Peio Paese - Lake Covel

Safety information

Rules for mountain walks:

• The passability of routes in a mountain environment is strictly linked to the current conditions and therefore depends on natural phenomena, environmental changes, and weather conditions. For this reason, inform yourself well about the route and its conditions before leaving. You can do this by contacting the nearest Information Office;
• If you plan to reach a malga or a refuge, make sure they are open and, if you intend to stop to eat or sleep, call in advance to book;
• Leave information about your itinerary and always carry your mobile phone;
• In case of accident call the number 112;
• Never leave waste at altitude and, if possible, avoid leaving it at the refuges or malgas you will visit;
• If you see wild animals along the path, we invite you to stay on the trail you are following, do not approach too closely, do not shout, and keep your dog on a leash to prevent it from instinctively chasing them and frightening them.

Starting point

Directions

Once you reach the charming village of Peio Paese (1584 m), near the Church, climb the steep paved road up to the characteristic hill of San Rocco, where the Austro-Hungarian military cemetery is located. Park here (to be sure to find parking, it is always better to leave the car in the village), take the obvious forest road and shortly you will reach some characteristic farmhouses located below the road. Cross the winter trail track and near an old farmhouse on the right take the narrow mule track. With an easy and comfortable route, avoiding descending into the pastures, shortly after passing a climbing-equipped wall, you will reach the small Còvel waterfall (called so, although its real name is Rio Vioz Waterfall). Cross the wooden bridge and you will arrive at Lake Covel, a glacial origin biotope pond, and at Malga Còvel located at 1856 m (1 hour 45 minutes).
Return: shortly beyond the malga, pass the picnic area and, skirting the meadows in the sparse larch wood, continue along the obvious dirt road SAT 125 leaving the wet meadows and some nice farmhouses on the left until, after a small hill, you reach the ski slope again. Cross it and you will reconnect with the forest road used on the ascent (1 hour).

ALTERNATIVE ROUTE:
Take the Peio Fonti-Tarlenta cable car from Peio Fonti (see schedules) and arrive in Scoitattolo locality. Downhill of the lift take the SAT 127 trail and keep direction 'Cros dei Caciadori' then turn left for a steep descent path. Reach the lake, the Rio Vioz Waterfall and follow the path in front of a climbing gym. Follow a dirt road uphill for about 20 minutes and on the left take Via dei Monti, which after about 15 minutes crosses the SAT 217 trail, leading back to Tarlenta locality. This circular walk takes about 2 hours.

Public transportation

You can reach Peio Paese by Trentino Trasporti bus line MALÈ - MEZZANA - FUCINE - COGOLO- PEIO (download the outbound and return schedules). From Peio Paese you can reach the start of the itinerary in about fifteen minutes on foot, climbing towards the hill of San Rocco (Austro-Hungarian cemetery).

How to get there

Where to park

To face a mountain hike it is always useful to:

• wear trekking boots suitable for uneven, irregular and wet ground, long trousers, a hat and sunglasses
• pack a waterproof jacket, a fleece sweater, hat and gloves, sunscreen, minimum spare clothes
• bring a water bottle and snacks for energy dips (dried fruit, bars or chocolate)
• don’t forget a camera or mobile phone to capture the views and scenes that you like most. If you want, you can share them on social media using #visitvaldisole