The charm of mountain refuges lies in their magical power to refresh us in real corners of Paradise, after a beautiful and healthy walk.
But here we want to please everyone, offering a tasty selection of mountain huts and refuges for every taste and need: whether you prefer to reach them on foot, by car or cable car, there is always a special place waiting for you!
The refuges of Monte Baldo
These refuges can be reached by the Malcesine – Monte Baldo cable car and all offer excellent local cuisine and lots of mountain atmosphere. Here is the list:
Baita dei Forti refuge
Once you reach the summit, in Tratto Spino, on the right you will find the Baita dei Forti (1800 m), a typical family-run mountain inn. From their terrace you can enjoy a unique view, overlooking Lake Garda.
Here you can taste typical traditional dishes or, if you wish to stay overnight, you will find 6 rooms and a small panoramic biosauna available.
La Capannina Bar Restaurant
Once you reach the summit, in Tratto Spino, continue on foot for a few hundred meters on your left and you will find the La Capannina Bar Restaurant (1800 m). A beautiful and refined environment, ready to welcome all palates: both those who want restaurant service and those who want a sandwich with fresh beer.
Outside there is a large solarium garden for relaxing and sunbathing (without sweating!).
These refuges can be reached by the Prada – Costabella cable car and all offer excellent local cuisine and breathtaking views. Here is the list:
Fiori del Baldo refuge
As soon as you get off the cable car, on the right you will find the Rifugio Fiori del Baldo (1850 m) with a 360° panoramic view of Lake Garda, surrounded by flowering pastures. A beautiful trip, slow and peaceful, to savor the mountains.
Chierego refuge
Once you get off the cable car, continue uphill for about 15 minutes to reach Cima Costabella at 1911 m with its suggestive Rifugio Chierego.
Here breathtaking views are guaranteed and lots of hospitality with local delicacies await you.
Telegrafo Refuge
The Telegrafo Refuge is located at 2147 m, on the crest of Monte Baldo, in a magnificent position from which it dominates much of Lake Garda and the view extends 360°, intercepting the most beautiful mountain groups in Italy. This refuge is actually named after the CAI Verona member, Gaetano Barana, but everyone calls it “Telegrafo” (telegraph) because it stands just a stone’s throw from Cima Telegrafo which for many years was considered the highest peak of Baldo (due to instrumental errors of the era) and on which Napoleon’s army had placed an optical telegraph to allow long-distance communications.
The simplest route to reach it is by taking the CAI 658 path, once you get off the cable car. The route is suitable for everyone, with 440 m of altitude difference for about an hour and a half of walking.
This mountain hut can be reached by car or on foot starting from Prada di San Zeno di Montagna:
Malga Pralongo
Malga Pralongo is immersed in the heart of Monte Baldo, above San Zeno di Montagna, where you can taste local specialties and even buy home-produced cheeses. A spectacular terrace overlooking Lake Garda to the south.
You can arrive by car to Località Due Pozze, where you will find a car park, and then continue on foot for about 400 metres.
The refuges of Trentino and Valle di Ledro
San Pietro refuge – Monte Calino
A few kilometers from Riva del Garda, Arco, Torbole and Tenno, Rifugio San Pietro is easily reachable along the paths on foot and by car: from the valley floor, from Lake Tenno and from the village of Canale di Tenno. We would like to point out that by car you can reach a parking area (we recommend parking area 3, which is the closest) and then continue on foot for about 1 km uphill slightly. The walk is suitable for everyone, even for families.
Once you arrive you can enjoy a beautiful view of the northern part of Lake Garda, as well as excellent Trentino cuisine revisited in a modern key.
Damiano Chiesa refuge – Monte Altissimo
The top of Monte Altissimo (at 2059 m, in the Monte Baldo group) with its Damiano Chiesa Refuge, offers one of the most incredible views of Lake Garda, Busa Trentina and the mountain ranges that surround it.
To get there you can start from Rifugio Graziani, from San Giacomo, from San Valentino di Brentonico or from above Nago. We warn you that this is a fairly intense walk and suitable for those who are already trained. Once you arrive at the refuge, you can enjoy an excellent meal based on mountain specialties and also find accommodation for the night (they have 46 beds). Always check availability and the weather report.
Stivo refuge – Prospero Marchetti
Born in 1906 and completely renovated in 2017, the Rifugio Prospero Marchetti, located a few steps from the top of Monte Stivo at 2012 m, offers a breathtaking view of Lake Garda, Trentino cuisine and 23 beds.
One of the ways to reach it starts from Passo Santa Barbara, where you can continue by car to the obvious car park after the riding school (1235 m). Take path 608B which, after about 200 meters of altitude difference, joins path 608 (which comes from Malga Zanga) arriving at Malga Stivo (1768 m). From there continue until the refuge. Travel time is approximately 2 and a half hours.
Nino Pernici refuge
The Nino Pernici Refuge, located at 1600 meters above sea level in the Ledro Alps, acts as a bridge between Val di Ledro and Lake Garda. This refuge offers typical cuisine, bar service and has 30 beds. The recommended period to visit it is from May to October, but it also opens in the winter for snowshoeing; we recommend contacting the refuge for information on weather conditions and possible opening.
The shortest route to reach it starts from Lenzumo (TN), where you can park a few hundred meters from Malga Trat (1504 m). After passing the mountain hut, continue along a forest road up to Bocca di Trat, from where the SAT 413 path starts for the Pernici refuge. The route is 2.5 km long with a height difference of 120 metres, which can be done in around 30-35 minutes. It is suitable for everyone.
Alpine huts and refuges in Lessinia
These refuges all offer convenient parking, excellent local cuisine and a warm atmosphere. Here is the list:
Parparo Vecchio
Parparo Vecchio is a historic mountain restaurant in the high pastures of Lessinia (1406 m). A rustic and ancient environment, with cuisine that truly conquers. You will also find an external kiosk with sandwiches and appetizers. You can go up from Roverè Veronese, comfortably by car.
Malga Moscarda refuge
Malga Moscarda, on the road between Tracchi and Bocca di Selva, is located in a panoramic position at 1497 m. Excellent cuisine that respects tradition, rustic and refined environment, convenient parking for cars. A beautiful circular route starts right from here, also suitable for families.
Bocca di Selva refuge
Bocca di Selva is a beautiful refuge, recently renovated, located at 1550 m in Bocca di Selva di Bosco Chiesanuova. From succulent dishes with local specialties, to DJ sets and live music, here you will find plenty of Upper Lessinia hospitality in all seasons.
Malga Lessinia refuge
Historic point of reference of Lessinia today and yesterday, Malga Lessinia was built to provide hospitality to the troops and financiers who served along the Austro-Hungarian border of the First World War, a few hundred meters away. With the end of the war, around 1945 the structure was readapted to serve as a mountain pasture, up to the present day. The products of cheese processing are still processed and sold on site.
Dardo refuge
The Dardo Refuge (1385 m) is a small corner of paradise where you can taste the typical dishes and flavors of Lessinia. Here you can also stay in rustic rooms.
The refuge is located 4 km from Erbezzo in the direction of Castelberto, a few hundred meters from the majestic centuries-old beech trees of Monte Busino.
Lausen refuge
Historic mountain hut in Lessinia, the Lausen Refuge (which in Cimbrian means “House of the Oxen”) is located at 1220 m, a few km north of Velo Veronese. The cuisine, simple and genuine, offers Trentino dishes and traditional dishes from Lessinia. The shelter also has 22 beds.
These refuges, however, can be reached via beautiful and panoramic walks and always offer local delicacies and a lot of Lessinian atmosphere. Here is the list:
Malga Malera refuge
Malga Malera (1561 m), whose original structure dates back to 1800, is located 1.3 km from the car park in San Giorgio di Bosco Chiesanuova. It can be added on foot in all seasons, even in snow, via an itinerary suitable for everyone. Here you can taste all the typical dishes of the Veronese mountains.
Castelberto refuge
The Castelberto Refuge (1765 m) is a former military barracks from 1915 located on the old Austro-Hungarian border. Here you can eat local specialties such as Cimbrian gnocchi or polenta with cured meats and cheeses, or even have a simple snack break with a good homemade cake or a cold beer.
Arrive in Erbezzo (VR) and from there continue towards the Castelberto refuge. After a few km the road becomes a white dirt road until it leads you to a sign that prohibits motor vehicles from continuing, with a small car park next to it. Park and continue on foot for 1.5 km and approximately 60 m of altitude difference, uphill on the outward journey.
Primaneve refuge
On the top of Monte Tomba at 1766 m, there is the Primaneve refuge, the highest in the entire Lessinia Natural Park. From here you can also see Lake Garda!
You can reach it in about an hour’s walk, with a 200 m difference in altitude. Family-run, you can taste excellent local dishes prepared with top quality ingredients.
So, pack your backpack or start the engine, and let yourself be won over by the authentic flavors and breathtaking views that the beautiful Garda refuges guarantee you. Every path leads to a new adventure and every refuge is a promise of relaxation and good food.
Bye dear Outdoors!
Silvia Turazza
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