The Malgas of Ortisé

Safety information

For snow hiking activities, follow these guidelines:

• get good information on the route and its conditions before leaving. You can do this by contacting the nearest tourist information office;
• the day before the excursion, check the weather and the avalanche danger level; 
• if you plan to reach a malga or refuge, make sure they are open and, if you intend to stop to eat or sleep, call in advance to book;
• before leaving, if you don't feel well, postpone the outing until you feel better;
• never leave waste on the mountain and, if possible, avoid leaving it at the refuges or malgas you visit;
• if you spot wild animals along the route, please do not approach, do not shout, and keep your dog on a leash to avoid it instinctively chasing and scaring them.

Starting point

Directions

Ortisé (1,477 m) - Malga Stabli (1,814 m) - Malga Bronzolo (2,084 m) - Menás (1,517 m)

The route we propose is a circular route starting from Ortisé, a characteristic mountain village at 1,477 meters altitude.
Leave the car in the parking lot near the small church, go a little higher than the village to take the road signposted with direction Alpe Pozze. After passing the village, the trail rises to the right, next to a characteristic farmhouse located to the right of the first curve. At this point you will enter the forest and the path will become significantly steeper, flanking the stream from above, then it will make you turn left onto a small road immersed in a dense fir forest, where the green of the needles will stand out on the white of the surrounding landscape. Continue further and gradually the forest will thin out, until it offers you a spectacular view of the upper Val di Sole and the snow-covered peaks of the Presanella. Stop and enjoy the breadth of this panorama. 
From here, next to the road you will pass some beautiful recently renovated mountain farms, not far from Malga Stabli (1,911 m).
At Malga Stabli we suggest you stop to enjoy the dishes of the malga and, in this case, check the opening hours and, if possible, book in advance at the number (+39) 346 6933370.
After a refreshing break, continue towards Malga Bronzolo: after passing the Val del Molinac, you will enter a forest of firs and larches (you know, right, that larches lose their needles in winter and firs don't?), then soon after cross a winding and very panoramic section, which will lead you to the wide pasture around Malga Bronzolo (2,084 m). The malga is closed in winter but is worth a pause to give your eyes and heart a full, suggestive, and restorative panorama.
After the panorama break, follow the road in the forest, pass the pastures and re-enter the forest, taking the path on the left. Gradually descending among the firs, you will reach the Val Molinac and, shortly before the village of Ortisé, you will reconnect to the same path you took on the ascent. 

Public transportation

You can reach the Ortisé hamlet with the Trentino Trasporti bus line PELLIZZANO - MENAS (download the timetable).

How to get there

Where to park

Here is a list of items you should have with you when you go snowshoeing:

• waterproof boots;
• snowshoes and trekking poles. To rent them, choose the rental closest to you;
• waterproof, comfortable and warm winter clothing;
• mask, as required by the COVID-19 safety protocol;
• hat, gloves, sunglasses and sunscreen;
• small backpack with a snack and a thermos with a hot drink;
• avalanche self-rescue kit MANDATORY ‘wherever, due to snow and weather conditions, there are avalanche risks’ (Art.26 Legislative Decree February 28, 2021, n.40). The kit consists of an avalanche transceiver, shovel and probe and, before undertaking any excursion, make sure you know how to use it. You can also rent it at the shops that offer this service;
• camera or cell phone to capture the panoramas and views you like most. If you want, you can share them on social media using #visitvaldisole.