AUTUMN AT HIGH ALTITUDE AMIDST BRIGHT COLOURS AND SERENE MOMENTS OF SILENCE

Autumn is the time of year when the mountains regain their silence. This silence envelops gorges, ravines, cliff faces and is interrupted only by the whistling of marmots or the bellowing of deer, the sound of the wind, or a rolling stone. The sound keeps us company while we contemplate the sunset or the dawn from the terrace of a mountain hut or when we walk along the trails in the early hours of the day and the crisp air keeps our senses awake. Before reaching higher altitudes, we experience the transformation from vibrant greens to intense, warm shades such as yellow, orange, red and gold, of beech, birch and larch. In this season, it is still possible to ascend to one of the many mountain huts which are opening for longer this year. In some cases, the mountain huts are open until the end of October. Spending one or more nights at the foot of the cliffs of the Trentino Dolomites, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, is a truly special experience.

In Garda Trentino, at the Rifugio San Pietro
From the stone arches and porticoes that open onto the narrow lanes of the medieval hamlet of Canale di Tenno to the panorama of the Riva basin and Lake Garda from the balcony of Rifugio San Pietro, this is the perfect place to enjoy all that the season has to offer. The beautiful landscape surrounding Canale di Tenno can be easily discovered thanks to a route that winds through nature, olive trees and lush beech forests on Monte Calino or Monte San Pietro up to this mountain hut created from an ancient hermitage with a small church dedicated to the Martyred Apostle, dating back to the 13th century. The building was later transformed in the 1930s into a small mountain hut overlooking a natural terrace with a spectacular view of Alto Garda. Visitors can start from the village of Ville del Monte and follow a cobbled road, with clear traces of the wagon wheels that have travelled along it for centuries, up to the village of Canale di Tenno. From the quaint square in the village, where time seems to have stood still, follow trail marker 406 through the woods to Bastiani. From there, it is a short walk to the hut, which is also suitable for families with children who can meet the animals on the small educational farm and enjoy the many games available. On the way back, you can either retrace the same route or, from Bastiani, follow the marker for trail 406A, which descends to Lake Tenno and from there back to Ville del Monte. The bright yellows of the beech forests at the height of autumn, blending with the turquoise blue waters of this lake, is a sight to behold.

Within the ancient chestnut groves of the Brentonico plateau
Castione is a cluster of houses on the northern edge of the Brentonico plateau, in the heart of the Monte Baldo Nature Park, overlooking the Lagarina Valley. Famous for being the birthplace of several generations of master stonemasons, the municipality of Brentonico is also a land of stunning chestnut trees. The area is surrounded by centuries-old, majestic trees, whose foliage becomes tinged with gold in the autumn months. These chestnut trees offer a prized and delicious autumn product that is now protected - the Marrone di Castione (Castione chestnut). Between Brentonico and Castione, you can take a path to admire these natural wonders and the bright colours of autumn. Starting from the car park near the Santa Caterina sports field in Brentonico, follow a dirt road to the ruins of Dosso Maggiore Castle. After the ruins, the path continues downhill towards the village of Castione among the ancient chestnut trees. Don't miss the Festa del Marrone (Chestnut Festival) organised by the Castione Municipality and the Consorzio di Tutela del Marrone (Chestnut Protection Consortium) in October in the village. In the Monte Baldo Nature Park, another route that immerses itself in the bright colours of autumn is one that climbs from Festa di Brentonico in about 1h 30' to the Malga Campei mountain hut, a panoramic point over Vallagarina and the Valle dei Laghi.

At the Malga di Romeno and on Monte Roèn
In the upper Val di Non, above the expanses of apple orchards, the dense forests gradually stretch up to the summits of the main peaks where the eastern slopes plunge towards other cultivated land - the expanses of vineyards and orchards of the Adige Valley and Bassa Atesina. To the south of the Mendel Pass, a plateau is home to the Malga di Romeno alpine pasture at the foot of the panoramic peak of Monte Roen, on the border with the Province of Bolzano. This can be accessed by taking the easy path that starts at Campi di Golf and can be reached from the Mendel Pass. This is a woodland walk that takes around 1h 40' and is particularly spectacular in autumn. The Malga di Romeno can also be reached by car along the road that climbs up from the village of Amblar. From here, it takes just 45 minutes to reach the panoramic peak of Monte Roen, following trail no. 500 that climbs among the mugo pines that pepper the summit. The summit offers a vast panorama and can also be reached by taking a short via ferrata on the eastern side that starts at the Oltradige mountain hut, about twenty minutes from the Malga di Romeno. Open every day until the end of October and then at weekends, it also has three rooms for those who wish to stay overnight and wake up at dawn to admire the sunrise that lights up the rocks of the Brenta Dolomites on the horizon.

On the paths of the Adamello Brenta Nature Park
Two spectacular high-altitude lakes, San Giuliano and Garzonè offer crystal-clear waters, reflecting the intense colours of the autumn sky and are home to the prized Arctic char, a cold-water fish. The horizon is a scenic and superb backdrop of majestic mountains, the peak of Presanella and other minor peaks, sprinkled with the first snow. All around the area is an explosion of colour, with the striking yellow-to-orange hues of hundreds of larch trees. To really feel part of this picture-perfect landscape, start from Caderzone Terme spa in Val Rendena and climb for several kilometres to the car park before the pastures of the Malga Campo mountain hut. Before the path bends to the west towards the slope above the Genova valley and from where the upper part of the Nardis waterfalls can be seen, there is plenty of time to stop and admire the Brenta Dolomites to the east. Upon reaching the old Malga San Giuliano hut, and immediately after the first of the two spectacular lakes, it is possible to stop at the cosy, high-tech San Giuliano mountain hut, open until 26 September and then at weekends until 2 November. You can also visit the ancient church-sanctuary built right on the lakeshore in the 14th century which is dedicated to the saint who, according to legend, survived the bite of vipers. The stones of the lake are purported to still have this power. San Giuliano is the patron saint of Caderzone, and in the church of San Biagio, he is represented by a statue holding two vipers. For the return journey, it is recommended to continue to Bocchetta dell'Acqua Fredda. You can admire the lakes from above and, just past the plateau view the entire main chain of the Brenta Dolomites. Then the descent begins, first past the Vacarsa lake, then Malga Campostril and finally to the car park.

Autumn colours at the foot of the Catinaccio Group
The route starts from Campitello di Fassa and runs through Val Duròn, an Alpine valley between the Catinaccio and Sassolungo Groups. Coming out of the forest, where the larch trees put on a show in the sunshine, the first stop is the Micheluzzi mountain hut. Then, the valley opens up and becomes a succession of mountain pastures, dotted with small huts. Between them winds the Ruf de Duròn and further on, you can choose different directions and destinations. The first is a gentle climb up the entire valley to the Duron Pass to admire the peaks of Sassopiatto and Denti di Terrarossa and to look out over the pastures of the Alpe di Siusi. The second is a more demanding climb to gain altitude up to the Ciaregole Pass, where you can stop for refreshments and admire the Dolomite horizon. Afterwards, resume the ascent up the slope to the Dona Pass. From here the peaks of Sassolungo, Marmolada, Piz Pordoi can be seen in full display. At this stage, the end destination is near, with the Antermoia mountain hut and its small lake just a few minutes away with turquoise waters, at the foot of a majestic circle of vertical walls. You can stay overnight at the mountain hut, which is open until 17 October. There is also the possibility of climbing the Catinaccio di Antermoia along a spectacular via ferrata, or crossing the silent Lausa plateau down to the Gardeccia basin.

… and in the Val Canali valley in the Pale di San Martino mountain group
The route that goes as far as the Treviso mountain hut and Campigol d'Oltro allows you to discover this beautiful valley with striking views of the peaks of the southern sector of the Pale di San Martino mountain group. Start from the Cant del Gal restaurant car park (1,180m), and after an initial stretch on an asphalt road, continue parallel to the Canali stream until you cross it. The forest now opens up to reveal wonderful views of the imposing peaks of Oltro and Lastei, Sedole and Sasso delle Lede from the steep slopes, where it is easy to observe groups of chamois. Climbing towards the historic Treviso mountain hut, at the foot of the Vallon delle Mughe and the Pala del Rifugio, the horizon widens to include all the peaks at the head of the valley. To reach Campigol d'Oltro, cross a forest of beech and coniferous trees, which are brightly coloured in autumn. The "Dei Tedeschi" trail also runs through the beech forests and leads back to the starting point. This circular route takes about 3h 30’ and covers a difference in altitude of just over 500 metres.

The mountain huts provide the perfect base to savour the flavours of autumn
Enjoy being welcomed in a mountain hut, and from here, begin your exploration of local products. This is the idea behind "I Rifugi del Gusto", which returns to a dozen mountain huts in Val di Fassa from 18 September to 3 October. All these huts can be easily reached thanks to the numerous ski lifts that are still open. The refuges involved in the initiative are: Rifugio Castiglioni Marmolada in the Fedaia Pass, Rifugio Ciampedìe, Baita Cuz, Rifugio A. Fronza alle Coronelle, Rifugio Fuciade Rifugio Sasso Piatto, Rifugio Roda di Vael, Rifugio Salei, Rifugio Stella Alpina Spiz Piaz, and Rifugio Vallaccia.
For more information: www.fassa.com

Further info: https://www.visittrentino.info/en/articles/special-autumn/scenic-autumn-hikes

Trentino media room: https://www.visittrentino.info/en/press