Carisolo Things to Do Tips by giampiero6

Val Genova

Carisolo is located where the Val Genova meets the Val Rendena. Val Genova is a dead end, remote, with beautiful scenery including the Cascata Nardis, and Bedole. It is located inside the Parco Natural Adamello Brenta. If you go far back into the Val Genova, you will then be at the base of the Lobbie and Adamello.

Mushroom Picking.

Go mushroom picking. It's fantastic. Only pick Porcini and Finferling (Chanterelles or Gallinacci).

Have fun. Don't Trust anybody who tells you where to go get mushrooms. :-) It's a great sport here, and people regularly fib about their spots. If you found some mushrooms in your secret spot near the river, tell everyone you found them high up behind the big rock. They'll get tired and will never catch up with you. :-)

L'Eremo di S. Martino

In one of the steepest, most inaccessible perches of the surrounding mountains, curious hikers will come across a tiny white washed chapel and hermits cabin, that was built here sometime before 1312. It was here that local pious holy men retired to leave the world behind and get closer to god. It was here in 1695 that documents refer to two hermits Stefano Ambrosi and Giovanni Ambrosi (my last name). I hope they led pious lives to make up for my decadent one .

Tilman and I recently popped up here in May of 2005. The eremo is in good shape and we left our signatures in the book. The trail is fairly steep but is safe (much safer than it used to be)

Cascata Nardis

This lovely large waterfall in the Val Genova area is a beautiful place to head. You can admire the falls from the bar/restaurant across the way. The food is quite good and the atmosphere excellent. Enjoy the beer and barbecue during the summer. You will have to drive to a parking lot and get a little shuttle in to the falls, since it's in a natural park now. It's much better this way!

Directions: head into Val Genova. You can't miss it.

Sunset on the Dolomites

See the Sunset on the Dolomites. It's really incredible as the mountains glow golden pink in the dusk. You can see the rock has a yellowish coloration and the effect is amazing. It really doesn show well in this picture, but at the right time of day it is absolutely magical! and one of the things for which the Dolomites is so prized .

La Lancia

La Lancia (the Spear) is the backdrop to the town of Carisolo as you approach it from the South of the Val Rendena. It is quite a spectacular sight to see on a sunny afternoon. The lancia is kind of the spiritual heart of Carisolo. Like some other peaks in the area, it bears a huge wooden cross at the summit that you can see. My father was among a group that first climbed it in winter snowfall, thought the cross had not much to do with it. The Lancia is a very strenous full day hike for a fit climber. The last poortion above the tree line is extremely steep and is characterized by sharp, tough grass. On the way down, if you sit down, you'll start sliding and will either enjoy yourself immensely or end up a mangled heap amongst a pile of boulders. The last rifugio before you start the push to the summit is Sarodol. From here you're in the Plan dal Asen. Plain of the Jackass (I like that name) and keep an eye or ear out for the marmots who whistle to warn their kin of your presence. If you have binoculars, now's a good time to use them to spot Champois or mountain goats.

Directions: Go to Carisolo and look north.

See the Dolomiti from Closeup

These sheer rock faces in the background are a technical climbers paradise. You'll see all kinds of people climbing up here if you visit.

Directions: You can take the cable car to Madonna di Campiglio's Groste and then trek over in about 45 minutes.