A refreshing lakeside walk: from Prada to Rifugio Fiori del Baldo

When, as in these past weeks, the heat becomes oppressive and the air feels still, there’s a desire we all share: to find relief, fresh air, and coolness. And what could be better than leaving the muggy weather behind to climb to higher altitudes, where the air smells of forest and the meadows sway gently under a clear sky?
The walk that starts from Prada, a small hamlet of San Zeno di Montagna, and leads to Rifugio Fiori del Baldo, is an invitation to slow down, breathe deeply, and let yourself be enchanted by the landscape.
The trail begins near the cable car station, where you can park your car and set off on foot. From there, you’re immediately immersed in nature, among cool woods and sunlit clearings, with Lake Garda appearing and disappearing through the branches. The climb becomes increasingly panoramic, but never difficult: it’s a route suitable for everyone, alternating steeper stretches with gentler ones, until you reach the ridges of Monte Baldo, where the view opens up in all directions.
You walk along the ridge gently, in about half an hour suspended between sky and earth, accompanied only by the wind and the scent of grass. The last stretch, a climb through flowery meadows teeming with life, is the perfect frame before arriving at the refuge. In just a few minutes you reach the summit, and with it one of the most spectacular viewpoints of the Baldo, at 1850 meters above sea level. But more than the altitude, what strikes you here is the sensation of freedom, of lightness, of truly having left everything else behind.

A window onto the mountains of the past: Annamaria’s refuge

Arriving at Rifugio Fiori del Baldo is not just a hiking achievement: it’s like opening a window onto the past. Here you won’t find frills, gourmet dishes, or trendy furnishings. You’ll find Annamaria, the refuge’s guardian, 80 years old, always there. Summer and winter. An authentic, straightforward figure, with that gentle roughness that belongs to those who have spent a lifetime among wind, snow, sun, and silence.
The food is simple, genuine, made of traditional dishes, homemade cakes, and a collection of homemade grappa that tells more stories than a thousand words. Eating at those wooden tables, in front of a panorama that embraces Lake Garda, the Prealps, the Apennines, and even Monte Rosa, is an experience that will stay with you.
This isn’t a refuge for those seeking comfort, but for those seeking truth. That warm, straightforward simplicity, a bit rough but sincere, which pairs perfectly with a slice of apple cake, a glass of grappa, and a breathtaking view.

Alpine flora and fauna

Monte Baldo has been known for centuries as the “Garden of Europe,” and it only takes a glance to understand why. The meadows surrounding the refuge explode in summer with rare and colorful flowers, many of which grow only here—the so-called “baldensis” species. Edelweiss, gentians, saxifrages, orchids... a true paradise for botany enthusiasts and photographers.

But it’s not just the flowers that make this place magical: the fauna of the Baldo is just as surprising. Here are three stars you might be lucky enough to meet along the way:

Queen of the Alpine skies: the Golden Eagle

With wings spanning over two meters, the golden eagle dominates the skies of the Baldo. If you’re lucky, you might see it in flight, with a few powerful wingbeats and silent glides. It nests among the highest rocks and, faithful to its territory, watches over it with ritual and spectacular flights. A true symbol of strength and freedom.

The mountain acrobat: the Chamois

Elegant, robust, and incredibly agile, the chamois is one of the most fascinating inhabitants of the Baldo. Introduced years ago, today there are many specimens. At dawn or late afternoon, when the mountain empties, it’s easy to spot these natural athletes leaping lightly among the rocks, with their alert eyes and proud profile.

The sentinel of the high lands: the Marmot

Easier to spot, but no less fascinating, the marmot is the true sentinel of the mountains. It lives in colonies, loves the sun, and warns its companions with sharp whistles as soon as it senses danger. In summer, it roams the flowery meadows in search of food and company, but already in September it begins to prepare for the long winter hibernation.

The walk from Prada to Rifugio Fiori del Baldo is not just a hike among breathtaking views and unspoiled nature. It’s a little journey through time, rediscovering that authentic simplicity that, perhaps, we have somewhat forgotten. It’s an encounter with a mountain made of wind and silence, of vast spaces and a rough but sincere hospitality—the kind that still knows how to speak to the heart.