A circuit linking Lago Santo di Cembra with Rifugio Potzmauer, in the midst of forests and open views over the Adige valley
This route links up Lago Santo, a splendid glacial origin lake, with the Potzmauer mountain hut, at an altitude of 1300 metres and set in a grassy clearing surrounded by fir trees.
Lago Santo owes its name to an appealing legend which recounts that there was once a piece of land hotly disputed between heirs where the lake now stands. One of these heirs was so exasperated by the dispute that he wished out loud that it would turn into a lake. From that moment on water levels started to rise. Worried about the danger hanging over them, the inhabitants of Cembra set off on a pilgrimage to the site. When they got there the parish priest threw the Virgin Mary’s ring into it and the waters began to subside.
Rifugio Potzmauer was once a mountain diary but it was abandoned when the valley's cattle farming died out. It was then bought up by Grumes town council which rebuilt it, giving it a fresh lease of life.
Even if this trail is not technically difficult and has no dangerous stretches, we always and in any case suggest to follow the general rules on safety for mountain hikes.
From Rifugio Lago Santo follow signs for Rifugio Potzmauer (European footpath E5) which you get to in approximately 2 hours of hiking on forestry roads along the slopes of Dossone di Cembra, linked to the Adige valley.
After the hut, the return route follows signs to Lago di Valda, a peat bog now part of the Prati di Monte protected area and then Ponciach. When you get to Zise, follow the cobbled road downhill for approx. 1 km and then take the gravel road joining it uphill from the right, following signs back to Lago Santo.
The starting point is Lago Santo, which can be reached by car from Cembra (about 5 km)
Parking near the Rifugio Lago Santo
