Finding yourself in front of a gigantic natural monument that suddenly appears there after a nice walk in the woods, this is the feeling you get as soon as you reach Val Venegia.
This stunning side valley is located in the heart of the Paneveggio Pale di San Martino Natural Park and is exactly on the border that divides the territory of "San Martino di Castrozza" from that of the Val di Fiemme, in Trentino Alto Adige of course.
Always disputed for its beauty, it can be easily reached by car going up from Bellamonte di Predazzo, coming down from Passo Rolle or coming down from Passo Valles (access from the Veneto side).
Val Venegia is the valley that extends right at the foot of the Pale di San Martino and allows you to climb in altitude following the course of the Travignolo stream, a stream of crystal-clear water that originates from the Travignolo Glacier located on the Pale.
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To quickly understand what other area of the world it can be like, think of Canada, majestic peaks in the background, magnificent forests and streams of crystal clear water.
The classic postcards of Canada can be experienced in reality in Val Venegia especially if you decide to explore it far and wide without limiting yourself to the main points.
How to Get There
Let's get right to the heart of the important issues, how to reach Val Venegia.
This side valley can be easily reached from Val di Fiemme going up from Predazzo, or from San Martino di Castrozza reaching Passo Rolle or from Falcade going down from Passo Valles.
To access Val Venegia, park your car in the dedicated parking lot, which is a paid parking lot (link to the map).
Alternatively, you can park directly in Val Venegia, but the price increases to €7 per car and spaces are limited . We recommend parking directly in the valley only for elderly people or families with very young children.
During high season (July to late August), it's best to arrive at the car park before 9am to ensure you find a spot and avoid being left empty-handed.
Being a famous and magnificent destination, it's very popular, so there's a risk of having to return home without finding a parking space. Furthermore, parking outside of designated areas and along the road is not recommended, as we're in the middle of a natural park and you could end up with a fine or even have your car towed away.
What to see and what to do in Val Venegia
Now that we have understood where Val Venegia is and how to reach it, we only need to understand what to do and what to see in this Trentino valley.
First of all we can tell you that probably one day is not enough to discover all that Val Venegia has to offer, there are many beautiful corners and above all it is a valley that invites you to calm and relax, so we recommend that you visit it without haste.
Val Venegia is a large natural amphitheater, once the day is reached it can be organized in a different way according to tastes, objectives of the day and physical preparation. Most of the tourists who go up to Val Venegia visit the 2 huts that are located here and walk the paths that run along the pastures, where there are free cows, or they go down to the sweet bank of the Travignolo stream where they can rest lulled by the flow of the river. water.
Malghe of Val Venegia
Malga Venegia - 1764 m
It is the first mountain hut you meet once you arrive in Val Venegia and dominates the pastures to the left of the main path. It takes its name from the Valley and is in effect its reference point.
Often in malga venegia you stop for a break on your return from excursions but it is also the main destination for those who want to stop for lunch surrounded by green meadows and a magnificent view of the Pale di San Martino.
The menu offered is typical of a high altitude hut, no sophisticated dishes but excellent delicacies of the Trentino culinary tradition. From canederli to the famous alpine dishes that accompany polenta and mushrooms to sausage or grilled cheese. This is a very popular place so reservations are recommended.
In the surroundings of the malga you can stop to sunbathe, relax and enjoy the magnificent surrounding panorama.
Malga Venegiota 1824 m
The main road that leads to Val Venegia continues to climb with an optimal slope for all walkers (young, old, children) until it reaches the second most popular destination, the Venegiota hut.
Located at 1824 meters above sea level, it offers a different view from the "competitor", less wide but closer to the Pale di San Martino, so close that it seems to be able to touch them with a finger.
The interior of the mountain hut is very small and offers only a few seats, often used only in bad weather. The large outdoor terrace features numerous wooden tables where you can enjoy lunch or a snack after a summer hike. From traditional dishes like dumplings in broth or mushroom soup (from locally sourced mushrooms) to delicious Trentino cakes, you'll find everything you need for a relaxing break.
It's the perfect destination for those who want to get close to the Pale di San Martino but don't want to venture further into the hike, or for those returning and finding the refuge as their first available stop.
It's also an excellent destination for families with children, as the mountain hut is located in a wide, green valley. Cows graze here , and marmots have their dens in this large meadow, nestled between the forest and rocks.
Marmots are not so easy to see in the high season (August) but they are continually heard with their cute whistles.
If the peaks of the Pale di San Martino, the verdant meadows and the larch forest are not enough as a postcard, there is also the travignolo stream that descends here and cradles the rest at the Venegiota hut with a magical relaxing sound.
It is advisable to bring a windbreaker because Malga Venegiota is located in a valley that is not always kissed by the sun, its altitude of 1800 meters makes you feel the fresh mountain air that descends from the peaks of the Dolomites.
Excursion to Baita Segantini
Val Venegia is already a complete destination in itself, but it is one of the starting points for the excursion to Baita Segantini.
Precisely at Malga Venegiota that we have just described you will find the indications to start the most intense ascent of this valley, from here the green landscape of pastures and woods gives way to a slightly less green and more rocky landscape.
The vegetation becomes less and less dense and the path makes its way through the large boulders that have come down to the valley from the Pale di San Martino over time.
The trail is clear and easy , but from the Malga Venegiota it is not recommended to continue with strollers.
You walk right at the foot of the Pale di San Martino , whose scree slopes seem to stretch out towards the green valley, almost as if they wanted to embrace it.
The landscape is marked by the peaks that now become predominant in the panorama until you can clearly see the snowfields and the Travignolo glacier (which tries to resist climate warming).
The gentle sound of the torrent that flows from the glacier's snows accompanies us, and halfway along it merges with a small green plateau dotted with a few larches.
Often this space on the slopes of the majestic white peaks of the Dolomites is chosen for a high altitude picnic.
Once past this last green clearing, the climb becomes more steep and the hairpin bends mark the path that leads us to the Segantini hut at an altitude of 2300m.
It is on the last bend that you see this small hut, now a small refuge, mainly for tourists, which has become an icon of the Pale di San Martino and more generally of the dream landscapes of the Dolomites.
This Alpine hut , with its small structure made of stone and wood, is perfectly immersed in the amphitheatre of the Pale di San Martino which stand out here in all their splendor with the Cimon della Pala towering above everything and closing the skyline as if it were a signature in nature.
As if that weren't enough, the Segantini hut has a small lake on its side where the peaks of the Pale di San Martino are reflected .
One of the world's top photography destinations , the world's best photographers come here to capture the most breathtaking moments nature has to offer, such as sunsets or the magnificent starry skies the mountains have to offer.
The cabin has some seating inside but mostly has outdoor tables where you can stop for lunch (reserved for customers).
Often in the nearby lawns many stop for a sandwich or snack brought from home, all with an extraordinary view.
In high season, it's a very popular area , perhaps one of the most crowded in the Dolomites. If you prefer peace and quiet, it's best to avoid the period from mid-July to late August.
Where to sleep
If you are planning a trip to Val Venegia there are 2 areas in particular where you can find hotels and apartments quite close to the valley.
Bellamont
The first is Bellamonte, a fraction of the municipality of Predazzo in Val di Fiemme. From here the Val Venegia is about 15 minutes by car.
The name Bellamonte is not accidental, it comes from the beauty of this hamlet located at 1500 meters nestled between the flowery meadows, the peaks of the Lagorai and the Paneveggio Natural Park.
Passo role
The other area to stay is Passo Rolle at 2000 meters. Here, however, the number of structures is smaller and you cannot count on a real center and services such as a supermarket or other.
However, it is a magnificent mountain pass just a stone's throw from the Baita Segantini , from which you can begin the path that leads to Val Venegia.
Passo Rolle is the destination chosen by many photographers for the opportunity to photograph the Pale di San Martino at sunset and the starry sky.
For a family with children or for those looking for quality accommodation, Passo Rolle is not the ideal place, Bellamonte is preferable as it offers a greater tourist offer.
Predazzo or San Martino di Castrozza
If you are willing to travel a little further to reach Val Venegia in exchange for the possibility of finding more hotels and apartments to stay in, then you can opt for Predazzo (Val di Fiemme) or San Martino di Castrozza.
The two villages are located on opposite sides and are real mountain centers with all the services available. They are the 2 most popular destinations because they allow you to have a greater choice of structures and save a little.
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