Hike to the Rifugio Canziani at the Lago Verde

This hike in Val d’Ultimo valley gives us an amazing view on the surrounding 3,000-metre peaks

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Our starting point, the Lago di Fontana Bianca reservoir at the end of the Val d’Ultimo valley.
Foto: ED, © Peer
At the beginning the path leads through a light larch forest.
Foto: ED, © Peer
If you are doing this hike with children, you will also find numerous opportunities to take a break and recharge your batteries.
Foto: ED, © Peer
Numerous paths lead here through the Val d’Ultimo valley. The Val d’Ultimo High Trail also passes here.
Foto: ED, © Peer
The timberline is almost reached and the landscape gets an alpine character.
Foto: ED, © Peer
The path now leads a little steeper uphill.
Foto: ED, © Peer
Fantastic view on the surrounding alpine world.
Foto: ED, © Peer
At more than 3.000 metres, there is already snow and we can feel the slightly cooler air that blows here.
Foto: ED, © Peer
We have almost reached our hiking destination for today.
Foto: ED, © Peer
The Lago Verde lake shimmers in its most beautiful colours.
Foto: ED, © Peer
Finally arrived at the Rif. Canziani mountain hut!
Foto: ED, © Peer
Up here the weather is not as good as in the valley, but we don’t mind that at all. The view on the three thousand metre peaks and Lago Verde rewards the efforts!
Foto: ED, © Peer
The Lago Verde is situated at an altitude of 2,529 m a.s.l., has a surface of 24 hectares and a water depth of about 80 metres.
Foto: ED, © Peer

Our tour starts at the parking space of Lake Fontana Bianca (Weissbrunnsee, 1,885 m a.s.l.) where also the Val'Ultimo road ends. We take the marker no. 140 and pass the restaurant on the right side. The path leads us up and after 20 minutes we reach the first turnoff, we walk into the direction of "Lago Verde" (Green Lake, or Grünsee).

We leave the timber line behind us and the path gets steeper and steeper. But the landscape and the surrounding mountains are wonderful so that we forget the effort. It's a warm and sunny day in autumn, but on the peaks there is already snow. Now we have reached the 2,500 m level and the air is quite cool, but we can already see the Rifugio Canziani mountain hut (Höchsterhütte) and are looking forward to enjoying a warm drink there. After almost two hours we finally reach the Green Lake and enjoy the amazing color of the water. Now we know why this lake has its name! The Canziani Mountain Hut is situated at 2,560 m a.s.l., here we have a wonderful view to the surrounding mountains: Mt. Cima Sternai (3,443 m a.s.l.), Mt. Cima Sternai Meridionale (3,385 m a.s.l.), Mt. Cima Fontana Bianca (3,253 m a.s.l.) and Mt. Gioveretto (3,439 m a.s.l.).

After a rest in the hut we start our way back. This mountain hike can also be continued, e.g. to Lago Lungo lake (literally: Long Lake, 2,340 m a.s.l.) or until the Passo Rabbi (Rabbi Joch, 2,449 m a.s.l.). The hut is also base for tours to the glacier or hikes to the surrounding alps and huts in the neighboring Trentino.

Author: ED

difficulty: moderate route with lake alpine hut route