📜 Lombardy's largest nature reserve, offering diverse activities for all.
🏞️ A valley of natural beauty with alpine lakes, waterfalls, and towering rock faces.
🚶♀️ Enjoy flat, family-friendly walks along the Mello stream.
🧗♀️ Experience challenging rock climbing on granite walls.
💧 Discover crystal-clear alpine lakes and beautiful waterfalls like The Contessa's Bidet and Ferro Waterfall.
🍽️ Savor traditional Valtellina dishes and local wines at charming refuges.
🏕️ Unique accommodation options, including sleeping under the stars or in converted huts.
🚗 By Car: Drive SS 36 from Lecco to Colico, then towards Sondrio. After Morbegno, take a detour at Ardenno following signs for Val Masino to San Martino.
🅿️ Car Access: Limited to 40 vehicles/day. Purchase a 10-euro parking pass at San Martino Info Point.
🅿️ Parking in San Martino: Hourly zone, 7 euros/day (bring coins).
🚶♀️ From San Martino, it's a 20-minute walk to the valley entrance.
🚆 By Public Transport: Take a train to Morbegno, then a bus to Val di Mello.
🌲 Main Trail: A wide, well-beaten, relatively flat path suitable for everyone, including families with small children. Takes about 1.5 hours with minimal elevation gain.
👶 For more challenging uphill trails, a baby carrier backpack is advised for younger children.
🏞️ The trail follows the Mello stream, passing waterfalls and alpine lakes.
⬆️ Beyond the Rasica huts, the path climbs among rocky boulders to the end of the valley, near the Torrone stream bridge and Chiusa waterfall.
⛰️ A steeper path continues through trees to the Alpe Pioda pastures, offering panoramic views.
🔄 For a loop, return to Rasica and cross a small bridge to follow the river from the opposite bank.
💎 The Contessa's Bidet: A famous alpine lake known for its crystal clear turquoise and emerald waters, especially mystical in autumn.
🌊 The Ferro Waterfall: The first waterfall encountered from San Martino, a 210-meter cascade over four jumps, most powerful in spring.
🏊♀️ The Qualido Pond: Formed by a landslide in 2009, a popular spot for cooling off in summer with transparent water.
🏡 Cascina Piana: The largest cluster of huts, forming a small village with a drinking fountain, shelters, and options for eating and overnight stays.
🍽️ Trattoria Il Gatto Rosso (Ca' Panscer): Offers breakfast and lunch with specialties like Val di Mello gnocchetti, Valtellina pizzoccheri, sciatt, and buckwheat crespelle with bitto.
🍷 Rifugio Mello & Rifugio Luna Nascente (Cascina Piana): Serve traditional Valtellina dishes and local wines such as Sassella, Inferno, Grumello, and Sforzato.
🍰 Rasega Refuge (Rasega locality): Located at the bottom of the valley, known for its light cuisine and extraordinary raspberry tart.
🛌 Rifugio Mello & Rifugio Luna Nascente: Provide private rooms with bathrooms, dormitories with bunk beds, and unique experiences.
🏕️ Rifugio Mello: Offers camping tents, pitches, mattresses, and pillows for sleeping under the stars.
🛖 Rifugio Luna Nascente: Guests can sleep in converted huts with bunk beds and lofts.
⛺ A general campsite option is also available within the valley.