From Mendola Pass to Mount Roen Peak through Malga Smarano
Mountain tour • Val di Non
From Mendola Pass to Mount Roen Peak through Malga Smarano
A classic itinerary that proves popular among hikers in the Val di Non and the Caldaro area whatever the season. It can be shortened by climbing up the first part up to Mezzavia Refuge in the chairlift!
<p>The itinerary snakes its way along trail SAT 500 starting off at Mendola Pass. The trail begins as a country road and then becomes narrower and steeper to reach Mezzavia Refuge. The trail continues in an alternation of steeper sections and parts with less of a gradient to the clearing where Malga di Romeno lies. The final part to reach the summit of Mount Roen corresponds to the steepest section but the spectacular view from the peak will be well worth the effort.</p> <p>The return to Malga di Romeno suggested does not match the outward leg but it descends along the Roen prairies to Malga Smarano and then links up with Malga di Romeno along the shady and flat trail 528/A.</p>
recommended route
Mountain tour
· Val di Non
From Mendola Pass to the Summit of Monte Roen via Malga Smarano
APT Val di Non Verified partner
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Monte RoenPhoto: Silvia Gentilini, APT Val di Non
The route follows the SAT 500 path starting from Mendola Pass. The path begins as a wide dirt road then narrows and becomes steeper to reach the Mezzavia Hut. The path continues alternating between steep sections and less steep ones until the clearing where the Malga di Romeno stands. The final part to reach the summit of Monte Roen is the steepest, but the effort is rewarded by the spectacular view from the top.
The return route to Malga di Romeno proposed here is different from the ascent and descends through the meadows of Roen to Malga Smarano, then connects to Malga di Romeno via the shady and flat path 528/A.
Author’s recommendation
The hike winds along the ridge overlooking the Adige Valley and can be shortened by interrupting it at the Malga di Romeno and returning the same way (3-4 hours total).
Alternatively, the ascent route can be varied by continuing from Malga di Romeno to the Oltradige Hut, then reaching the summit via an easy via ferrata. The via ferrata section should only be undertaken if you have the appropriate equipment (harness and carabiners).
In summer and autumn, until the end of October, it is also possible to limit the elevation gain by taking the chairlift from Mendola Pass up to the Mezzavia Hut for the first section.
APT Val di Non Verified partner
Derived from the technical difficulty and the stamina requirements.
Track types
Show elevation profileRest stops
Rifugio Ristorante MezzaviaSafety information
As you can imagine, trail accessibility in a mountain environment is strictly linked to current conditions and therefore depends on natural events, environmental changes and weather. For this reason, the information contained in this sheet may have changed. Before setting off, check the trail status by contacting the refuge managers on your route, alpine guides, visitor centers of natural parks, and tourist offices.Tips and suggestions
This is also a classic route during the winter season, when hundreds of hikers tackle the gentle slopes of Monte Roen with alpine skis and snowshoes on their feet.Roadbook
The route follows entirely the SAT 500 Sentiero Italia waymark. The hike winds along the ridge overlooking the Adige Valley and can be shortened and simplified (easy walk) by interrupting it at the Malga di Romeno and returning the same way (3:30 round trip) or by using the chairlift for the first section.
From the Mendola Pass above the funicular parking lot, take a small road between the huts marked with SAT 500 and reach the Genzianella Hut. From here, gently climbing on the SAT 500 path, you gain altitude passing under the chairlift cables and shortly reach the Mezzavia Hut. Continue always on the SAT 500 path, climbing through woods and clearings until you reach the pasture basin where the Malga di Romeno stands. From Malga di Romeno, continue up the entire north side of the mountain on SAT 500 until reaching the summit of Monte Roen with a 360° panorama of the Dolomites. From the summit, continue south for a short section on path 500, then take the 528 waymark descending through meadows to Malga di Smarano. Here you take path 528A which joins path 500 shortly above Malga di Romeno. From there, return to Mendola Pass along the same route as the ascent.
Public transport
Public-transport-friendly
Mendola Pass can be reached from the Trentino side by line 630 bus of Trentino Trasporti and from the Alto Adige side with the Mendola funicular starting from St. Antonio in Caldaro.Directions
Mendola Pass is reached via the SS42 state roadParking
At Mendola PassCoordinates
Author’s map recommendations
Equipment
Hiking boots, trekking poles, a waterproof jacket and a spare t-shirtLocalization
Derived from the technical difficulty and the stamina requirements.
Weather at the starting point
Statistics
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