SNOWSHOES: THE MOST BEAUTIFUL EXCURSIONS

An easy route suitable for beginners, too. These two lakes are true gems nestled in an Alpine scenery of great beauty: the landscape ranges from Pale di San Martino to the Marmolada, from Rosengarten to Latemar...  The route takes off shortly past Passo Rolle (Malga Rolle), a flat path without dangers, with road signs and usually well-trodden, about 2 hours round-trip.

A scenic route from Passo Rolle in San Martino through the Plains of Cavallazza, a part of Paneveggio-Pale di San Martino Nature Park and a place where you can observe herds of pasturing chamois. With departure before Passo Rolle (Malga Fosse, also accessible with the ski bus), the trail is usually trodden, but with no road signs. An intermediate to beginner’s hike for everyone, about 4 hours long.

Altopiano delle Pale is one of the most unusual places in the Dolomites: a plateau of 50 sq. km of bare rock, in winter covered by metres and metres of snow, suspended more than 2500 m above sea level and surrounded by towering peaks that hide it from view. A 360° view all the way up to the peaks of Austria. You can reach it from San Martino di Castrozza with the Colverde-Rosetta ski lifts. From where the cable car lets you off, you can climb to Cima Rosetta, in about 15 minutes downhill, you will reach the Rifugio Pedrotti alla Rosetta (refreshment open on Saturdays and Sundays), or can tackle longer tours through the plateau up to the glacier of Fradusta or to Cima delle Scarpe. An Alpine environment that requires knowledge and appropriate clothing!

One of the most fascinating trips for an excursion with snow rackets is the Val Venegia. Set at the foot of the Pale San Martino (Trentino Dolomites), above the summits of Mulaz and Cimon della Pala, Val Venegia is the  jewel in the crown. Its name is linked to Venice: at the time of the Serenissima the logs of these forests reached the city of the Doges with a long river voyage.  Secular woods, majestic peaks, this is the Val Venegia, one of the most delightful corners of the Dolomites, loved by hikers for its incomparable scenery.It is located at the edge of the Paneveggio Forest, one of the most prestigious spruce forests of the Alps, where the trees reach remarkable heights and the timber is a valuable asset.  These forests are also known as the Violin Forest because for centuries the wood has been used for the construction of musical instruments. Departure from Passo Rolle parking area at the former Segantini chairlift 1950 m; uphill on foot to Segantini hut at 2200 m from where you can admire an incredible view of the north chain of the Pale di San Martino.  From there begins the descent through the Val Venegia to the Venegiota hut at a height of 1835 m., to then continue through the valley along the Travignolo stream that runs as far as the Venegia hut where you will eat lunch based on typical products at a discounted price. From there you continue downhill to Pian dei Casoni at 1700 m where the bus will be waiting for you in the car park at 16.00. A walk to the foot of the north chain of the Pale di San Martino and into the beautiful Paneveggio forest known as the violin forest; Val Venegia is renowned for being one of the most beautiful valleys of Trentino. Tour of the Val Venegia without stopping at the hut with return to Passo Rolle The same tour without staying at a hut takes place in reverse from the car park of the Segantini chairlift ascending towards the Malga Juribello and then descending to Val Venegia to the Venegiotta hut and travelling up the entire homonymous valley to Baita Segantini to then descend to Passo Rolle to the point of departure. Full-day excursion, packed lunch. Travelling anti-clockwise Or ascend to the Segantini hut, descend to the Venegiotta hut in Val Venegia then reascend to the Juribello Passo Rolle hut. 

A full day snowshoe hike in true Alpine spirit, which takes place on the plateau of Pale di San Martino. With gorgeous all-round mountain views in a desert of white dunes and total silence. Departure from the end stop of the Rosetta cable car, heading East, and then we climb up to Passo Pradidali Basso, conquering Cima Scarpe. We make our way back circling the trail to the cable car. This excursion takes place between 2500 and 2800 m a.s.l., so remember to wear appropriate clothing, sunscreen and sunglasses.

A full day snowshoe hike, which takes place on the plateau of Pale di San Martino.
The plateau of Pale di San Martino in winter takes on a unique conformation, with huge meringues of snow and wind-carved entrails. The way to get to the glacier is a gentle up and down that makes you feel as though you were on the moon. Departure from the end-stop of the Rosetta cable car, heading towards the glacier of Fradusta, walking in a circle to return to the cable car. An Alpine-nature hike that takes place
between 2500 and 2700 m a.s.l., so don’t forget to wear proper clothing, sunscreen and sunglasses.

A one-day long snowshoe hike near Passo Rolle.
Departure from Passo Rolle, climb up to Capanna Cervino to then climb to the sunny and panoramic summit of Castellazzo.
A magnificent peak that dominates all the valleys, formerly a strategic point during the great war, with views of the North chain of the Pale and Dolomitic chains, and of the Lagorai. The Cristo Pensante (or “Meditative Christ”) was placed here not too long ago.

Starting from Rolle, the first mountain hut you encounter is Malga Rolle, from where the proposed track starts and from where, descending a gentle slope through the snowy pasture in a north-west direction for approximately 400 meters, you reach the Rio Costoncella crossing. Having crossed the river, you ascend the slope sideways towards the western-most edge of the Malga Costoncella pasture, which is reached with a wide path, avoiding the maximum slope to make it less tiring to approach and to avoid two small damp habitats downstream of the malga. This first 1.5 km journey includes a natural area with no existing roads.  From Malga Costoncella begins a stretch of forest road that gently climbs the slope for approximately 900 meters in the direction of departure of the Castellazzo chairlift.  Shortly before reaching the ski facilities, it bends north and enters the forest road leading down to Malga Juribello in approximately 1.6 km.  From Malga Juribello you continue towards the Pian dei Casoni and Val Venegia, first by following a path through the pasture and then entering the "Piani di Juribello" forest path to the car park of Pian dei Casoni at the entrance to the Val Venegia.  From here, in 1.2 km, you can reach Malga Venegia.

The track completely follows an existing trail. Start at the Malga Rolle car park (1892 m.) and after approximately 200 m  on a forest road, follow summer trail no. 348 for approximately 2 km with a slight altitude difference. The trail is almost entirely through the woods, with a north-west exposure, crossing a beautiful coniferous forest with glimpses both of the Pale di San Martino and of the Lagorai. The whole track has gentle slopes that also allow access to less trained participants. There are only a few short sections where the slopes exceed 10%. The end of the track runs slightly upstream of the two Colbricon lakes and ends at the homonymous refuge.