Fall Foliage

When it comes to autumn, Valtellina knows how to put on a show. Find out our top suggestions for family-friend strolls where you’re sure to be dazzled by fiery fall foliage and stunning mountain landscapes

Known as the ultimate destination for climbers, Val Masino also wows visitors each autumn. Easily accessible with forest trails running alongside its crystal-clear waters (the Bidet della Contessa is a real wonder at any time of the year) and tall granite cliffs and boulders on either side, Val di Mello provides some of the most unspoilt autumnal sights in the world.

From S. Martino, you can either head into Val di Mello or go in the other direction for direct access to the awe-inspiring autumnal majesty of the Bagni di Masino forest. There’s also a dedicated route that caters for visually impaired and blind people.

Up high in Val Masino, a visit to Predarossa at the gateway to Monte Disgrazia, Valtellina’s signature mountain, is a must. Get ready to be stunned as Predarossa’s famous plain explodes into a riot of colour.

After a short, sharp climb through the trees, the glorious valley of Val Zebrù in the heart of the Parco Nazionale dello Stelvio in Alta Valtellina’s Valfurva whisks you straight into the scenes of a picture book Alpine autumn, complete with neat mountain cabins in harmony with its surrounding nature. As the trees shimmer with yellows and oranges, it’s hard to name a better place to celebrate autumn on foot. The rutting stags join in too, bellowing loudly as their mating season coincides with the change in the colours; interestingly, Val Zebrù is on the front line with one of the highest densities of hoofed animals.

Sticking to the upper part of the valley, here are two family-friendly walking routes in Valdidentro, which are wonderful at all times of the year but even more stunning in autumn as the leaves turn and the colours pop.

Setting off from Arnoga, Val Viola is a flat valley that can be explored at your leisure. It begins with an accessible stretch on the road, making it suitable for those with young children. For mountain bikers, Val Viola is a must-ride location, offering a unique atmosphere thanks to the many surrounding peaks that stretch above 3,000 metres (the Cima Piazzi and Corno Dosdè are two of these).

The two huge reservoirs known as the Laghi di Cancano are another highlight in Valdidentro for those who enjoy hiking, MTBing or gravel riding. Ride up the series of hairpins to the Torri di Fraele towers, or follow the long stretch of pancake-flat gravel called the Decauville from Arnoga—best done by bike given the distance. Nice and largely flat, Cancano is one of the rare destinations that can please all ages and all fitness levels.

On the hunt for the richest autumnal views, Livigno and its lake of the same name are nigh on unbeatable. Easily reached by car or by walking or riding along the shared-use pedestrian path that crosses the whole of Livigno, the lakeside gives direct access to a hike through Val Alpisella (home to the source of the River Adda) and all the way through to the Cancano lakes. Not for beginners, it’s a medium-difficulty walk that climbs just over 500 metres.

Autumn in Valtellina means one thing: it’s time for the vendemmia. The annual grape harvest sees the steep terraces along the Via dei Terrazzamenti – the 70km-long marked trail that links Morbegno with Tirano – turn into a hive of activity. Now’s a good time to visit local wine producers on the sunny slopes of the Rhaetian Alps. To pep up your experience, don’t miss the Valtellina Wine Trail in November, an annual trail running race with three different distances through the vineyards. 

Val Tartano is where you’ll find the now iconic Ponte nel Cielo, which is Europe’s highest Tibetan bridge and guaranteed to get your heart racing. A gloriously unspoilt part of the Orobic Alps, Val Tartano is the place for lacing up your hiking boots. Out of all its routes, the Sentiero dei Ponti trail is a must-do, as this roughly two-and-a-half hour hike with a climb of 400 metres manages to take in no fewer than five bridges including the ‘sky bridge.’

For the most Instagrammable destination in Valchiavenna, the photogenic Acquafraggia falls in the utterly charming old village of Piuro are a very popular prospect. Here’s where the climb to Savogno begins, with a grand total of 2,886 steps taking you to a place where it feels like time has stood still. On the way up, the trees part to provide glimpses of breath-taking views over a landscape that’s lit up each autumn with a cacophony of colours.

Valmalenco is another valley that knows how to put on a show in autumn with walks and trails around its bounty of beautiful lakes. From S. Giuseppe, the hike to the textbook alpine Lagazzuolo lake won’t disappoint. Boasting stunning scenery that looks like it has been taken straight from a tourist brochure, this hike packs a punch with a climb of almost 600 metres in just two kilometres. However, you’ll be rewarded for the effort of the climb once you’re up high and admiring the richness of the autumnal tapestry reflected in the lake.