The path connects Lake Santo, a splendid glacier-origin lake, to the Potzmauer alpine refuge, located at 1300 m and immersed in a basin of meadows surrounded by fir woods.
Lake Santo owes its name to a suggestive legend: it is said that once, where the lake now lies, there was land disputed fiercely among heirs, so much so that one of them, exasperated, wished it would become a lake. From that moment the water began to rise. The inhabitants of Cembra, worried about the impending danger, went on a pilgrimage to the land and when the parish priest threw the Madonna’s ring into it, the water calmed down.
The Potzmauer Refuge was once a mountain farm, abandoned with the disappearance of livestock in the valley. It was bought by the Municipality of Grumes (now part of Atavalle Municipality), which renovated it and gave it new life. Today the refuge is a rest point both for meals and overnight stays and also a midpoint for possible longer excursions towards other interesting places such as the peat bogs of Lac del Vedes or Lago di Valda.
Alta Val di Cembra Avisio Reserve Network
www.reteriservevaldicembra.tn.it
Potzmauer Refuge
www.facebook.com/RifugioPotzmauerGrumes
Visit Trentino
Meteotrentino
Although the path does not present particular technical difficulties or dangerous sections, we always recommend respecting the general safety rules for mountain excursions in any case.
The information contained in this sheet is subject to unavoidable changes, so no indication is absolutely binding. It is not possible to completely avoid inaccuracies or errors, considering the rapid changes in the environment or weather conditions that may occur. In this sense, we decline all responsibility for any changes suffered by the user. It is advisable, however, to check before undertaking a hike, the state of the places and the environmental or meteorological conditions.
From the Lago Santo Refuge follow the signs for Potzmauer Refuge (European Path E5), which is reached in about 2 and a half hours walking along forest roads that follow the side of the Dossone di Cembra overlooking the Adige Valley.
Once at the refuge, the return to the starting point takes place by following signs to reach Lago di Valda, a peat bog that is part of the Prati di Monte protected area, and then to Ponciach. Upon reaching Zise, descend along the paved road for about 1 km and then take the dirt road going up to the right following signs to return to Lago Santo