Pradel – Rifugio Croz dell’Altissimo – Molveno

MODERATE • 4 hours total • moderate elevation gain uphill, longer and more sustained descent

• Departure: Upper cable car station, Pradel (Molveno)
• Stop: Rifugio Croz dell’Altissimo
• Arrival: Molveno (after the descent from the refuge)
• Target: Hikers, families with children/teens used to walking
• Suitability for children: Recommended from age 8-10 and up, with good walking stamina. Some sections are challenging and not suitable for a stroller (a baby carrier is fine for younger children)

What it’s about

A perfect hike if you’re looking for postcard-worthy views, ideal for a day out with friends or as a couple. From the top of the cable car in Molveno, follow trail SAT 340 to Rifugio Croz dell’Altissimo, in the heart of the Brenta Dolomites. The route then continues downhill to the center of Molveno, completing a loop excursion.The

“wow” moment: when the forest opens up and the vertical walls of the Brenta Dolomites suddenly appear before you.

Recommended food stop

Lunch at Rifugio Croz dell’Altissimo, with a view of the Dolomites

When to go

Open until mid-October; check in advance for the refuge’s autumn closing date or any days off

Did you know…

The Brenta Dolomites, visible from here, are the only Dolomites west of the Adige River and are part of the Dolomites mountain group recognized as a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

N.B.: Many mountain huts and refreshment points reduce their activity or gradually close towards the end of the season. Please check each venue’s actual opening days before publishing and repeat the check periodically throughout the period from September to November 1st.

Take advantage of the autumn openings

EASY / FAMILY • Half day / full day • no elevation gain, equipped area at altitude

• Departure: Pradel cable car upper station
• Arrival: Forest Park, Pradel plateau
• Target: Families with children, groups
• Suitability for children: Designed specifically for children: differentiated routes by age and skill level, from the youngest to teenagers.

What it’s about

More than a hike, a day of pure fun at altitude: this isn’t a walking trail, but an activity to experience with the whole family. The treetop adventure park offers routes of varying difficulty for adults and children, which can be paired, for those who wish, with a short walk along the Sciury Trail.

Recommended food stop

Ristorante Cirmolo, at Hotel Piccola Baita — the perfect way to end the day with mountain cuisine.

Recommended period

Forest Park remains open every day until September 13, then continues on September weekends, closing the first weekend of October.

Did you know…

Modern adventure parks like Forest Park use continuous belay systems: the carabiner never fully detaches from the cable, not even when moving from one platform to another, making the route safe even for first-timers.

A full day of carefree fun at altitude: the perfect choice for those looking for a light activity to enjoy together, adults and kids alike.

N.B.: Many mountain huts and refreshment points reduce their activity or gradually close toward the end of the season. Check each venue’s actual opening days before publishing, and repeat the check periodically throughout the period from September 1 to November 1.

The 3 Photo Spots Trail

EASY • 1h30 – 2h (round trip) • limited elevation gain, dirt path

• Departure: Pradel cable car upper station
• Waypoint: the three photo frames placed along the route
• Arrival: The Bear of Pradel, artwork by Marco Martalar
• Target: Families, amateur photography, all levels
• Suitability for children: Excellent for children of all ages. Even, packed-dirt surface, also suitable for trekking strollers (a baby carrier is still recommended for the youngest).

What it’s about

A walk through the woods that turns into an unforgettable encounter: the Bear of Pradel, a wooden giant 6 meters tall, born from the force of the Vaia storm and reborn through the hands of Marco Martalar. Along the way, three scenic viewpoints invite you to stop, breathe in the landscape, and capture the perfect shot.

In autumn, the forest changes face every day: the leaves light up in yellow, orange, and red, offering ever-changing scenery to experience and photograph. Snap a photo, share it, and tag us: the most-liked photo will win a free day pass for a day of sledding on the snow next winter.

Recommended food stop

Rifugio La Montanara, just 200 meters from the Bear — a scenic stop overlooking the Brenta Dolomites and Lake Molveno.

Recommended period

Autumn is the ideal season, with the warm afternoon light enhancing the colors of the woods along the trail.

Did you know…

Over 2,000 pieces of larch root, recovered after the 2018 Vaia storm, gave life to the largest wooden bear sculpture in the world: 6 meters tall and 8 meters long. It’s no coincidence that it stands right in the “Tof dell’Ors” — the bear’s knoll, as it has always been called in the local dialect. Three photos, a wooden giant, a breathtaking view. Get ready to capture the most shared photo of the autumn.

N.B.: Many mountain huts and refreshment points reduce their activity or gradually close toward the end of the season. Check each venue’s actual opening days before publishing, and repeat the check periodically throughout the period from September 1 to November 1.

The Kiss and the Bear: by Martalar

EASY • 2h30 (combined mountain + village route) • comfortable ascent by lift, scenic descent on foot

• Departure: Pradel cable car lower station
• Arrival: Molveno historic center
• Target: Families, art and local culture enthusiasts
• Suitability for children: Very suitable for children: the ascent is by lift, and the descent on foot is also gentle and without particular difficulties.

What it’s about

You ride comfortably up by cable car and chairlift to Pradel, where the majestic Bear of Pradel awaits. Then you walk down through the woods until you reach Molveno’s historic center, discovering The Kiss, the artist’s latest sculpture — a silent dialogue between nature and village, between two works born from the same hands.

The “wow” moment
Encountering two of Martalar’s sculptures in the same day: the first immersed in the forest, the second in the heart of Molveno.

Recommended food stop

Casina Bruniol, along the walking descent, the ideal stop for a tasty break before reaching the village.

Recommended period

A perfect itinerary in every season, including the shorter days of late October, thanks to the lift-assisted ascent that shortens walking time.

Did you know…

The Bear of Pradel also has its own legend. Its story has become a book, a little fairy tale to discover and take home as a souvenir of the trip.

Two sculptures, one single day, a thread connecting forest and village: the perfect day for those who love art and nature together.

N.B.: Many mountain huts and refreshment points reduce their activity or gradually close toward the end of the season. Check each venue’s actual opening days before publishing, and repeat the check periodically throughout the period from September 1 to November 1.

From Molveno to Rifugio La Montanara

MODERATE • 2h – 2h30 uphill on foot, downhill by lift • about 700 meters of elevation gain

• Departure: Molveno cable car parking lot
• Waypoint: Rifugio La Montanara
• Arrival: Molveno cable car parking lot
• Target: Hikers with a basic level of fitness
• Suitability for children: Suitable for children used to walking (roughly from age 7–8): the final stretch toward the refuge is steeper and requires a bit of stamina.

What it’s about

From Molveno, you climb up from Via Belvedere and, through a trail immersed in the woods, reach the Pradel plateau. A final, steeper stretch brings you to Rifugio La Montanara, a true panoramic balcony overlooking the Brenta Dolomites and Lake Molveno. The return trip is made comfortably by lift down to Molveno.

The “wow” moment

Climbing up from the valley and watching, step by step, first the lake and then the entire Brenta range open up before you.

Recommended food stop

Rifugio La Montanara, the destination of the hike itself, with a panoramic terrace perfect for a refreshing break before heading back down by lift.

Recommended period

Best done by October; the final stretch can become slippery with the first autumn rains.

Did you know…

The refuge’s name recalls “La Montanara,” the famous mountain song composed in 1927 and adopted by the SOSAT choir of Trento. Translated into as many as 148 languages, it has become a true anthem of alpine culture worldwide.

A walk that climbs through the silence of the forest and suddenly opens onto one of the most beautiful views of the Brenta Dolomites.

N.B.: Many mountain huts and refreshment points reduce their activity or gradually close toward the end of the season. Check each venue’s actual opening days before publishing, and repeat the check periodically throughout the period from September 1 to November 1.

A Day… in Stages!

CHALLENGING – equipped section • 6–7 hours total (full day) • long route with ups and downs, section equipped with cable/handrail

• Departure: Pradel cable car upper station
• Waypoints: Croz dell’Altissimo, Rifugio Selvata, Malga Andalo
• Arrival: descent to Molveno (Donini trail or standard trail)
• Target: Experienced hikers, good fitness required
• Suitability for children: Not suitable for children, unless they are already used to challenging hikes: there is an equipped, exposed section that requires via ferrata gear and specific experience.

What it’s about

The most complete and demanding route on offer: from Pradel you reach Rifugio Croz dell’Altissimo, then continue on to Rifugio Selvata and Malga Andalo. The final descent to Molveno can be made along the equipped Donini trail — more direct, but with an exposed section secured by cable, for which harness, helmet, and carabiner are recommended — or, for those who prefer an alternative without equipped sections, by following the standard trail down to Lake Molveno.

The “wow” moment

A day that crosses four different environments of the Brenta Dolomites: from forest to rock face, from a high-altitude refuge down to the lake, with the equipped section offering an authentic taste of high mountain terrain. A day… in stages! Here even the stops are part of the experience: breakfast at Rifugio Croz dell’Altissimo, lunch at Rifugio Selvata, a sweet break at Malga Andalo, and once you reach the Ciclamino area, a well-earned toast at Baita Ciclamino. And to finish in style, why not treat your feet to some relief along the Kneipp path near the hut?

Recommended period

To be tackled with stable weather conditions, roughly until mid/late September. The equipped section requires particular caution in case of rain, wet ground, damp leaves, or low temperatures.

Did you know…

The equipped trail is named after Celeste Donini, a Trentino mountaineer who, in the 1930s and ’40s, helped — together with historic figures such as Bruno Detassis — build the Alta Via delle Bocchette, today considered one of the most beautiful via ferratas in the entire Alps.

Four refuges, four stops, one great day on the Brenta Dolomites. The challenge for those who want to experience the mountains to the fullest.

N.B.: Many mountain huts and refreshment points reduce their activity or gradually close toward the end of the season. Check each venue’s actual opening days before publishing, and repeat the check periodically throughout the period from September 1 to November 1.