The 5 Lakes basin: autumn charm and trail updates

On the crystalline slope facing the Dolomite spires, water shapes the landscape into silent forms. The 5 Lakes basin, located above Madonna di Campiglio, preserves one of the most striking high-altitude lake environments in the Parco Naturale Adamello Brenta. It is a rugged and fascinating territory, where limestone gives way to tonalite, the typical granitic stone of the Presanella massif.

The stars of the glacial loop

The famous route touches five bodies of water born from the action of ancient glaciers. In this environment, the vegetation gradually thins out, leaving the scene to rocks and water.

• Lago Ritorto: the first basin encountered on the way up, known for opening up like a true panoramic terrace overlooking the Brenta Dolomites.
• Lago Lambin: wedged into a rocky cleft along the high-altitude trail, surrounded by debris.
• Lago Serodoli: the largest basin of the group, with its open shores often battered by the wind at an altitude of 2,370 meters.
• Lago Gelato: located just above Serodoli, surrounded by stony embankments, it owes its name to the fact that it freezes rapidly at the first sign of cold.
• Lago Nero: a dark and secluded jewel, whose dark waters reflect the severe profiles of the peaks above.

Autumn notices and logistics

The 5 Lakes area is usually accessible in summer by using the cable cars, which allow you to reduce the initial elevation gain. However, it is essential to remember that the summer lifts closed between September 13 and 20, 2026.

This radically changes the logistics of the excursion:

• The route can no longer rely on cable transport. Reaching the basin requires starting on foot from the lower access points (such as the Patascoss locality), adding significant elevation gain and several hours of walking to the itinerary.
• It is necessary to carefully plan the outing by checking in advance the actual opening of the trails, the available daylight hours, and the weather conditions, given that at high altitudes the terrain can already be cold or slippery.

Finally, for those organizing excursions in the Park during this period, we point out an important access update on the opposite slope: since September 21, 2026, in the Vallesinella area, a section between the parking lot and the Cascate di Mezzo is closed for works, in addition to a portion of the Sentiero dell'Arciduca along the Cason road. A detail to keep in mind for those intending to change slopes in the coming days.

The classic Giro dei 5 Laghi includes Ritorto, Lambin, Serodoli, Gelato and Nambino. Lago Nero is an evocative nearby variant, not the fifth lake of the canonical route.