Lake Smeraldo

Lake Smeraldo is an artificial bathing lake amidst dense forests at 1,000 m a.s.l. near the village of Fondo in the Alta Val di Non. The lake was realised in 1965 by blocking the flow of the Rio Sass and measures a surface of 10,000 sq m. Its name recalls the shining shades of emerald green which are brought out especially by the summer sun and the light-blue sky. Over the last years, the stunning body of water in the mountains has become a suggestive attraction and a well-known bathing destination for locals, visitors and recreational fishers. The lake features a small beach with a picnic area, benches and two refreshment areas and can be surrounded by walking along a path on the lakeshore. It is easily reachable by car or on foot from the centre of Fondo.

The Val di Non is also known as the Valle dei Canyon (valley of canyons) and the itinerary from Fondo to Lake Smeraldo runs along one of them. The path sentiero "Al Burrone" with a length of 1 km can be covered in a little more than an hour and follows the flow of the Rio Sass. This suggestive itinerary was excavated over the course of time by the aforementioned Rio Sass and is immersed in a magic and suggestive landscape where visitors can admire an ancient sawmill, the Roman bridge of Fondo (ponte romano di Fondo), as well as a little waterfall that flows from the lake into the Rio Sass at a crossroad in the narrowest spot of the path.

We highly recommend to undertake this walk in summer. Lake Smeraldo is a particularly appreciated destination also for many athletes, as its surroundings boast numerous paths. One of them leads to the Falesia Marino Stenico, a natural climbing centre with climbing routes of various difficulty levels. In winter, the lake is covered by a sheet of ice and becomes a beautiful ice rink. In the immediate vicinity, there is also the Palasmeraldo, an indoor ice rink.