GIRO DEI CINQUE LAGHI HIKE

“Five Lakes Hike” or Giro dei cinque laghi is, as the name implies, a grand tour of five exquisite lakes. Ritort, Labin, Serodoli, Gelato, and Nambino lakes. All are accessible via the ski lifts in Madonna di Campiglio, making this a very approachable day trip for most hikers. Using the cable car, in just a few minutes you will reach almost 2,000 meters and, from the cable car station, you can take the trail to lake Ritort and onto the other lakes. You can also return to the village using another cable car near the last lake (Malghette) or walk down to the valley.

DATA SHEET FOR GIRO DI CINQUE LAGHI

DEPARTURE POINT: Mountain station 5 lakes, 2065 m, Madonna di Campiglio

TYPE OF WALK: ring excursion

ELEVATION GAIN: 200 meters uphill, 700 downhill

MAXIMUM ALTITUDE: Passo Ritorto, 2277 meters

TIME TO WALK: 6 hours for the ring

SIGNAGE: excellent

DIFFICULTY: medium

SUPPORT POINTS: Lago Nambino refuge.

MOUNTAIN GROUP: Adamello Presanella

CARTOGRAPHY/MAPS: Tobacco 1: 25.000, sheet 52, Adamello Presanella

RECOMMENDED PERIOD: JUNE TO SEPTEMBER

GENERAL OVERVIEW OF 5 LAKES RING WALK

The tour of the 5 lakes is one of the better known excursions that can be done in the Madonna di Campiglio area in Trentino region, and is located in the Adamello Brenta National Park. More precisely, you pass to the Ritorto, Lambino, Gelato, Serodoli and Nero lakes. If you decide to walk down to Madonna di Campiglio you will also pass to a sixth lake, Lake Nambino, where there is a nice rifugio to enjoy a meal or just relax. The 5 lakes are part of the group of the sub section of the Rhaetian Alps, know as the Presanella Mountains, and are were formed from glacial movement. Throughout the whole Presanella group you will find several small lakes of glacial origin that are located above 2000 meters, and during this excursion you will also find other small unnamed lakes. Along with the panorama of these lakes, immersed in nature, towards the east you will have stunning views of the whole Brenta Dolomites group. The hike is not very demanding, the uphill gradient is minimal, however it requires some fitness training given the length of the walk. Be aware that there are no shelters throughout the route: there are the small huts at the arrival cable car and at the end at Lake Nambino, so you will need to carry appropriate foul weather gear, as well as plenty of water. 

GENERAL ROUTE NOTES FOR THE GIRO DEI 5 LAGHI HIKE

To reach the 5 lakes walk from the center of Madonna di Campiglio locate the 5 lakes cable car (sign posted) and take it, at the top you will reach the 5 Lakes Rifugio, at 2065 meters above sea level. From here you take the path 232, an easy flat trail that in a short time will take you to the first lake, Lago Ritorto. From the Lago Ritorto continue along path 232 to reach the Passo Ritorto, at 2277 meters above sea level. This is the only real uphill stretch and your highest elevation reached on the walk. From the pass you will begin a walk along the mountain ridge which, through various ups and downs, will lead you first to the Lago Lambino, then to the Lago Gelato and Lago Serodoli. The route's descent begins after Lago Serodoli, leading to Lago Nero, which you will first see from above as you walk down to it. This part of the descent will take you to the intersection of  path 217 which you will take to Lago Nambino. Note that as you walk down from the Lago Nero you will arrive at a crossroads of two paths (217 and 266), both paths lead to Lago Nambino. Take one of the two paths and descend to Lago Nambino at 1728 meters above sea level. Finally, to close this circular excursion, return to Madonna di Campiglio on foot, always following the path, or take the short walk up to the cable car that takes you down to the center of the village.