Cima Carega

2,259 m

Italy

Elevation: 2,259 m
Prominence: 1,185 m
Difficulty: 2/10; Hike
Best Season: Jul–Sep
Routes: 1

Routes

3D Preview

SACT2HikeNormal route

Sources differ: E (CAI scale (Sentieri in Cammino, Montagnando))

The standard ascent from the head of the Val d'Illasi: from Rifugio Revolto (1,336 m) over Passo Pertica, up the Campobrun basin on the E5 path to Bocchetta Mosca (2,029 m) and by an old military mule track to Rifugio Fraccaroli, five minutes below the summit. About 950 m of ascent and 2 h 40 min up on signposted CAI paths.

Elevation Profile

Distance: 6.6 km; one way
Ascent: +1,016 m; −97 m lost on the way up
High Point: 2,259 m
Time Up: 4h 24m; DIN 33466
Time Down: 3h 11m; DIN 33466 · same way back

From the car park at Rifugio Revolto (1,336 m), reached by a narrow road from Giazza, take path 186 to Passo Pertica (1,530 m, about 30 min) and follow the former military road (path 109) towards Malga Campobrun, cutting some hairpins and passing a short tunnel. About five minutes before Rifugio Scalorbi turn left onto path 192, part of the E5 long-distance path, and climb the Vallone di Campobrun to Bocchetta Mosca (2,029 m), about 1 h 55 min from the start. From Bocchetta Mosca path 157 zigzags up the hairpins of the old war mule track, with a steeper path cutting the bends, to Rifugio Mario Fraccaroli (2,239 m). The summit cross is a few minutes above the hut over unmarked, slightly loose rocky ground. Signposted times are 2 h 35 min to the hut and 2 h 40 min to the summit. Descend by path 157 to Bocchetta Mosca and continue nearly level to the junction with path 109 (1,985 m), then follow 109 down to Rifugio Scalorbi (1,767 m) and back over Passo Pertica, a round trip of about 5–6 hours. A shorter, steeper alternative is path 108B through the Vallone della Teleferica from the military road at about 1,611 m. Late in the season the upper path can carry snow and ice, when proper crampons are needed.

Start

Rifugio Revolto1,347 m

ATV bus 121 from Verona to Giazza; from Giazza paths 185 and 186 lead up to Passo Pertica (adds about 700 m; usually needs a hut night)
Parking at the trailhead

Stages

Day	Stage	km	m ascent	m descent	Time
1	Rifugio Revolto → Cima Carega	6.6	1,016	97	4h 24m

Waypoints

Parking:
Rifugio Revolto1,347 m
Col:
Passo Pertica1,529 m
Feature:
Malga Campobrun1,672 m
Col:
Bocchetta Mosca2,025 m
Hut:
Rifugio Mario Fraccaroli2,229 m
not on route line
Summit:
Cima Carega2,259 m

Key Passages

Passo Pertica
Vallone di Campobrun
Bocchetta Mosca
Old military mule track to Rifugio Fraccaroli

Equipment

0/5 packed

Technical

Crampons and ice axelate autumn to spring, when snow or ice lies on the upper path; microspikes are not enoughRequired

Footwear

Hiking bootsRequired

Clothing

Waterproof and warm layersRequired

Navigation

Map (Tabacco 56 Piccole Dolomiti–Pasubio, 1:25,000)Recommended

Other

Trekking polesRecommended

Downloads

Route confidence 80%

Download GPX Download KML

Overview

The highest summit of the Piccole Dolomiti (2,259 m), a rocky dome on the Veneto–Trentino border with Rifugio Fraccaroli just below the top. Marked paths from the Val d'Illasi make it a long but straightforward summer hike, with harder ridge paths and via ferratas nearby.

Cima Carega is the high point of the Gruppo del Carega, the largest massif of the Piccole Dolomiti between Verona, Vicenza and Rovereto. The summit itself lies in Trentino (municipality of Ala), with the Val di Revolto and Val d'Illasi on the Veronese side to the south-west and the Campobrun basin and the Vicentine valleys to the south and east. With more than 1,100 m of prominence it gives an all-round view, including the Sengio Alto peaks (Cornetto, Baffelan, Tre Apostoli) to the east.

The easiest route from Rifugio Revolto follows old military roads and the E5 long-distance path to Bocchetta Mosca, then a mule track to Rifugio Mario Fraccaroli (2,239 m), a few minutes from the summit cross. It is a walk on good paths, though long. More demanding options include the 'sentiero delle creste' (path 108) along the Costa Media ridge over Cima Tibet and Cima Madonnina, the Pojesi via ferrata and the Boale dei Fondi path from Campogrosso.

The massif carries many traces of First World War military works: roads, mule tracks and tunnels that the modern paths still use. Summer weekends are busy, and the hut makes a summit lunch or an overnight stay easy.

Climbing Notes

Allow 2 h 30 min to 3 h for about 950 m of ascent from Rifugio Revolto on the normal route, and 5–6 hours for the round trip; normal hill fitness is enough. The last minutes to the summit cross are over slightly loose rock, and the ridge path 108 via Cima Tibet is steep and partly exposed, for experienced hikers only. The Pojesi via ferrata (EEA) needs a via ferrata set and may not be descended.

Rifugio Fraccaroli is staffed in summer and makes a good overnight stop for sunrise or a traverse of the group. Thunderstorms build quickly on summer afternoons. From late autumn the upper path can be icy: real crampons and an ice axe are needed, not microspikes. In winter the group is a ski-touring and snowshoe area with avalanche terrain on the steeper slopes.

History

The name may come from Old High German 'Careige' (a peak with rocky basins) or 'Kar-egge' (cirques), according to local sources. Many paths in the group were built as military roads and mule tracks during the First World War. Rifugio Mario Fraccaroli was built by members of the Gruppo Alpinistico Cesare Battisti of Verona from summer 1953 and opened on 11 October 1953; it is named after a young member killed by retreating German troops on the last day of the Second World War. It was enlarged in 1966 and run by the Baschera family for 53 years from 1968.

Season

Best Jul–Sep

January: Not advisable
February: Not advisable
March: Not advisable
April: Possible
May: Possible
June: Good
July: Best (best window)
August: Best (best window)
September: Best (best window)
October: Good
November: Possible
December: Not advisable

Jan: Winter; ski-touring or winter mountaineering only; winter room at Fraccaroli
Feb: Winter conditions, avalanche risk
Mar: Spring snow; ski-touring
Apr: Snow on the upper slopes; crampons likely
May: Lingering snow above Bocchetta Mosca
Jun: Fraccaroli open at weekends from early June, daily from about 20 June
Jul: Main season; afternoon thunderstorms
Aug: Main season; busy at weekends
Sep: Stable weather; Fraccaroli daily until about 20 September
Oct: Hut open at weekends until mid-October, weather permitting; early ice possible
Nov: Possible snow and ice on the upper path; crampons needed
Dec: Winter conditions

Access & Permits

Hut Booking

Rifugio Mario Fraccaroli (22 beds, CAI Cesare Battisti Verona) can be booked through prenotarifugi.cai.it or by phone/email with the managers; a 6-bed winter room is open when the hut is closed.

Fees

Overnight and meal charges at Rifugio Fraccaroli, with discounts for CAI members

Rules

The Pojesi via ferrata (path 193) must not be descended
The summit and Rifugio Fraccaroli lie in Trentino (Ala); the Revolto approach starts in Veneto (Selva di Progno)

Getting There

Giazza (Selva di Progno); Recoaro Terme and Ala on the other sides

Verona Villafranca (VRN)

By car: A4 to Verona Est or Soave–San Bonifacio, then via Illasi up the Val d'Illasi to Giazza and on a narrow road to Rifugio Revolto (car park, improvised roadside parking when full)
By bus: ATV line 121 from Verona to Giazza, then on foot via paths 185 and 186
From the Vicentine side: road to Passo di Campogrosso, start of path 157 via Boale dei Fondi (EE)

Hazards

Weather
Exposure
Avalanche
Rockfall

Huts & Shelters

Rifugio Mario FraccaroliHutStaffed
22 beds · Daily about 20 June – 20 September; weekends from early June to mid-October, weather permitting; 6-bed winter room always open
Book Rifugio Mario Fraccaroli Website of Rifugio Mario Fraccaroli
2,239 m