Gnome trail

Safety information

For snow hiking activities, follow these guidelines:

• gather good information about the route and its conditions before departure. You can do this by contacting the nearest tourist information office;
• the day before the hike check the weather forecast and the avalanche bulletin;
• if you plan to reach a mountain hut or refuge, make sure they are open and, if you intend to stop to eat or sleep, call them in advance to book;
• if you don’t feel well before leaving, postpone the outing until you feel better;
• never leave waste on the mountain and, if possible, avoid leaving it in the huts or mountain farms you visit;
• if you spot wild animals along the path, please don’t approach them, don’t shout and keep your dog on a leash to prevent it from chasing them out of instinct and scaring them.

Starting point

Directions

Pellizzano (920 m) - Malga Bassa (1,250 m) - Lago dei Caprioli (1,280 m)

In the village of Pellizzano, follow the signs for Fazzon-Lago dei Caprioli, park at the second hairpin bend and follow the educational trail "Senter dela Palù", which leads to the Malga Bassa di Fazzon - Visitor Center. The trail is also called 'the gnomes' because of the wooden and natural material structures along the path, which evoke the forest gnomes. From Malga Bassa, continue on the main road until you reach Lago dei Caprioli, a place very popular in summer and which in winter takes on a completely different charm, covered with snow and ice.
We suggest a tasty stop at the Chalet Lago dei Caprioli. If you plan to have lunch or dinner here, we invite you, before setting off on the hike, to check the opening hours and book at (+39) 0463 751157. 

To return, you can retrace your steps or, alternatively, on the right of the parking lot, take the flat road which in about 3 km leads you to Valpiana, from where you follow the 'In Valpiana' itinerary, which takes you to Ossana.

Public transportation

You can reach Pellizzano by the Trentino Trasporti bus line MALÈ - MEZZANA - FUCINE - COGOLO-PEIO (download departure timetable and return timetable).

How to get there

Take the SS42 to Pellizzano up to the sign for Lago dei Caprioli - Fazzon, which turns you left (if coming from Malè-Dimaro-Mezzana) into Via Baschenis. Leave the car in Pellizzano and continue on foot along the paved road to the second hairpin bend, where the route begins.

Where to park

Following the signs for Lago dei Caprioli - Fazzon, park the car by the roadside, near the playground.

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;
• backpack with a snack and a thermos of hot drink;
• avalanche self-rescue kit MANDATORY 'where, due to snow and weather conditions, there is a risk of avalanches' (Art.26 Legislative Decree 28 February 2021 no.40). The kit consists of ARTVA, shovel, and probe and, before any excursion, make sure you know how to use it. You can also rent it at shops offering this service;
• camera or mobile phone to capture the views and scenes you like best. If you want, you can share them on social media using #visitvaldisole.