When our guests at The Court of Marga For those who desire a hike that tests the legs and keeps pace with the true mountain, there is a trail on the southern slope of Cansiglio that I love to recommend. It's a wild route, severe in parts due to its gradients, but capable of delivering one of the most intense panoramic rewards in all the Trevigian Prealps.
We are talking about Nino Lot Path signpost CAI n. 1036a).
This circular route starts from the deep gorges of Ponte Levine and climbs vertically up the mountain ridges, traversing karst canyons and dense beech forests, until emerging onto the high-altitude pastures of Monte dei Foresti and the enchanting plateau of Pian di Cadolten. This is not a simple hilly walk: it is a true mountain trek, where the effort of the ascent is rewarded by an aerial view stretching from the Revine Lakes to the Venice Lagoon.
This splendid and challenging track is dedicated to the memory of Giacomo Lot, affectionately known as “Nino”, a passionate and respected local mountaineer who sadly passed away in 1995.
The beating heart of the hike is the bivouac named after it: an ancient stone shelter nestled beneath a majestic rock face, carefully restored to remain always open as a refuge and stopping point for anyone who loves these peaks. Entering this bivouac, where the smell of wood blends with the coolness of the rock, means breathing the authentic spirit of local hiking.
The adventure begins by leaving the car in the small car park located at Levine Bridge (500 m), a village upstream of Osigo, in the municipality of Fregona. To get there from Vittorio Veneto, follow the scenic provincial road SP 422 which climbs towards Cansiglio; after passing the town of Fregona, turn right towards Montaner and continue for about 2 kilometres until kilometre 37.7 (marked by road sign VII / 37).
With a backpack on, walk slightly uphill along the tarmac for about 200 metres. Shortly after crossing the bridge over the Vizza stream, you will find the official sign marking the start of the Nino Lot Path. After an initial steep climb, the path becomes easier, passing a few isolated huts and a clearing that offers a first panoramic glimpse of the plain below.
However, the mountain soon began to take its toll: following the white and red trail markers CAI n. 1036a, the track begins to climb again with a steep gradient in the middle of a dense deciduous forest. Reaching an altitude of 730 metres, the itinerary takes a spectacular turn, traversing a veritable rocky canyon. From here, you enter a wilder and more rugged area (800 m), where a thicket of large exposed boulders clearly shows the phenomena of block paving, the geological signature of Cansiglio.
After another 200 metres of steep and arduous ascent, the woods thin out to make way for the unmistakable silhouette of Nino Lot Bivouac (1.010 m, approximately 1 hour and 45 minutes from the start). The structure is a little gem: it's nestled, protected, at the foot of an imposing rock face, and the interior, perfectly maintained, is equipped with a wood-burning stove, a table, and benches. Outside, a beautiful wooden terrace, securely anchored to the steep slope and equipped with a metal handrail, will allow you to sit and admire the void and the plain below.
Having caught your breath, the itinerary continues by overcoming a short rocky step located right by the bivouac, using a metal safety handrail. Walk east for about 200 metres, crossing a small muddy gully, before joining a comfortable track.
After two wide hairpin bends, the forest opens up to reveal the pastures of the splendid and renovated Malga Picotera (1.032 m), situated in an extraordinarily panoramic meadow basin. After passing another mountain dairy, you walk along a relaxing straight stretch immersed in a magnificent and solemn beech wood. Pay close attention to the trail markers: shortly before a valley gully, you must turn left (north), leaving the main track.
The path now takes a sharp turn, skirting the territory of Montaner, running along the bottom of an old valley and then alongside an ancient tree-lined track once used as Roccolo for catching birds. Here the vegetation thins and the panorama literally explodes: the view opens magnificently towards Valsana, the hills of Vittorio Veneto, the shining profile of the Revine Lakes and the entire Veneto plain.
Walking among dry stone walls and some ruins bearing witness to ancient alpine grazing, you reach the highest point of the entire itinerary at an altitude of 1.235 metres, on the southwestern slopes of Forest Hill. This is the ideal spot to stop, eat your packed lunch, and be lulled by the high-altitude wind.
From this panoramic balcony, the path begins to gently descend towards the meadows of Cadolten Plateau. This high-altitude plateau is a small paradise dotted with mountain huts and small alpine lakes. Rubbish) created to water livestock, which offer a splendid aerial view.
Reaching the Cadolten plain, at the level of Capital of San Floriano (1.183 m, about 3 hours from the start of the hike), you will meet the paved road coming from Casa Cadolten. Leave the road to turn left along a dirt track in a southerly direction, which shortly afterwards becomes a forest path (700 m) that leads into the Valle Armada.
Please note: The descent along this valley has some rather steep sections which, in case of rain or wet ground, become slippery and require a steady foot and maximum attention. Around the 960-metre mark, the path rejoins the main track which, with a series of hairpin bends through the woods, will return you exactly to the starting point of Ponte Levine (500 m), completing this splendid loop in approximately 5.5 hours in total.
Based on Tobacco Cartography no. 012
Tackling the 750 metres of elevation gain on the Nino Lot Path, walking among the boulders of the canyon and descending along Valle Armada is an experience that leaves you with a beautiful tiredness, made of warm muscles and a light mind.
Upon your return to Miane, the real magic will be stepping through the door of our apartments. The Court of Marga. After a rejuvenating shower, you can lie down and relax, perhaps opening a fine glass of Prosecco Superiore DOCG to toast the conquest of Monte dei Foresti. If you love authentic mountains and want to discover other unique routes, explore the detailed guides of our blog. If, on the other hand, you want to secure your ideal retreat for your next pre-Alpine adventure, Book your stay at La Corte di Marga now. The most beautiful walks await you right outside our door.
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