Fanes-Senes-Braies Nature Park
Bolzano, Trentino-Alto Adige
Among the largest protected areas in the region of Alto Adige, or South Tyrol, this expanse of Alpine peaks, meadows, and lakes (hello, Lake Braies!) is a haven for hikers and climbers. It’s also part of the Europe-wide Natura 2000 initiative, which aims to promote conservation, due partly to the resident wildlife, which include chamois, marmots, badgers, and foxes.
The basics
It’s a good bet to start your visit at the snail-shaped Fanes-Senes-Braies Nature Park Visitor Center in San Vigilio di Marebbe at the entrance to Val de Mareo Valley—here you’ll encounter all kinds of information about the park through videos, interactive media, and exhibits. You can also enter the park from a handful of access points near Lake Braies and Ponticello.
Things to know before you go
- The park is accessible year-round, but some trails may be closed in the winter due to snow.
- No special permits are required for hiking, but guided tours can provide deeper insights into the park’s history and geology.
- The Alta Via 1 and Alta Via 3 multi-day hiking trails cross the park.
- South Tyrol, or Alto Adige in Italian, is a semi-autonomous region where residents speak German, Italian, and Ladin.
How to get there
Fanes-Senes-Braies Nature Park is in northern South Tyrol, or Alto Adige, about 1.5 hours east of Bolzano, and 1.5 hours northwest of Cortina d’Ampezzo by car. There’s parking at the visitor center and usually at key trailheads—but if you’re not driving there, you can try public bus service from locations such as Bruneck and Corvara to the visitor center.
When to get there
There’s hardly a bad time to visit, but summer and winter are great times for visiting. During the summer—and really into early fall—the weather is ideal for hiking, biking, and swimming in mountain lakes. In the winter, much of the park becomes a vast area for skiing, snowshoeing, and even sleigh rides.
Visiting Lago di Braies, the “Pearl of the Dolomites”
It would be remiss to visit the Dolomite Mountains without seeing Lake Braies, one of Italy’s most beautiful lakes. The emerald-colored lake is part of Fanes-Senes-Braies Nature Park, and lies roughly an hour’s drive from the park visitor center by car, making it an easy half-day destination. There you can take an easy loop trail circling the lake, or cruise around the waters in a rented wooden rowboat. Swimming, however, isn’t allowed.
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