A short autumn hike to the Eremo di San Colombano and Lago di San Colombano in the Bassa Vallarsa near Rovereto
Image gallery: Hike to the San Colombano Hermitage
Our path to the Vallarsa gorge and to the Chiesa di San Colombano starts at the junction to Trambileno along the road between Rovereto and the municipality of Vallarsa. The ancient San Colombano Hermitage was built into a rock wall and is one of the most important landmarks of the region.
We follow the signpost Eremo di San Colombano and descend to the valley where we cross the bridge over the Leno di Vallarsa stream and ascend the 102 steps to the hermitage. It is said that this place was inhabited by the first hermit already in the 8th century and abandoned 1,000 years later. The church dates back to the 10th century.
We return along the same route until we reach the crossroads where we proceed along the path to Lago di San Colombano, an artificial lake known for its elongated shape. After a 5-km walk we arrive at the point where the Leno stream flows into the lake. Now in autumn, the coloured leaves are reflected in the water, offering a marvellous natural spectacle.
The Hermitage is open from 14 August to 27 September 2026 from 10 am to 6 pm.
Date of the hike: 7 October 2017
Last updated in: 2026
Author: AT
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- Starting point:
- SS46 near Trambileno, bus stop "Eremo di S. Colombano"
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- Overall time:
- 02:15 h
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- Total route length:
- 6,2 km
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- Altitude:
- from 261 m to 303 m
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- Altitude difference (uphill | downhill):
- +121 m | -121 m
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- Signposts:
- Eremo
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- Destination:
- Eremo di San Colombano, Lago di San Colombano
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- Recommended time of year:
- Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec
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- Download GPX track:
- Hike to the San Colombano Hermitage
If you want to undertake this hike, we recommend checking the weather and trail conditions in advance and on site before starting this hike!
