Guided Trek from Lake Tovel to Lake Molveno hiking through the Brenta Dolomites

The hut-to-hut itinerary that we propose is a 6-day mountain traverse that leads you into the authentic heart of the Brenta Dolomites, a UNESCO World Heritage Site and one of the most iconic mountain groups in the Alps.

Your journey begins at Lake Tovel, a breathtaking alpine lake in the Adamello Brenta Nature Park. It is famous for its crystal‑clear waters that shift from emerald green to deep turquoise. From here, the route takes you across the entire central section of the Brenta range, walking beneath legendary rock towers such as the Campanil Basso, until you reach the shores of Lake Molveno, regularly awarded as one of the most beautiful and cleanest lakes in Italy.

Throughout the traverse, you experience the incredible diversity of the Brenta landscapes: quiet forests, rocky paths, remote high valleys and wide-open panoramas over towering dolomitic walls. Along the way, unforgettable views of Lake Tovel and Lake Molveno accompany you as you proceed with the hike.

This tour is ideal if you are looking for an authentic mountain experience far from the busiest routes - an opportunity to explore quieter trails, discover hidden corners and enjoy the pure, wild charm of the Dolomites.

With a certified UIAGM Mountain Guide at your side, you travel safely and enrich your journey with deeper insights into the natural, geological and cultural heritage of the valleys you cross. Your guide helps you interpret the landscape, understand the geology of the Brenta Dolomites and uncover the stories behind the places you encounter along the way.

Program details:

• Day 1
  Arrival in Val di Sole and check-in in 3* hotel. 
   
• Day 2 - TOVEL 
  Ascent: +710m. Descent: -310m. Altitude: 800 - 1200m. Distance: 11km. Hiking time: 4h.
• In the morning a private transfer takes you to Val di Tovel. Your first hiking day begins in this majestic valley of the Brenta Dolomites. The Glare trail surprises you with a succession of different landscapes: small woods, streams, ephemeral lakes and above all the bare white rock that characterizes the lower part of the valley. Once you reach the lake, you can have lunch and leave your backpacks at the hut before embarking on the exciting walk around the lake. Lake Tovel is one of the symbolic destinations of the Brenta Dolomites and every corner amazes in a new way. At sunset the mountains reflected in the lake turns pink and orange: a scenic start, just as much as the trail that awaits us. Dinner and overnight stay in hut.
   
• Day 3 - PASSO GROSTÈ
  Ascent: +1300m. Descent: -50m. Altitude: 1170 -  2440m. Distance: 14km. Hiking time: 5h30.
  You say goodbye to the crystal clear waters of Tovel lake and get ready to walk longest and most challengin leg of the tour. The trail leads you 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 you for a brief stop after about an hour of walking. You keep on going in the direction of Malga Flavona, slightly climbing up and admiring the lake from the top. The trail, slightly climbing up, takes you 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 you changes, the alpine pastures and wooded expanses give way to a barren environment: you are getting closer and closer to the heart of the Brenta group. With a last uphill stretch you reach Passo Grosté and, after crossing over it, you reach the hut. Dinner and overnight stay in hut.
   
• Day 4 - BRENTEI 
  Ascent: +680m. Descent: -940m. Altitude: 2050 -  2580m. Distance: 12km. Hiking time: 5h30.
  After a restful night, it is time to continue the crossing: today the path gets you through the central section of the Brenta Dolomites, the most famous and crowded one. You start the day by slowly descending, walking on an easy and scenic path which looks down to Vallesinella. In the distance, you 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. You keep on going towards the heart of Brenta group, reaching as a first stop Rifugio Tuckett, set in a strategic location and starting point of many via ferratas and itineraries. The route continues unitl you reach Rifugio Brentei, historically managed by Bruno Detassis himself - the “guardian of Brenta” - and recently renovated. The internal stained glass window overlooks Crozzon di Brenta, while the outdoor terrace offers a privileged overview of Adamello group and Presanella peak in the distance. Dinner and overnight stay in hut.
   
• Day 5 - BOCCA DI BRENTA
  Ascent: +760m. Descent: -520m. Altitude: 2150 - 2560m. Distance: 10km. Hiking time: 4h30.
  From the hut you start ascending, leaving the green mountain pines behind and enter a barren environment, typically dolomitic. The ascent to Bocca di Brenta includes a short section of an equipped trail. During the hike, you can admire the famous Campanile Basso and Cima Brenta Bassa, who are scouting you from above. From Bocca di Brenta, you can admire in the distance Adamello and Presanella, two very popular peaks of the region. The itinerary continues toward an even wilder environment, a less crowded area compared to the central core of Brenta: the bright green of medium altitude’s vegetation is mixed up with the shining white rocks. You keep on walking on the historical Palmieri trail, until you reach your destination. Dinner and overnight stay in hut.
   
• Day 6 - NOGHERA FORK AND VAL DI CEDA
  Ascent: +145m. Descent: -1165m. Altitude: 2420 - 1380m. Distance: 9km. Hiking time: 4h30
  Today, a long descent from the heart of the Brenta Dolomites is waiting for you. From the mountain hut, you backtrace the Palmieri path until the Forcolotta di Noghera, 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, you begin to descend quickly among screes, in one of the wildest environments of the Brenta Dolomites. Step by step you can enjoy the first glimpses of Lake Molveno at the bottom of the valley. Dinner and overnight stay in hut.
   
• Day 7 - SELVATA AND CROZ DELL'ALTISSIMO 
  Ascent: +510m. Descent: -510m. Altitude: 1350 - 1660m. Distance: 9km. Hiking time: 3h30
  A conclusion not too demanding, yet deeply satisfying thanks to the beauty of the landscapes and the variety of terrain you cross. Your day begins on a pleasant, slightly exposed path with a short equipped section that leads you to Rifugio Selvata — your first stopping point at the base of the distinctive Spallone dei Massodi. You then continue toward Rifugio Croz dell’Altissimo, where the Brenta group once again reveals its rugged character: rocky trails winding through stretches of larches, firs and mountain pines. In the final part, the route brings you to the Pradel Plateau, a panoramic terrace offering a wide, breathtaking view over Lake Molveno before you descend by lifts to Molveno, where your adventure comes to an end. Dinner and overnight stay in hotel.
   
• Day 8
  After breakfast, check-out and departure.

Program details - Group departure: 

The group departure follows the same itinerary, but does not include hotel accommodation before the hike. The meeting on the first hiking day is scheduled at 9:00 am in Cles.

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.