Cavallazza from Rolle

This relatively short hiking transits through one of the most iconic and visited places in all of Primiero, the easily accessible lakes of Colbricón (Laghetti di Colbricón). However, the lakes are not the focus of the itinerary, which leads first to the summit of Cavallazza and then to the discovery of the Great War military tunnels on the summit of Cavallazza Piccola.

The route starts from the parking lot at Malga Rolle (1,904 m asl), located a couple of hairpin bends below Rolle Pass, on the Valley of Fiemme side. The first part of the route follows the beautiful mule track of the Signpost No. 348 towards Laghetti di Colbricón, which begins a few hundred meters from the malga, on the grassy basin of Busa Ferrari. The mule track, relatively flat and immersed in the Paneveggio forest, in a couple of kilometers (common to a section of the trails of “Translagorai” TL and “Sentiero Italia” SI) leads to the hut of Rifugio Laghi di Colbricón and the lakes of Colbricón (1,922 m asl). Given the easy access to the lakes and the tourist attractiveness of the place, this section of the itinerary is usually extremely crowded. 

From Rifugio Laghi di Colbricón, the track follows the signs leading, on a steep track over a slippery-bottomed scree slope overlooking cliffs but never exposed, to the top of Cima della Cavallazza (2,324 m asl). From the summit, which can be reached by following an old trench to the right, the best part of the route begins, which includes a series of viewpoints and sites from the Great War.

From Cavallazza, the trail continues on the downhill section on the grassy western slope of the mountain toward the peak of Cavallazza Piccola and shortly reaches the junction at the small fork named Forcella Cavallazza (2,226 m asl). From the junction, the trail continues toward Cavallazza Piccola on a track that overlooks the western side of the Pale di San Martino.

From the top of Cavallazza Piccola (2,303 m asl), a trail that running along the eastern side of the mountain begins; this characteristic section of the itinerary, very exposed but well protected by fixed metal cables, leads to the military tunnels (called Stóli della Cavallazza). It is also possible to get to the “Stóli” by avoiding this section, bypassing the mountain on the track to the W of the summit and reaching the tunnels from the N. The strategic position of the tunnels, built by the Austrians and later readapted by the Italian Genio in 1915, allowed full control over Passo Rolle.

Once past the outposts formed by tunnels and trenches, the itinerary follows the visible tracks toward Cima Tognazza (2,207 m asl); it is the only possible route, and the ski lift to its summit is an additional waypoint. From Cima Tognazza all that remains is to descend along the Cimón ski slope that leads first to Passo Rolle and then, along the meadows, back to the starting point.

Paths

• From the hut of Malga Rolle (1,904 m asl), follow the mule track of the Signpost No. 348 towards Laghetti di Colbricón [0h 40], 
• From the lakes of Colbricón (1,922 m asl), follow the trail eastward to the summit of Cavallazza [1h 45],
• From Cavallazza (2,324 m asl), continue along the trail to the summit of Cavallazza Piccola [2h 15],
• From Cavallazza Piccola (2,303 m asl), continue along the ridge until you reach the arrival of the Paradiso cable car, on the Tognazza [2h 45],
• Continue to follow the trail and descend to Passo Rolle [3h 10],
• From Passo Rolle (1,970 m asl), descend along the meadow leading to Malga Rolle [3h 30]. ✓

Military Installations on the Cavallazza Piccola

• The system of military tunnels (Stóli) defending the Rolle Pass access was built by the Austrians, with loopholes facing the Valley of Primiero. 
• As you enter the Stóli, which were part of a line of defense that started from the summit of Colbricón and ended on the one of Tognazza, you will notice the presence of loopholes facing Paneveggio (Valley of Fiemme). With the conquest of the outposts by the Italian army in 1915, in fact, the entire Austrian defense system was “turned” northward. 
• One of the two tunnels in the Cavallazza Piccola offers an interesting portal built with porphyry ashlars, which was entirely built by the 31st Company of the 5th Regiment of the Italian Engineer Corps, known to have been the protagonist of a landmine war on the nearby Colbricòn.