mercoledì: CIASPOLATA in QUOTA Andalo

High on the Paganella plateau above Andalo, this midweek ciaspolata—mercoledì: CIASPOLATA in QUOTA Andalo—drops you out of the bustle and into a wide, snow-soft silence. Located on Paganella, 38096 Vallelaghi, Autonomous Province of Trento, Italy, the route climbs above the forest line toward the Canfedin slopes and keeps the jagged skyline of the Dolomiti di Brenta in constant view. This is an easy, panoramic snowshoe hike led by a Guida Alpina UIAGM.

Over roughly four hours participants move along gentle, rolling gradients beyond the limits of the pistes, following powder fields and wind-sculpted drifts that reveal the area’s characteristic dolomitic limestone peaks. Expect larch and stone pine at treeline giving way to open ridgelines where chamois or red deer tracks sometimes cut across fresh snow. The quieter terrain makes for relaxed stops, clear photographs, and a pause at a mountain hut for an optional rifugio lunch before descending by the Laghet–Paganella lift.

Practical details matter: the program meets at Loc Laghet (Andalo) with a briefing and lift up to Paganella 2 before the walk. Total tour time in the field is about 4 hours (9:30–13:00), the activity requires participants to be at least 12 years old, and groups top out at 15 people. The guide provides necessary gear depending on conditions—ciaspole (snowshoes), ramponcini, and poles are included when needed—so bring suitable layered clothing, waterproof trekking boots, and a small daypack with water and snacks.

What makes this outing stand out is its location: a high plateau sitting within sight of the Brenta Dolomites, a UNESCO World Heritage range known for pale dolomite rock and vertical towers. The setting contrasts the louder, busier ski sectors nearby—here the soundscape is wind and crunch—and it’s an excellent choice for travelers who want a photographic, restorative mountain morning without technical terrain. Booking is flexible: pay in full online or reserve with a €10 deposit per person.

If snow is thin the walk proceeds on foot with poles or microspikes as conditions demand. Because the route runs in snowy, high-altitude terrain, participants should be in good health and able to walk steadily for several hours. This ciaspolata is both an accessible winter immersion and an unobstructed stage for the Brenta’s dramatic dolomite geology and alpine quiet.

Participants meet at the Laghet lift area near Andalo for a brief safety talk and gear handout; the guide will advise whether ciaspole, ramponcini or simple trekking poles are appropriate. Maximum group size is 15 to preserve the quiet. Bring cash or card for lunch at the rifugio and check weather and lift operating status in advance.

The guide-operated format emphasizes low-impact travel: stay on established tracks, pack out all waste, and leave fragile lichens and alpine vegetation undisturbed.