If you are not put off by elevation gain, if you want boundless views and turquoise waters beyond imagination, and if you want to test yourself on a trail that is, all in all, easy and manageable, there is no better hike. You will go from the idyllic landscapes of Val Duron to the sheer walls of the Antermoia, from the incredibly blue waters of Lake Antermoia to the expanse of rock leading to the Vajolet.
Start: roadside parking in the upper part of Campitello di Fassa / Micheluzzi hut, reachable by shuttle bus (recommended!)
Although it is a fairly simple route without difficult sections, it certainly requires fitness and care. Our advice is to take the shuttle bus for the first stretch up to the Micheluzzi hut (1,860 m) to avoid the first 400 metres of ascent.
The first stretch, in the heart of Val Duron, will be a real stroll – or an excellent warm-up. After Baita Lino Brach, however, things get tougher along trail 578 to Lake Antermoia. Here the path starts to climb, through a sparse larch forest and then across pastures. It climbs steadily but never excessively, and there are no exposed or dangerous sections.
You cross a couple of passes with breathtaking views over the approaches from the other valleys. These are perfect spots to stop and catch your breath before the next climb.
Above 2,200 metres, a completely rocky section begins, leading through a series of tight hairpins towards the Dona Pass. Here the view suddenly opens onto the Lake Antermoia basin, visible in the distance. A narrow path along the mountainside takes you to the hut in a few hundred metres.
On fine sunny days the sky here takes on unimaginably intense shades of blue. With every step your gaze takes in different views and colours.
The deep blue of the small lake makes you want to dive in after the long effort – but don’t! The ecosystem of alpine lakes is extremely delicate: it must be carefully preserved and admired from the rocks. The surrounding peaks seem to protect it, but they can do little against the onslaught of tourists.
Continuing north beyond the lake, you can cross a very wild rocky plain along the path to the Vajolet hut. You will want to stay and never leave – but the time comes to head back to the car.
The return is easy, almost restful. The sun’s path across the sky will cast new shadows and highlight new details and colours: the trail you walked in the morning will look different in the afternoon. Until Val Duron welcomes you again, flat, green and warm. If your feet allow it, you can skip the shuttle bus and walk back down from the Micheluzzi hut – though we warn you, the descent is a little dull.
