Guided trek crossing the Brenta Dolomites from Lake to Lake

Guided trek crossing the Brenta Dolomites from lake to lake

Guided hiking tour from Tovel lake to Molveno lake, crossing the Brenta Dolomites from north to south.

A guided itinerary which in just 5 hiking days will take you to the discovery of less-beaten and more authentic trails in Brenta Dolomites’ mountain range, UNESCO world heritage, from Tovel lake to Molveno lake.
The crossing of Brenta group through its central section will allow you not only to discover the scenic value of the famous mountain range, but also the wild territories that surround it: woods, rocky paths, exciting overviews of the two lakes, main characters of the itinerary.

From Tovel lake, in the heart of Adamello Brenta Nature Park in Val di Non, you will reach Molveno lake which in 2010 has been awarded by Legambiente with the highest recognition for its environmental quality, the conservation of water and its ecosystems.
Thanks to the presence of a UIAGM Mountain Guide, you’ll have the opportunity to learn more about the historical and naturalistic features of the location, to deepen your knowledge about the cultural aspect of the valleys and, of course, to walk the itinerary safely.

Program details:

• Day 1 - TOVEL 
  Meeting in Cles at 4 pm, private transfer to Tovel lake, accommodation in a mountain hut. At sunset the mountains reflected in the lake turns pink and orange: a scenic start, just as much as the trail that awaits us.
   
• Day 2 - PASSO GROSTÈ
  Ascent: +1300m. Descent: -50m. Distance: 14km. Hiking time: 5h30
  We say goodbye to the crystal clear waters of Tovel lake and we get ready to walk the first stretch of the tour, the longest and most challenging one. The trail leads us in the woods right away, in an isolated environment very different from the lake’s shores. The pasture around the first mountain dairy of the day welcomes us for a brief stop after about an hour of walking. We keep on going in the direction of Malga Flavona, slightly climbing up and admiring the lake from the top, reaching the dairy, a little gem set in a wide grassland. The trail, slightly climbing up, takes us to witness the scenic and isolated rock formations of Turion Basso and Turion Alto, two peaks in Val di Tovel which emerge from the plain: especially the Turion Basso reminds of the mountains in Grand Canyon, or a modest version of the australian Ayers Rock. Proceeding, the landscape around us changes, the alpine pastures and wooded expanses give way to a barren environment: we’re getting closer and closer to the heart of the Brenta group. With a last uphill stretch we reach Passo Grosté and, after crossing over it, we can see the long waited hut. Dinner and overnight stay in hut (2438 m).
   
• Day 3 - BRENTEI 
  Ascent: +680m. Descent: -940m. Distance: 12km. Hiking time: 5h30
  After a restful night, it’s time to face the second leg of the crossing: today the path will get us through the central section of the Brenta Dolomites, the most famous and crowded one. We start the morning by slowly descending, walking on an easy and scenic path which looks down to Vallesinella. In the distance, we can notice Corna Rossa, a group of vertical walls and red towers, a spider web of climbing routes, outlined and baptized by the greatest: Bruno Detassis and Natale Vidi, among all others. We keep on going towards the heart of Brenta group, reaching as a first step Tuckett mountain hut (2272 m), set in a strategic location and starting point of many via ferratas and itineraries. Here, our daily hike gives us its second perfect spot for a break: Brentei mountain hut (2182 m), historically managed by Bruno Detassis himself - the “guardian of Brenta” - and recently renovated. The internal stained glass window overlooks Crozzon di Brenta (3135 m), while the outdoor terrace offers a privileged overview of Adamello group and Presanella peak (3558 m) in the distance. The path keeps on ascending and we keep on walking towards Rifugio Alimonta (2580 m), set in the most famous rocky amphitheater of Brenta group, crossroads of many itineraries which lead to Vedretta degli Sfulmini and the starting point of the most famous via ferratas. From Alimonta hut we taste the last descent of the day, landing in the place which will host us tonight. Dinner and overnight stay in hut (2182 m).
   
• Day 4 - BOCCA DI BRENTA
  Ascent: +760m. Descent: -520m. Distance: 10km. Hiking time: 4h30
  From the hut we start ascending, leaving the green mountain pines behind and we penetrate in a barren environment, typically dolomitic. The way to Bocca di Brenta climbs up along a bumpy slope, the signage gets easily lost because we’re moving on screes. A brief trait of an equipped path helps us to get over a big rocky step: we can already see the Bocca, while we proceed in the presence of Campanile Basso (2883 m) and Cima Brenta Bassa (2803 m), who are scouting us from above. We push ourselves over a last uphill stretch, until we reach Bocca di Brenta (2552 m), from which we see in the distance Adamello and Presanella, turning our gaze behind. In less than ten minutes we reach the Tosa-Pedrotti mountain hut (2491 m): we can rest for a bit and enjoy the view. Cima Brenta Alta (2962 m) is watching over us. Beyond the hut, we start walking again and soon we see a wilder view opening up, a less crowded space as compared to the central core of Brenta: the bright green of medium altitude’s vegetation is mixed up with the shining white rocks. After the pass, which we won’t cross, we know to be the splendid Val di Ceda. We keep on walking on the historical Palmieri trail, until we reach our destination. Dinner and overnight stay in hut (2410 m).
   
• Day 5 - NOGHERA FORK AND VAL DI CEDA
  Ascent: +145m. Descent: -1165m. Distance: 8,5km. Hiking time: 4h30
  Today, a long descent from the heart of the Brenta Dolomites is waiting for us. From the mountain hut we will follow the Palmieri path towards the Forcolotta di Noghera (2423m), a crossing point between Val d'Ambiez and Val di Ceda: the high altitude environment here is still barren, rocky and arid, the silence reigns over the land. Beyond the Ceda Pass (2223m) we will begin to descend quickly among screes, in one of the wildest environments of the Brenta Dolomites. Step by step we can enjoy the first glimpses of Lake Molveno at the bottom of the valley, continuing past the Malga Ceda Alta. Dinner and overnight stay in hut (1357m).
   
• Day 6 - SELVATA AND CROZ DELL'ALTISSIMO 
  Ascent: +510m. Descent: -510m. Distance: 8,5km. Hiking time: 3h30
  A conclusion not too demanding, but satisfactory thanks to the beauty of the places and the different types of terrain crossed. Our day will begin on a pleasant slightly exposed and, for a short stretch, equipped path: you will meet along the way the hut named Selvata (1630m), the first opportunity to stop at the foot of the unmistakable Spallone dei Massodi, and then the hut Croz dell'Altissimo (1430m), particularly appreciated by athletes who run the Brenta Dolomites Trail in September. Here the mountain range shows again its wildest side: rocky paths passing through expanses of larches, fir trees and mountain pines, along the invisible line which separates the low from the medium altitude. The trail will lead us to Pradel Plateau, a panoramic terrace that offers a wide view over Lake Molveno, which is now very close. If the weather allows it, we can observe a particularly "crowded" sky: paragliding is the most popular sport in the area, as well as an exciting show. From Pradel we will return by cable car to Molveno, where our adventure will end. Dinner and overnight stay in hotel.
   
• Day 7 
  Return of luggage and private transfer back to Cles. Departure.

Additional clarifications

The program could be changed at discretion of the Campo Base Team / UIAGM Mountain Guide based on weather conditions and forecasts, mantaining however inalterate the basic structure and the aims of the proposal.