The Malga di Lauregno, Malga di Brez and Malga Castrin can be linked on a spring circular walk
Image gallery: Circular tour of the huts in the Upper Val di Non
We leave our car at the car park on the Passo Castrin, which connects the Val d'Ultimo in South Tyrol with the Val di Non. The nearest villages, Lauregno and Proves, are part of the German-speaking area of the Upper Val di Non. From the Trentino side, the pass is accessible from Fondo and Castelfondo. The car park, at an altitude of 1,663 metres, is located right by the tunnel, making it easy to find. We are aware that at this altitude, there can still be snow during our hike in May, and the mountain huts, which serve wonderfully hearty dishes in summer, are still closed.
On the upside, it is quiet and idyllic. We begin our circular walk on path no. 26, which leads uphill to the right into the forest. After ten minutes, we reach a wide gravel road, which we follow to the Malga di Lauregno. About an hour's walk is now behind us. From the mountain hut, we continue along path no. 26 towards the Malga di Brez. The huts are all named after local places: Brez and Laurein are villages, and Castrin refers to the pass. We come across the first patches of snow.
After 20 minutes, we reach path no. 114. A few minutes further on, a wide plain covered in crocuses comes into view. Now the path leads slightly downhill to the second mountain hut, the Malga di Brez. We take a break and then continue to the right, following the sign for "Stuanmandl Popi". A gentle climb of about 20 minutes brings us to a small hill with a wonderful 360-degree view of the Dolomites, the Brenta Dolomites and the peaks of the Maddalene Group.
From the Popi peak, we head down into the forest. We look for the tracks on the path and, at an altitude of 1,680 metres, we reach Prieda del Gial, an area with tables and benches. From there, we follow the signs towards the Castrin Hut. After passing the Monte Sous moor, where there is an information board, we continue to the hut, arriving after an hour. From there, we head back, following the signs at the junction for the car park, which we reach after another 30 minutes.
Tip: Alternatively, you can return to the "Stuanmandl Popi" sign and take the unmarked path that leads to a junction with path no. 3 at 1,795 metres a.s.l., then turn right. Alternatives to this hut tour in the same area include the hike along the Sentiero di Proves to Malga Castrin and the alpine pasture walk around Proves.
Authors: Elena & Luca
Experienced in: May 2021
Last updated: 2025
Panoramic view on the Maddalene Group (6370 Kb) -
- Starting point:
- car park at the Passo Castrin along the road to Proves (1,663 m a.s.l.)
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- Overall time:
- 04:00 h
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- Total route length:
- 13,2 km
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- Altitude:
- from 1.663 m to 1.968 m
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- Altitude difference:
- +471 m | -471 m
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- Signposts:
- 6, 114, 5B, 157
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- Destination:
- Lauregno Hut, Brez Hut, Castrin Hut
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- Resting points:
- Lauregno Hut, Brez Hut, Castrin Hut (during the summer season)
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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:
- Circular tour of the huts in the Upper Val di Non
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- More information:
- The overall time shown above refers to the walking time only, not including breaks.
If you want to undertake this hike, we recommend you to check the weather and trail conditions in advance and on site before setting out.
