This medium-long hike takes us to one of the most suggestive and panoramic viewpoints above the mountain of Caldaro
Image gallery: Hike from the Mendola Pass to the Bait del Prinz
This hike is perfect for summer and autumn. The Mendola Funicular leads us from Sant'Antonio (St. Anton) up to the Passo della Mendola mountain pass. Here we are at the border between the Val di Non valley and the Oltradige area - the panorama is really moving: from the Fiemme Mountains until the Brenta Dolomites. We go northward, along the path no. 500 to Mt. Penegal. We walk up through the wood in autumn colours, the path is really nice with many roots peeping out from the ground, so we have to pay attention on where we walk.
At times we can enjoy a great view of the autumn panorama of Bolzano and Caldaro. After a short walk we reach Mt. Penegal - this mountain is very famous for its wonderful view. Also the Emperor Franz Joseph I of Austria was used to come here to enjoy the panorama. Here we find a restaurant and a hotel as well as radio and television transmitters. We go on northwards on a wide and pleasant path, which was a forest road once. We walk down first along the Forcolana Gap above Appiano and then up again to reach our destination: the Bait del Prinz mountain hut.
A nice light pervades the forest and right here there is the Bait del Prinz. Despite the name (Bait del Prinz = Prince's Chalet) we find here only a small and run-down wooden construction, it seems to be too fragile to face the wind of the mountain (update: today, there is no hut anymore), but anyway the atmosphere is very particular and charming in this place so we decide to have a rest. We enjoy the warming autumn sun before coming back to the Passo della Mendola.
Author: AT
-
- Starting point:
- Passo della Mendola (reachable by the Mendola Funicular from Sant'Antonio)
-
- Time required:
- 05:00 h
-
- Track length:
- 15,6 km
-
- Altitude:
- from 1.371 m to 1.727 m
-
- Altitude difference:
- +656 m | -656 m
-
- Signposts:
- no. 500, Bait del Prinz
-
- Destination:
- Bait del Prinz
-
- Resting points:
- Penegal
-
- Recommended time of year:
- Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec
-
- Download GPX track:
- Hike from the Mendola Pass to the Bait del Prinz
If you want to do this hike, we suggest you to check the weather and trail conditions in advance and on site before setting out.
