Cereda Pass and Canali Valley from Transacqua

This somewhat unusual mid-altitude loop, suitable for all hikers who can tackle twenty kilometers on easy trails and especially for trail runners who want to run a special half marathon, explores the forest standing north-eastern of the villages of Transacqua and Tonadico. Given the altitude and the relatively easy surface, the itinerary – which can be incredibly interesting in mid-seasons due to the colors and views it can offer – can be tackled during all seasons (excluding the deep winter).

The route starts from the center of the village of ​​Transacqua, initially heading towards the hut of Rifugio Caltena. The first part of the route follows an uphill stretch along the road called Via Caltene; after passing the last hamlet of the village by the location of La Piàna, the route crosses the stream of Rio Carpènze and takes, by the first bend of the road towards Rifugio Caltena – at the crossroads – the path called “Trói de le Càore” (tr. path of the goats). 

The route continues in the forest on a gentle uphill stretch along the wide path that cuts the slope by the location of Càneva (where, since the late Middle Ages, a large and important mining area existed). The path of “Troi de le Càore” then reaches the paved road that connects the village of Ormanico to the locations of Val Uneda and Cenguéi (Signpost No. 723). The steep climb along the paved road leads first to the shrine called Capitel de Pissabói (975 m asl) and then to the location of Val Unéda. From here, the itinerary proceeds along the gravel road called “Strada Forestale Pretecasa”, shortly reaching the location of Stadèl (1,225 m asl), located just below the meadows of Ritàsa and Stiòzze. From the junction of Stadèl, the route always proceeds along the gravel road of the Signpost No. 723 towards the hut of Malga Fossetta, crossing in order the beautiful meadows of the locations of Ritàsa and Stiòzze – located at the foot of the Cenguéi and Stiòzze mounts -, gradually opening up interesting sights of the Pale di San Martino and the entire Canali Valley from rather unusual angles. After leaving the meadows of Stiòzze behind, you proceed with a couple of hairpin bends on the gravel road and arrive at the location of Pian del Canalìn (1,380 m asl). From here, the trail goes up into the forest and takes another gravel road that goes around – southern side – the hill called Col Spiz and then continues flat, reaching the pasture of Malga Fossetta (1,554 m asl).

After crossing the pasture of Malga Fossetta, you proceed in the very first stretch along the main access road to the hut. Then, shortly after leaving the pasture, you turn downhill, to the left, on the path of the Signpost No. 729 “Nico Scalet”, which leads directly to the small church of Sant’Antonio and then, with a final stretch of the gravel road of the Signpost No. 801, to Passo Cereda (1,369 m asl).

From Passo Cereda / Cereda Pass the track descends on the side of the main road (SS347) towards Fiera di Primiero up to the third hairpin bend (approximately 1,271 m asl), where it takes the path of the Signpost No. 738 “Piero Agostini” to the right, towards the W, heading to Colzoncài / Lastrédol / Val Canali. The Signpost No. 783 features in the beginning a stretch with ups and downs that leads directly to the bottom of the lower Val Canali; after crossing in succession the meadows of Colzoncài, Dalaibòl and Lastrédol, the Signpost No. 738 proceeds along the gravel road called “Strada Forestale del Conte”. The route follows the gravel road downhill and leaves, at the first crossroads, the Signpost No. 738, in order to go down directly to Villa Welsperg.

From Villa Welsperg (1,030 m asl), the route follows the main road of Val Canali towards Fiera di Primiero until it reaches the lake of Welsperg (1,020 m asl); then it proceeds on a stretch of path which, parallel to the road, leads directly to the remains of the castle called Castel Pietra, passing through the location of Le Cesurétte (978 m asl).

From Castel Pietra, the return follows the wide path that descends steeply towards the shrine of Madonna della Luce (839 m asl), then proceeds on the gravel road on the western bank of the Canali Torrent until it leads to the main road to Passo Cereda (SS347), by the location of Novàia. The route then proceeds along the main road on a comfortable descent until it reaches the village of Tonadico, for heading then back to Transacqua along the streets of Via Fol and Via Venezia.

Paths

• From the village of Transacqua (746 m asl), proceed along the street called Via Caltene towards Rifugio Caltena, until reaching junction with the path called “Trói de le Càore” [0h 15],
• Proceed along the path of Trói de le Càore until you reach the paved road of the Signpost No. 723 above the village of Ormanico [0h 40],
• Ascend along the Signpost No. 723 towards Val Unéda, until reaching the location of Stadèl [1h 10],
• From the crossroads of Stadèl (1,225 m asl), proceed along the Signpost No. 723 towards Malga Fossetta [3h 15],
• From the hut of Malga Fossetta (1,554 m asl), proceed on the path of the Signpost No. 729 “Nico Scalet” towards Passo Cereda [3h 40],
• From Passo Cereda (1,369 m asl), descend along the main road towards Fiera di Primiero until the start – by the third hairpin bend – of the path of the Signpost No. 738 “Piero Agostini” [3h 50],
• Descend into Val Canali along the Signpost No. 738 “Piero Agostini” and then follow the gravel road called “Strada Forestale del Conte”, which leads to Villa Welsperg [4h 30],
• From Villa Welsperg (1.030 m slm), descend along the main road to the lake of Welsperg [4h 40],
• From the lake (1.020 m slm), descend along the path that leads to the remains of the castle called Castel Pietra, then proceed towards the shrine of the Madonna della Luce [5h 15],
• From the shrine (839 m asl), follow the gravel road first, then the paved road, which leads to the village of Tonadico, and then back to the one of Transacqua [6h 00]. ✓