Hike from Faedo to the Holy Lake

The Lago Santo (Holy Lake) in the Val di Cembra is the destination of our walking tour today, starting in the village of Faedo.

Map See map
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At the Fontanelle Sports Ground, above Pineta di Faedo, our walking tour starts. First we follow the marker no. 409 towards Sauch.
Foto: AT, © Peer
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Therefore we follow the forest road through the mixed forest.
Foto: AT, © Peer
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A nice place to rest.
Foto: AT, © Peer
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Always upwards, but easy to walk, the path proceed through the dense forest.
Foto: AT, © Peer
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At the Passo della Croccola we turn right.
Foto: AT, © Peer
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The partly paved path proceeds towards south-east.
Foto: AT, © Peer
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At the Lagabrun Biotope we reach a junction.
Foto: AT, © Peer
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From here on the path becomes steeper.
Foto: AT, © Peer
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Foto: AT, © Peer
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A lily of the valley by the wayside.
Foto: AT, © Peer
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The last section of the path is really rocky and steep.
Foto: AT, © Peer
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Past the riding stable “Happy Ranch”.
Foto: AT, © Peer
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Our destination - the Lago Santo.
Foto: AT, © Peer
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After a nice walk around the lake…
Foto: AT, © Peer
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… it’s time to take a rest in the mountain hut.
Foto: AT, © Peer
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On our way back we first follow the asphalt road downhill.
Foto: AT, © Peer
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Following the marker no. 414 towards Pineta di Faedo.
Foto: AT, © Peer
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Fringed pinks and buttercups near the biotope.
Foto: AT, © Peer
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The path no. 414 is quite easy to walk.
Foto: AT, © Peer
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So we reach again our starting point Fontanelle, where our circular walk ends.
Foto: AT, © Peer

Faedo is located at the eastern slope of the Piana Rotaliana in the north of the province of Trento, surrounded by vineyards and with gorgeous views on the Val d'Adige valley and the entrance of the Val di Non valley. Our starting point is located above the village, in the hamlet of Pineta. At the sports ground “Fontanelle” (760 m a.s.l., parking space) a forest path branches towards “Passo Sauch” (marker no. 409) which we follow.

The path proceeds upwards until the Passo della Croccola mountain pass. Here the paths fork. 10 minutes far away towards north, the Rif. Sauch mountain hut is located (path no. 409B, rest point), towards east path no. 409 carries on, which we follow towards the “Lago Santo”. First the path is well constructed, but then it becomes steeper and the last section (no. 414) up to the lake is really rocky.

Like this we reach our destination after less than 2 hours, the beautiful lake at 1,200 m a.s.l. After our rest in the mountain hut we discover the quiet forest lake. For our way back we first choose the asphalt road and then the marker no. 414 towards the Lagabrun Biotope. The path proceeds through the forest straight to our starting point.

Author: AT

circular route difficulty: moderate route with lake