Loop trail with hike up to the top of Mount Cornicoletto, Belmonte and Vedetta Alta in the Maddalena Group

Difficulty: EE (expert hikers)

From the car park, follow the signs to the nearby Malga di Cloz which you will swiftly reach along the gravel road. Once you are at the malga mountain hut, take trail no. 7 which climbs uphill of the malga to reach the ruins of Malga Paiol. Continue uphill, again following trail marker no. 7 aiming for the saddle between Mount Cornicolo and Mount Cornicoletto Peak and ignoring the fork on the left with trail number 10 which would instead take you to Belmonte Peak. The trail gradually becomes steeper and zig-zags its way along the steep slope to reach the saddle between the two peaks. From the saddle, the nearby Mount Cornicoletto Peak and its ridge made up of rocks and grass patches is clearly visible on the left. Take extra care tackling the ridge and you will soon reach Mount Cornicoletto Peak, the first of the three peaks 2294 m a.s.l.

Once you have left a note and signed the summit book, continue your descent along the ridge towards the South-West, aiming for the nearby Belmonte Peak. The trail here is not very well marked but the path to follow is quite obvious since you have to go down the ridge and then climb the ridge up to Belmonte Peak or Schöngrub 2454 m a.s.l. The cross and a summit book can also be found on this summit, so you can leave a testimony of your presence.

Now begins the beautiful crossing to the last of the three peaks, Vedetta Alta Peak. As you descend from the ridge of Belmonte Peak towards the West, you will come across trail no. 22 that leads you straight ahead with a few ups and downs among grassy patches. There is a metal rope in two sections of the trail to facilitate you as you cross a rocky slope that does not entail any technical challenges.

You will then reach Vedetta Alta Peak 2624 m a.s.l., the third highest peak in the Maddalena Group and a favourite destination owing to the spectacular views it offers. Once you have left a comment in this summit book placed on the cross too, the long descent begins along trail no. 11 down the rocky ridge first and along the green meadows after, until you reach the comfortable Malga Kessel.

From the malga mountain hut, continue downhill along the forest road until you pass the sixth bend, where you’ll find the junction with the trail leading to the nearby Malga di Revò and then on to the Malga di Cloz. From here, continue along the gravel road you took at the beginning to return to the car park.