You do not need to be an expert hiker to enjoy the mountains. Trentino has many easy walks, flat or nearly so, suitable for families with children, for grandparents and for anyone who wants to be outdoors without effort and without difficult climbs. In this guide we take you to discover some of the simplest trails in our area and nearby, telling you honestly how long they are, how comfortable they are and how to reach them. We at Italy Holiday have been welcoming guests in this land for a long time, and these are the walks we would recommend to a family on its way.
1. The loop around Lago di Tenno
Just above Riva del Garda hides one of the most beautiful lakes in Trentino, with turquoise, crystal-clear water. A path runs all the way around Lago di Tenno, always just a few metres from the shore, between grassy stretches and shaded greenery. It is an easy and almost completely flat loop, just over three kilometres long, that you can walk at a relaxed pace in about an hour.
It really suits everyone, children included. With a light stroller a few points can be less comfortable, because there are some steps and stretches of beaten earth, so a baby carrier is more practical. From our area it is about an hour away by car, towards Lake Garda, and nearby is the medieval village of Canale di Tenno, one of the loveliest in Italy.
2. The Strada dei Pescatori at Lago di Levico
At Levico Terme, in the Valsugana valley, Lago di Levico has an elongated shape that recalls a fjord and is surrounded by wooded hills. Along its shores runs a flat, scenic route called the Strada dei Pescatori. It is an unpaved but wide and well-kept track, about three kilometres long, completely flat and safe, perfect for a family walk.
Precisely because it is flat and broad, this stretch is comfortable even with a stroller or pram. You walk just a few steps from the water, between viewpoints and shaded areas. From our area it is right at hand: the lake lies next to the centre of Levico Terme and is reached in a few minutes.
3. The loop around Lago di Lavarone
Climbing up to the Lavarone plateau, at about 1,070 metres, you find a small mountain lake with clear water, surrounded by woods. A simple, even path makes the full loop in about half an hour of relaxed walking. The route is mostly flat and alternates paved stretches with stretches of beaten earth, always close to the shore.
It is a walk suited to anyone, from the youngest to the oldest, and it can be done without any difficulty even with a light stroller, because the surface is smooth and well levelled. Along the way you find equipped beaches, pedal boats and a forest art trail. From our area in the Valsugana valley you climb up to the plateau in about half an hour by car, and the cooler air makes a summer day pleasant too.
4. The lakefront of Lago di Caldonazzo
Lago di Caldonazzo is the large warm lake of the Valsugana valley, awarded the Blue Flag and set in the green. Beyond the beaches, there is plenty of flat space to walk all around the lake. The Calceranica lakefront is one of the most pleasant stretches: you stroll just steps from the water, between beaches, meadows and small docks, with open views over the lake and the mountains.
The surface is comfortable even with a stroller, and along the way you find kiosks, bars and green areas to stop at. From here also starts the Valsugana cycle path, a paved, flat and well-kept road, perfect to walk or cycle with children. From our area the lake is practically on the doorstep, a few minutes away.
5. The walk along Lago di Toblino
Moving west of Trento, into the Valle dei Laghi, you find one of the most photographed views in Trentino: Lago di Toblino, with its ancient castle that seems to float on the water, surrounded by hills, vineyards and cypresses. Along one of the shores runs a simple, almost completely flat pedestrian route that alternates stretches of path with wooden walkways suspended over the edge of the lake.
It is a walk suited to families, to strollers and also to those not used to walking, with no major climbs. From one end to the other you walk in about forty minutes, between reed beds and panels that tell the story of the lake's nature, where you can spot herons and ducks. From our area it is reached in about forty minutes by car, just beyond Trento.
6. The Habsburg century-old park in Levico Terme
In the heart of Levico Terme lies a large historic park from the early twentieth century, created in Habsburg times, with century-old trees such as beeches, sequoias, magnolias and cedars, well-kept lawns and flower beds. It is a quiet, shaded place to stroll slowly among rare plants and architecture from another age, away from the traffic.
The main route is almost entirely flat, paved and accessible, about a kilometre and a half long, ideal for families and for anyone who needs a comfortable walk. Children can run on the lawns and stop to look at the giant trees. From our area it is very close, next to Lago di Levico, and it pairs well with a day in the Valsugana valley.
7. The ArteNatura trail at Arte Sella
In the Val di Sella, above Borgo Valsugana, there is an open-air museum unlike any other: Arte Sella. Along a path in the woods you find artworks built from wood, branches and stone, which change with the seasons, including the famous Cattedrale Vegetale made of living trees. It is a walk that children love, because every bend hides a surprise.
The route runs along an almost flat plateau, with minimal difficulty, and suits families of all ages. The main loop of the artworks is short, around a kilometre on a mostly gravel surface. With small children a baby carrier or an off-road stroller is better, because the ground is not always even. From our area it is reached in about half an hour by car, climbing up into the Val di Sella.
8. The Tappeiner promenade in Merano
If you fancy a slightly farther trip, the Tappeiner promenade in Merano is one of the loveliest walks in the whole Alpine arc. It is a scenic route high above the town, about four kilometres long, that winds between Mediterranean and Alpine plants, ancient towers and fragrant gardens, with open views over the rooftops of Merano and the surrounding mountains.
The elevation gain is truly modest, around sixty metres along the whole route, and it is an easy, accessible walk, suitable also for children and strollers, especially entering from the Quarazze side, where the entrance is level. The surface is well-kept gravel. You walk it in about an hour, with plenty of benches to rest. From our area Merano is about an hour and three quarters by car: a fine destination for a day out.
9. The loop around Lago di Carezza
To close, we take you into the Dolomites, where you find one of the most photographed lakes in the mountains: Lago di Carezza, at the foot of the Latemar, with water that ranges from emerald green to deep blue. They call it the rainbow lake for the shifting colours of its water, and all around the peaks are mirrored in it.
A loop trail runs along the shore and is very easy, suited to everyone, families with a stroller included. It mostly winds through the woods near the shore and is walked at a relaxed pace in about half an hour. It is the farthest place on this list: from our area it lies about an hour and three quarters away by car, but it is worth the trip for a day out. Arriving early in the morning helps you enjoy it in peace.
Where to stay to go walking in Trentino
If you look at the map of these walks, you notice one thing: many lie within easy reach of the Valsugana valley, the valley of the warm lakes of Trentino. Caldonazzo, Levico, the Habsburg park and Arte Sella are practically on the doorstep, and the Lavarone plateau is reached in half an hour. From here Trento, the Valle dei Laghi with Toblino and Lago di Tenno towards Garda are fine half-day trips, while Merano and Lago di Carezza are worth a full day.
This is why the area of the Valsugana lakes, around Caldonazzo, Levico and Calceranica, is an ideal base for a holiday made of easy walks. In the morning you wake up a few minutes from the water and the flat trails, and when you want to change scenery you have the other lakes and mountains a short distance away. Trento, Rovereto and the Altopiano della Vigolana are also excellent bases, and for those who dream of higher valleys there are the Val di Sole and the Val Rendena.
We at Italy Holiday welcome guests in exactly this area, in homes designed to make you feel at home from the very first moment. If you dream of a holiday made of quiet walks, with the lake in front of you and the mountains around, discover where to stay near the trails of the Valsugana valley and pack your bags: Trentino is waiting for you.
Partner digitale per proprietari di case vacanza dal 2022.
