Description

This hike is an interesting variant of the popular tourist walk, also proposed in its winter version with snowshoes, which starting from the Calaita Lake leads to the hut of Malga Grùgola along the main gravel road. Although the pastures of Malga Grùgola are one of the less popular areas of the mountain range of Lagorai, the position of the hut offers a fascinating sight from a rather unusual perspective, with a view on the western side of the southern part of the Pala Group, on the valleys of Lozen and Vanoi , as well as on the peaks of the mountain range of Vette Feltrine.

The route begins in Calaita, at the intersection of the gravel road named Strada Forestale Malga Grùgola; the crossroads is located on the main road, just a few hundred meters before the lake.

The first part of the itinerary develops along the gravel road “Strada Forestale Malga Grùgola” (Signpost No. 347 / 358) towards Malga Grùgola. After an initial flat stretch to the south, after passing two crossroads (the first one with the Signpost No. 347 which – on the right – leads to Cima Fólga and the second one with the Signpost No. 358 which climbs directly to Malga Grùgola), the path follows the road turning into a pleasant climb in the forest placed north of Malga Lòzen. Once you reach the edge of the pasture of Malga Grùgola, from where you can spot the hut in the distance, the view opens wide onto the Dolomites of the Pala Group and the Calaita Lake.

From Malga Grùgola (1,782 m asl), highest point of the hike, located in the valley below the peaks of Grùgola, Fólga and Palone di Fólga, the route descends along the trail of the Signpost No. 358, which branches off from the access road just under the hut, and descends towards the gravel road initially traveled. For a slightly more particular experience, it is also possible to descend by crossing the forest, keeping the path on your left side until you arrive at the junction with the gravel road.

Once you reach the junction with the road followed during the ascent, the route returns to the starting point by simply following it towards Calaita.

Paths

• From Calaita, take the gravel road of the Signpost No. 347 / 358 towards Malga Grùgola and follow it until you reach the hut,
• From Malga Grùgola (1,728 m asl), descend along the path of accessing directly the hut of the Signpost No. 358,
• Follow – once again – the gravel road of the Signpost No. 347 / 358 towards Calaita, until heading back to the starting point. ✓

Links

• Rifugio Miralago Calaita: http://www.miralagocalaita.it/