the hut. After a good lunch, we recommend retracing the same trail up to the beginning of trail no. 324, which leads directly to Lake Erdemolo. After greeting the lake, you take trail no. 325 to return to the parking lot.
Back to table of contents
4 - Trekking in the Parco Naturale Gruppo di Tessa
From Trentino, we move to Alto Adige, to a still little-touristy valley. Yet Val Passiria is a much sought-after destination also for many non-expert hikers, because inside the Parco Naturale Gruppo di Tessa there are many gentle zones accessible to all. There are also remarkable peaks and strategic huts to stay overnight. And how can we not mention the Alta Via della Val Passiria, surely among the most beautiful hikes in all Alto Adige. About an hour’s drive from Merano, the village of Moso in Passiria is a perfect base for many mountain walks. A small gem is Malga Lazins, at the foot of Cima Altissima. To reach it, you take a very easy walk starting from the Plan-Pfelders parking lot, one of the Alpine Pearls with soft mobility. The village of Plan is indeed closed to non-resident traffic and, at the same time, easily accessible. A dirt road leads towards the head of the valley, through flat stretches full of spectacular larches. You can decide to make this walk lasting just under an hour and a half, taking both trails on the right and left of the stream. Our advice is to follow signs for the characteristic Lazinserhof farmhouse, at 1,772 meters, and stop there to enjoy a typical South Tyrolean lunch. From the farmhouse, continue with a slight climb towards Malga Lazins, nestled in a strategic position. In summer, the hut is full of cows brought here to graze during the whole nice season. The landscape is stunning; you will be surrounded by very tall mountains without much effort. This is an ideal destination for those wanting a relaxing holiday in Alto Adige and it’s paradise for children.
Back to table of contents
5 - Trekking on the Renon Plateau
If boundless horizons are your passion, you cannot miss the Renon Plateau, in every season of the year. Not far from Bolzano and easily reachable, Corno del Renon is the highest point of the plateau, from where you can admire, all at once, all the Dolomites of Alto Adige: the Odle Group, the Latemar, the Catinaccio, and Sass de Putia. The ideal route starts from Collalbo, the village at the base station of the cable car. For those wanting to do less effort, especially families with children, we recommend taking the cable car, saving a lot of elevation meters. Otherwise, you just have to start the climb to Corno del Renon via trail no. 7. You cross an irrigation basin, then arrive at a small refreshment point. The panorama is already vast, the perfect place to enjoy something sweet and recharge your energy. Then continue along trail no. 2, through wide meadows, small farms, and some grazing cows, until Rifugio Feltuner Hütte and Rifugio Corno di Sotto. However, lunch can wait because you haven’t yet reached the most spectacular point. With a final little effort, all uphill, you will finally reach Corno del Renon at 2,259 meters altitude, via trail no. 1. From there, enjoy a vast, endless panorama. Before heading back down, a stop at Cima Lago Nero is recommended, where there is a small artificial lake and a true pine labyrinth to get lost in and forget the time. Another option is to walk the Cieloronda, a panoramic circular path that from Lago Nero will let you discover all the small mountain huts present on the plateau.
Back to table of contents