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Trekking

To Telegrafo peak on Mount Baldo

A medium/difficult hike along path CAI654

Angela Trawoeger
Text

Angela Trawoeger

Creator, photographer and content manager

A beautiful trek through isolated and evocative countryside of high environmental importance.

A medium/difficult route that takes you to Cima Telegrafo leaving from the Val Trovai/Punta Veleno road. This trek is fairly hard work and the uphill section is about 6km long over an ascent of 1250m.

Map and GPS track

Details

  • Technical characteristics

    • Starting point
      strada Val Trovai/Punta Veleno
    • Endpoint
      Punta Telegrafo
    • Route
      Sentiero 654 – Rifugio Telegrafo – Punta Telegrafo
    • Starting height
      1124m
    • Highest point
      220 m
    • Altitude – ascent/descent
      1225m / 204m
    • Distance
      5,6km
    • Duration
      3 hrs
  • Difficulty

  • Scenic appeal

    • Experience (1 to 5)
      5
    • Landscape (1 to 5)
      5
  • Type of route

    • Return track on the same route
    • Summit tour
    • Insider tip
    • Panoramic route
  • Best time of year

    • From June to November
      without snow

Partner

Hotel Dolomiti 360gardalife en
Hotel Capri 360gardalife en 1
Hotel Villa Edera Malcesine 360gardalife en

Points of interest along the hiking trail to Telegrafo peak

The amphitheatre below Cima Telegrafo is beautiful, a glacially formed circle, all the views along the ascent and the fantastic panorama from Cima Telegrafo at 2200 m.a.s.l.

The Telegrafo refuge is just below the peak and is run by people from Equipe Natura – we recommend the simple and traditional dishes especially those of local produce.

cima telegrafo lake view
View from Cima Telegrafo

Trekking route description

Walk along the tarmac road until you find the start of path 654 signed to Telegrafo and the Taccole via ferrata.
Follow the path until you get to a rough road in the beech wood. You come to a clearing with a well and, 300m afterwards take the path at the corner on the right which goes back into the woods where the track becomes a single track path (take care not to take the forest track under the rock wall which is close by).

You come to a fork in the road signed to the left to “Forcelin”. Keep going right and go uphill for another 2 and a half hours, following signs to Telegrafo.

The route goes between a gravel path and rough track with panoramic views over the lower Lake Garda, the valleys, the glacial circle and the “Vetta della Buse”. At the fork with signs for “Baito Buse and Turri”, path no. 55, keep left staying on path no. 654 and straight away the amphitheatre under Cima Telegrafo opens out with the alpine pastures typical of this region. Carry on uphill until you get to the refuge that you see in front of you during the ascent.

monte baldo trail 654 alm and meadows

Cima Telegrafo is just above the refuge of the same name.
Go up taking the path that is behind the refuge.

Variant

You can go up or down following signs to “Forcelin”.
This track is more difficult and even more spectacular.
Going up or down from “Forcelin” you make the route longer by about 30 minutes.
This variation is recommended for expert walkers.

Our suggestions

  • The Refuge is open every day during the summer and at weekends in spring and autumn. Telephone before you set off to confirm. Otherwise you can follow the Refuge on Facebook.
  • Stay a night at the Refuge – it’s a great experience. The next day you can do the trek along the Monte Baldo peaks. This is a must do trek if you are staying in Lake Garda. If you want to stay the night at the Refuge you should call to book.
  • If you walk quietly in the morning you have a good chance of seeing some chamoix.

Trekking route to Telegrafo peak during the winter

You can’t do this trek in winter when it has snowed.

Shelters, huts or bivouacs along the trail

Partner

Hotel Ideal malcesine 360gardalife
Xtreme bike malcesine 360gardalife
Hotel Dolomiti 360gardalife en

How to reach the starting point of the trail

Go by car from San Zeno di Montagna to Prada.
How to reach San Zeno.

Parking

You will find a small place at the side of the road Val Trovai/Punta Veleno, 4km to the north of the Prada-Costabella chair lift car park.

Bike Shuttle

Public transport

None

Safety information

Don’t do the “Forcelin” path if you are walking with children.

This route passes by Brenzone sul Garda

Before or after the route, during an excursion or on holiday, stop to visit the small villages of Lake Garda

Similar route

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