Loop trail that follows the Orobie ridge above the Clusone plateau and climbs to the Presolana Pass
The Trekking della Presolana (TDP) is the creation of the “Trails Commission” of CAI Clusone, and became a reality thanks to the invaluable work of volunteers who, with passion and dedication, took care of the arrangement of the trails during 2024.
The route winds through spectacular views and ever-changing environments, with Presolana as a constant backdrop. Two variants are proposed: the Green route, in 5 stages, designed for those who like to slowly immerse themselves in nature; the Red route, in 3 stages, dedicated to those looking for more technical and challenging sections. The TDP is preferably traveled counterclockwise, but can also be tackled in the opposite direction.
For more experienced hikers, additional itineraries are available, such as the mountaineering circumnavigation of the Presolana and the Traversata del Formico, suitable for everyone but with a wide range of routes.
Here we offer you the Green route. Ready? On the march!
The journey begins in the town of Clusone, in the Seriana Valley. The starting point is the large parking lot on Via Brescia, which allows you to leave your car for the days it takes to complete the trek.
Leaving the historic center behind, the route winds through cultivated fields and open meadows, following a country road that leads to Rovetta. The historic bridge over the Valleggia, with its stones polished by time, marks the passage to Songavazzo.
From Songavazzo, the trail begins to climb toward the Falecchio plateau, a land of ancient legends and views that open onto Presolana, the “Queen of the Orobie Mountains.” The climb is immersed in a dense beech forest, where the scent of resin and moss accompanies every breath. Past the the small church of Alpini di Songavazzo, the path widens into a dirt road, lit by the sun filtering through the branches.
This is one of the most striking stretches: centuries-old beech trees rise majestically on either side of the path, creating a natural corridor that seems to accompany travelers to their destination.
Continuing along the Camasone ridge, the landscape opens up to a spectacle of meadows and pastures. Here the breath becomes deeper, the air lighter. After a few hundred meters, a fork marks the entrance to Trail 553A, which begins its gentle descent toward Bossico.
Along the way, the Cremonella spring offers a moment of refreshment: the fresh, crystal-clear water gushing from the rocks is a gift of the mountain, a small pleasure to be savored before continuing.
The last part of the walk is a gentle descent through meadows and farms, where the scent of freshly cut grass and the distant sound of cowbells make for an authentic and welcoming atmosphere. The small Chiesetta dei Caduti (Memorial Church), with its refreshment area, is the perfect vantage point to take a break and admire the view.
And here is Bossico, a village overlooking Lake Iseo like a natural balcony. Here, time seems to slow down: the view ranges from the peaks of the Alps to the rolling hills that glide toward the lake. The village’s narrow streets invite a relaxing stroll, while the hospitality of its inhabitants offers a warm welcome to hikers.
Bossico welcomes travelers with its serene atmosphere and breathtaking views. Here, the journey continues-and the mountains still have much to tell.
Leaving behind the village of Bossico, with its picturesque narrow streets and typical mountain welcome, the trail begins its ascent to high altitude. Lake Iseo slowly recedes behind, but continues to accompany the path with sudden glimpses among the trees, giving an almost surreal effect: the deep blue of the water contrasting with the bright green of the meadows and forests.
The first part of the path winds along open pastures and beech forests, where the silence of the mountain is interrupted only by the rustle of the wind and the sound of the cowbells of grazing herds. The trail already gives feelings of absolute freedom, while the scent of wet grass and resin accompanies every breath.
After the first gentler sections, the trail begins to climb between rock outcrops and alpine meadows, providing increasingly open views. Here, Trail 554A becomes steeper and climbs the ridge of Mount Colombina. Every step is a discovery: to the right, the view sweeps over the peaks of the Bergamasque Orobie Alps , while behind us, Lake Iseo shimmers in the sun, offering us a sight that leaves us speechless.
Here, the breath gets deeper, the air gets lighter, and the feeling of being in a special place becomes more intense.
Continuing along the ridge on the opposite slope we reach CAI path 555 that turning right takes us to Forcellino di Ramello. Next, with CAI path 551A and immersed in a thick fir forest, we reach Malga Ramello and with a steep meadowy ascent the Magnolini Shelter at m 1610 asl in Pian della Palù locality, the destination of this second section of the route. From the hut, there is a magnificent view of the southern slope of the Presolana.
For those who choose to stay overnight at the hut, the experience is enriched by a magical moment: the sunset that colors the mountains with golden and red hues, transforming the landscape into a living painting.
The Magnolini Hut is the turning point of the adventure: from here, the mountain reveals itself in all its grandeur, inviting us to continue on to new wonders. The journey continues – and Presolana still has much to tell.
The air is cool and crisp as the first rays of sunshine caress the Magnolini Shelter, illuminating the distant peaks and making the dew glisten on the alpine meadows. After a restorative breakfast, the journey resumes, taking hikers higher and higher, closer and closer to the soul of the Orobie Mountains.
Leaving the hut, we continue along a dirt road and mostly flat sections of trail to Baita Termen. We cross the meadows and pastures of Mount Pora horizontally and climb the gippabile that leads to the Pora peak.
Reaching the wide ridge of the mountain, we leave the cart track, which continues to the right in the direction of Cima Pora, to continue left, downhill. The trail enters between grassy expanses and panoramic ridges, offering incredible views of the surrounding mountains, while the unmistakable profile of the Queen of the Orobie Mountains, Presolana, begins to dominate the horizon.
The trail follows an aerial section. The ridge we travel downhill overlooks the mountains of Scalve Valley, with the Pizzo Camino group in the foreground. Awaiting us is the Enchanted Forest Trail, which, amidst the legends and traditions of the Scalve Valley, accompanies us toward a well-deserved refreshment.
Past Colle Vareno, the trail follows the ridge of Mt. Lantana and then descends on the opposite slope to a trail junction near the locality Marinona , equipped with tables for a picnic stop. Continuing on, one climbs in a northerly direction toward Malga Lantana and shortly thereafter reaches Mt. Scanapà where the effort is repaid by a sense of absolute freedom. Every step is a dialogue with the mountain, every breath is a tribute to the Presolana that we have, majestic, before our eyes.
Very advisable here to make a few more meters of ascent, to reach the top of Scanapà where a high cross is placed and above all to admire the whole valley: in the foreground the villages of Bratto and Dorga, then Castione della Presolana, the plateau of Clusone and up to Mount Alben.
After the last downhill stretch, the trail reaches the Presolana Pass, one of the most iconic places on the entire route. This place has seen generations of wayfarers, merchants and mountaineers pass through, each with their own dream and story. Presolana, with its walls of white and gray limestone, is the realm of climbers, who try their hand at its legendary routes.
To sit on a rock and be enveloped by the view is to understand the grandeur of these lands. The view opens up to an infinite horizon: to the south the valleys stretch out gently, to the north the jagged peaks rise like guardians of the sky.
For those who wish to continue to the Carlo Medici Refugio ai Cassinelli hut, refreshments and a meeting point with other hikers could be found. Between a hot dish and a glass of wine, travel tales would be shared and the next adventure planned.
With the Presolana Pass behind us, the journey continues to the Olmo Shelter. The road is still long, but each step brings us closer and closer to the authentic heart of the Orobie Mountains.
Leaving the Presolana Pass behind, the trail goes through the dense pine forest on the south side of Presolana, a place that seems to have come out of a fairy tale. The path leading from the pass to the C. Medici ai Cassinelli, is very popular and due to its characteristics of beauty and simplicity is a trail suitable for everyone.
Leaving the pine forest, the trail encounters large open spaces that overlook the valley and offer spectacular views of the southern ramparts of the Presolana, the Carlo Medici ai Cassinelli Shelter is nearby. A stop is a must: it’s the perfect time to slow your pace, breathe deeply and let the pure beauty of nature envelop you. Here the wind carries with it the scent of sun-warmed stone and the herbs that grow wild along the way.
Leaving the Carlo Medici Shelter behind, the landscape becomes wilder and more evocative. The trail climbs along the Sentiero delle capre (Goat Path), which, after gaining altitude, runs through the meadows dotted with rhododendrons and gentian on the southern slope of the Corzene Mountains.
Reaching the Presolana Pass, the last section of the trail crosses the scree of Castione della Presolana.
At the highest point of the trail stands the wooden statue of the ‘Ghiaioni’ Christ. Now we have only one last downhill stretch to go, to reach the meadow basin where the Rino Olmo shelter stands.
Rifugio Olmo, located at 1,819 meters above sea level, is the perfect refuge after a day of hiking. Its strategic location makes it a sheltered corner of peace in the Orobian Pre-Alps, while its family atmosphere welcomes hikers and mountaineers in an embrace of warmth and tradition.
Here, the journey finds a well-deserved break: the smell of a hot dish wafting from the kitchen, the sound of the wind caressing the stone walls, and the sunset coloring the peaks in golden hues are the perfect reward for the effort of the walk.
This stage is an immersive experience that allows you to experience the mountain in its most authentic form: among shady forests and boundless views, each step brings you closer and closer to the essence of Presolana.
The Olmo Shelter is not just a destination, but a place where emotions settle and the heart is filled with wonder. Here, within stone walls and under a starry sky, the journey finds its deepest dimension.
After days immersed in the wilderness and unique atmosphere of Presolana, the journey draws to a close. Leaving the Olmo Shelter behind, the hiker prepares to head back toward Clusone, but not before passing through some of the most s evocative views of the entire trek.
The trail starts slightly downhill along CAI 327, following the curves of the mountain to the Olone Pass, a natural crossroads from which incredible views of the valleys below open up. The landscape is still dominated by rocky ridges and high-altitude pastures, but gradually the vegetation thickens, heralding a return to lower altitudes
Past the Olone Pass, the trail continues through alpine meadows and larch forests until it reaches Malga Campo, one of the most photographed points of the entire trek. From here, the view of Presolana is simply extraordinary: its majestic silhouette silhouetted against the sky, almost as a final farewell to travelers leaving the high altitudes.
The descent continues gently, offering postcard-perfect scenery: ancient trees, small streams meandering through the meadows, and the sound of the wind caressing the ridges. This section of the trail invites reflection, allowing you to savor every moment before returning to civilization.
After a long descent on dirt road, you reach a hairpin bend that marks an important junction: here you take CAI path 317A, which leads to the Bigliardo locality, in the territory of Castione della Presolana.
At this point, the route turns into a journey through history, following ancient trails that have been traveled by merchants, shepherds and travelers for centuries. The path continues under the ridges of Mt. Campo, Mt. Valsacco and Mt. Parè, offering increasingly broader views of the valley.
Having crossed the Località Blum, we arrive at the small Alpini di Rovetta Church, a place rich in memory and tradition, from which there is a beautiful view of the valley and the mountains traveled in the previous days.
The final stage of the Green Trail is more than a return: it is a celebration of the experience, a moment to imprint in memory the sights, sensations, labors and achievements of each and every day.
Those who have walked these trails will never really return the same: the mountains leave a deep mark, an unbreakable bond with nature, history and freedom that only trekking can offer.
Presolana Trekking comes to an end, but the desire to explore never ends.
