The Valsugana lakes are beautiful seen from the shore, but they become something special when you look at them from above. Above Caldonazzo, Levico and Pergine rise wooded hills and green plateaus, and a little climb is all it takes to reach spots where your eyes run over the water, the villages and out to the mountains around. In this guide we take you to discover some panoramic walks in our area: these are not flat strolls, here you climb for a stretch, but the view at the top rewards every step. For each trail we tell you honestly how long it is, how much you climb and how demanding it is. We at Italy Holiday have been welcoming guests in this land for a long time, and these are the walks with a view we would recommend to a friend who is coming.
1. Dosso di San Rocco, the panoramic hill above Trento
Among the three hills that have surrounded Trento for centuries, the Dosso di San Rocco is the one that rises to about 460 metres, today a large botanical park called Bosco della Città. You start from the entrance with parking at San Rocco, near Villazzano, and follow a network of easy paths among downy oaks, manna ash and hornbeam, up to the panoramic spots that open over the city and the Adige Valley.
It is not a real hike: the paths are gentle and well kept, and you walk the main loop calmly in about an hour. You climb only a little and without effort, so it suits children and anyone who does not like steep climbs. At the top you find benches, drinking fountains and the remains of an old fort, and your eyes open over the valley on one side and the Vigolana group on the other. It is pleasant all year, even more from spring to autumn.
2. Dosso di Sant'Agata, a short climb with a wide view
Another of Trento's three hills is the Dosso di Sant'Agata, a wooded rise east of the city crowned by the little church of Sant'Agata. On the sunny southern side, farmed terraces open up, while the rest of the hill is wrapped in quiet woods. It is an equipped trail, with stretches of stone and iron steps that help you over the steeper points.
Here you really do climb, but only for a while: going up from the Roncogno side you walk about forty minutes, with an elevation gain of around one hundred metres. So it is not a flat stroll, but it stays within reach for many. At a panoramic point along the way, a bench rewards you with a wide view over the Adige Valley and Monte Bondone. It is the ideal outing for half a day, when you want to move a little and come back with some good photos.
3. Monte Celva and the trail of the 100 steps, the balcony over Lake Caldonazzo
Between the hills of Trento and Pergine rises Monte Celva, which reaches 998 metres. From the top you enjoy a full-circle panorama, with Trento, the Brenta range, Pergine, the Lagorai mountains and, further down, Lake Caldonazzo. It is one of the best spots to see the lake from above, framed by woods and mountains.
This is a more demanding walk than the first two, but still short. Starting from the Passo del Cimirlo, at about 730 metres, you climb to the summit gaining almost three hundred metres; from Forte Sella Roncogno, higher up, the top is about forty minutes away. Along the way you meet the trail of the 100 steps, a staircase that leads into the old positions cut into the rock: to visit them it is best to bring a torch. It is a destination that combines just the right effort, history and one of the finest views over the lake.
4. Busa degli Orsi Terrace at Sardagna, the view suspended over the valley
Above Trento, in the village of Sardagna, the Busa degli Orsi panoramic terrace awaits you, opened in 2017 in what was once a bear pit. Today it is a stepped structure in corten steel, rust in colour, with eighty seats facing the city and the Adige Valley. In the deepest part, a walkway suspended over the void gives a truly special view.
To get there you can walk up from Trento along a comfortable trail in about an hour, or choose the quicker way by public transport. If you walk up, expect some steady climbing, but the surface is good and the route is signposted. At the top you sit on the steps and enjoy the view over the city, especially beautiful towards evening. It is a destination for all year, perfect for those who want a wide panorama without tackling a real mountain.
5. Doss Trento Nature Park, the green hill in the heart of the city
Right above Trento rises Doss Trento, a rounded hill that reaches 309 metres and overlooks the city. At the top you find the Cesare Battisti Mausoleum, with its crown of marble columns, the Museum of the Alpine Troops and wide lawns where you can stop. All around, the hill is protected by quiet woodland, and it is a green park a stone's throw from the centre.
You walk up along the Acropoli trail, which starts from the Piedicastello district and climbs about one hundred metres, alternating flights of steps with panoramic terraces where you can catch your breath. It is not long, but the climb makes itself felt: in return, along the way and from the top, your eyes open over the rooftops of Trento and the valley. The park is open during the day all year, and before going up it is worth checking the updated times on the official website.
6. Vigolana plateau and Alpe Cimbra, the trails above the Valsugana
Above the lakes, to the south, stretches a wide green plateau that joins Folgaria, Lavarone, Luserna and the Vigolana, known as Alpe Cimbra. It is a world of meadows, woods, alpine huts and old First World War forts, with many easy, panoramic trails for families and more than one hundred kilometres of bike routes. From here, as you climb, wide views open over the Valsugana and its lakes.
The walks here are of every level. Many routes among the meadows and woods are comfortable and gentle, perfect for walking without effort and breathing fresh air. Those looking for a real challenge can instead aim for the Becco di Filadonna, the rocky peak that acts as a terrace over the Valsugana: this, however, is a long and demanding hike, for trained walkers, with many hours of walking and over a thousand metres of climbing, so it is not for everyone. The beauty of the plateau is exactly this: everyone finds their own pace, from the quiet stroll to the climb for experts.
7. Monte Bondone and the Viote plateau, an open view above Trento
On the other side of the valley, a short distance from Trento, rises Monte Bondone, the home mountain of the regional capital. High up opens the Viote plateau, a wide upland at about fifteen hundred metres ringed by the peaks of the Bondone, with meadows, an alpine botanical garden and well-marked trails. It is a place where the air is fresh even in summer and the view widens over the mountains around.
On the plateau many trails are gentle and family-friendly, perfect for a walk among the meadows with the mountains all around. Those who want to climb more will find routes towards the peaks of the Bondone, more demanding and with more elevation gain, to be tackled with the right shoes and a minimum of fitness. You drive up to the Viote from Trento along the mountain road, and it is an ideal destination for a day in the open air above the valley.
A practical tip before you set off
These are not flat strolls: even the easiest have a bit of climbing, so wear comfortable shoes, bring water and start calmly. The walks towards the peaks, like Monte Celva or the Becco di Filadonna, ask for more breath and a minimum of fitness. Always check the weather before going up and, where there are access times or seasonal services, check the updated information on the official websites, so you always arrive prepared.
Where to stay for walking above the lakes
The best way to enjoy these trails is to have a home of your own near the lakes, where you set off in the morning and come back in the evening after a walk with a view. With Italy Holiday you find well-kept stays in the Valsugana lakes area, around Caldonazzo, Levico and Pergine, designed for families and travellers who love nature and the open air.
Discover where to stay near the Valsugana lakes and book your stay with Italy Holiday: your ideal base among the panoramic trails, the hills and the mountains above the lakes.
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