Chasing gnomes along magical trails
7 walks for children in a magical and fun-filled world
The “Once upon a times” in Trentino are countless. Re (king) Laurino, Fata (fairy) Gavardina and the Talking Cricket of the Val Lomasona, roll down from their mountain top, cloud or crest to play hide-and-seek along a number of magical trails.
These are the Fairy-Tale Trails, fun and easy and to be enjoyed by the whole family. Behind tree and outcrops, magical figures peep out, or maybe you’ll come across some new games to try: an enchanted castle to explore, ropes for climbing, trunks to be drummed and green seas of grass to be photographed.
And then of course, a race up to the mountain hut, made of wood, stones and colourful balconies. The perfect place to end a perfect day, something out of a fairy tale.
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Sentiero degli Animali, Val di Fassa
Beloved by children, this path on Alpe Lusia is called Tana, dolce tana (“Den, sweet den”). The route features hidden animal statues, games and little woodland animal hideaways which you can peek into. Great for all ages, even infants in all-terrain buggies.
Fairy tales in the wood, Alpe Cimbra
Have you ever imagined, walking through the woods, what it would be like to suddenly bump into Rapunzel, the witch from Hansel and Gretel, or the ugly duckling? All of these characters have been sculpted into wooden statues by a variety of artists, and can be visited along this trail, at the feet of the Vigolana. Its 3 km length makes it accessible to all, so children can see the carvings while their parents read the fairy tales to them.
The Fondovalle Nature Trail, Val di Ledro
Once upon a time there was a fairy named Gavardina who would cheer up the inhabitants of the Valle di Ledro with her melodious songs. One day however, overwhelmed by the hustle and bustle of the modern world, she decided to hide away in a cave until… the rest, as they say, is history or rather a story that you’ll discover along the Fondovalle Nature Trail in the Val Concei. Besides the search for “Fata Gavardina” there’s the wizard of the Val Rendena and his elves and a tasty break at the Rifugio Al Faggio!
The “Labour, fairies and witches” trail, Val di Non
Animals and characters from fairy tales and legends all cleverly sculpted from wood along a trail that winds it ways between the hamlet of Preghena and the woods of the Val di Non. A round trip along the “Il lavoro, le fate, le streghe” trail recounts the lives of mountain people and their traditions, all in an enchanted landscape. Remember to bring your picnic basket, there are plenty of great spots for a tasty break.
The Dragon's Forest, Val di Fiemme
In the Forest of Dragons, on the Latemar slopes, the path leads to the discovery of clawed footprints, strange magical fruits, stones of fire and fragrant treasure chests. There is also a “Dragon’s Egg”, a nest resting on the roots of 3 larches planted upside down to support it. The hike is easy and also suitable for strollers.
The Vaia Dragon, Alpe Cimbra
On Alpe Cimbra, in Lavarone, there is six-metre-high and seven-metre-long creature: the Vaia Dragon. An imposing sculpture built with what was left of the forest destroyed by the Vaia storm (29 October 2018). In August 2023 the Dragon was destroyed by human hands who set fire to it, leaving only ashes and wounds in its place. But Europe's largest wooden dragon is reborn at the beginning of summer 2024.
The Magic of the Woods, Piana Rotaliana
An enchanted path comes to life on Monte di Mezzocorona. Along the last stretch that leads to the Malga Kraun Hut, you enter “The Magic of the Forest”, an itinerary of wood sculptures carved from rooted trunks, and end your journey at the centuries-old monumental silver fir called “Candelabro”.
