Hike to the Strino Lakes

Our hiking tour today is not a circular walk, starting and final point are not the same. Therefore we set off by two cars. Our starting point is the Passo del Tonale mountain pass where we hike to the Rif. al Fontanino at the Lago di Pian Palù lake in the Val di Peio. We recommend to schedule about half an hour more for the tour, so that somebody can drive to the final destination by car and pick up the hikers. An alternative route is the circular path to the Strino Lakes which is easier and leads you back to the starting point at the Passo Tonale again. But today we have decided to do the first version.

The Valbiolo Chair Lift takes us from the Passo Tonale to the Malga Valbiolo, where our hike starts. We follow the path no. 161, along the steep ridge which is called Alpe del Tonale. We reach a wide saddle and enjoy the gorgeous panoramic view on the entire Presanella Group and the Val di Sole valley. We descend to the hollow where still remains of the “Città Morta” (dead town) are visible, a large camp from WWI.

We continue our hike until we reach a junction and follow the signpost towards the “Laghetti di Strino-Bocchetta di Strino” (no. 137). After a nice rest at the lakes we follow path no. 137 towards Bocchetta di Strino, a mountain pass and highest point of our tour today, until the Rif. Fontanino mountain hut. Attention, the descent is quite steep and rocky. But the little mountain lake and an unforgettable view on the peaks of the Stelvio National Park make tit really worth hiking. You get to see the Monte Cevedale, with 3,769 m the third-highest mountain of the Ortles Group, the Monte Vioz (3,645 m asl.) and the Punta San Matteo (3,678 m asl.).

Alternative: instead of ascending from the lake district to the Bocchetta di Strino Pass, you can hike back on path no. 137 and 137A towards the Strino Fortress. There, a comfortable and well-signposted path proceeds through a beautiful larch meadow. Between green meadows, the starting point of the hike can be reached again. So the Strino Lakes can also be discovered within a circular walk. This alternative trail is 16 km long. The walking time is 6 hours, covering 970 metres of ascent and 1,305 metres of descent (maximum altitude: 2,600 m).

Author: Giacomo Roccabruna