There are places that do not need grand words to leave a mark. You simply have to reach them at the right pace, walk slowly through the forest, listen to the water running beside the trail and let the mountain open up little by little. The hike to Lake Costa Brunella and Forcella Segura, starting from Malga Sorgazza, is exactly like that: a route that unfolds gradually, moving from the dense green of Val Malene to the wider, more rugged spaces of the Lagorai.
The starting point is reached from Valsugana, driving up towards Castel Tesino or Pieve Tesino and then following the signs for Val Malene. The road entering the valley is narrow and scenic, winding between the slopes and leading steadily towards the upper end of the valley. After passing the turn-off for the campsite, continue towards Malga Sorgazza, where the road ends in a large parking area below the mountain hut. In summer, it is best not to arrive too late: on busy days, the parking area can fill up after 8:30 a.m.
From the car park, walk up towards the hut and take CAI/SAT trail 328, which immediately enters the heart of Val del Lago. The first part of the hike has the quiet charm of mountain forests: tall fir trees, cool shade, soft ground and that pleasant feeling of gradually leaving the road and noise behind. The trail gains height steadily, without any overly demanding sections, accompanied by damp stretches and plenty of water that make the surroundings feel alive and lush.
As you climb, the forest begins to change. The fir trees become more scattered, light filters more strongly through the branches and the landscape opens onto a wilder side of the mountain. The path continues with many switchbacks, gaining altitude at a regular pace until the more enclosed part of the valley is left behind. Once out of the woods, the atmosphere changes completely: high-altitude meadows, low shrubs and the first views of the peaks give the feeling of entering a broader, freer and more authentic alpine environment.
In this section, you reach the junction with trail 367, which leads towards Malga Quarazza. Instead, continue on trail 328, climbing towards the upper basin. Little by little, the power pylons leading to the dam area begin to appear: an obvious sign of the hydraulic structure, but also a useful visual reference as you approach the lake. After a gentler section, the slope becomes steeper again and the trail leads to the base of the dam.
The passage beneath the base of the dam is one of the most distinctive moments of the hike. After the green of the forest and the open meadows, you suddenly find yourself in front of an imposing structure, set among rocks, water and mountains. The trail crosses below it and then climbs up to the service buildings. This is where the surprise arrives: Lake Costa Brunella appears almost unexpectedly, lying between the peaks like a silent mirror.
The lake is artificial, but it fits into the landscape in a surprisingly harmonious way. Its water reflects the surrounding mountains, the rocks descend towards its shores and all around there is a wide, suspended sense of quiet. It is one of those places where it feels natural to stop, sit for a few minutes and let your eyes rest. Lake Costa Brunella alone would be worth the entire hike: it is not just an intermediate point, but a true emotional destination, rewarding the climb with a simple yet powerful view.
After a break by the lake, the route continues into a higher, more mineral landscape. Leaving the water behind, you walk across grassy areas and large boulders, with Cima di Costa Brunella rising on the left. Here the Lagorai shows a different face: less wooded, more open, more essential. Your step becomes more careful, the ground changes underfoot and the landscape takes on the typical character of higher altitudes, where everything seems reduced to its purest elements: stone, grass, sky and silence.
The track continues towards the area of Forcella Quarazza, but just below the pass you meet trail 373, which climbs towards Forcella Segura. At first, the path offers a short almost level section, like a pause before the final effort. Then the climb becomes more direct, gaining the height that separates the two passes. It is not a very long section, but you can feel it: after the ascent to the lake, these final metres add effort and satisfaction in equal measure.
Reaching Forcella Segura gives the hike a different sense of space. The view opens to the south and to the north-east, looking towards Val Vendrame. It is one of those points where it is worth stopping properly, not only to catch your breath, but to read the landscape: the valleys crossing below, the lines of the ridges, the distance covered from the valley floor up to this point. The pass is not just a geographical point, but the moment when the whole route reveals its full breadth.
From here, experienced hikers looking for a longer route could continue towards Forcella Orsera and then descend towards Val Vendrame, returning to Malga Sorgazza on a wider loop. On this hike, however, the choice was simpler and more direct: returning along the same route used on the way up. This allows you to walk back through the same places at a slower pace, seeing the lake from a different perspective and once again enjoying the transition between boulders, meadows and forest.
The descent along the same trail is never dull, because the landscape changes with the light and with your point of view. Lake Costa Brunella appears again from above and then gradually slips away, while the dam, the meadows and the larches give way once more to the fir trees of Val del Lago. Returning to the forest after spending time higher up always brings a special feeling, as if the mountain were slowly closing the door behind you, gently guiding the walk back down.
Overall, this is a beautiful and complete hike, ideal for those looking for a scenic route that is not excessively extreme. It still requires some experience of mountain walking, a reasonable level of fitness and attention on the higher sections, especially with wet ground, lingering snow or uncertain weather. The ascent is gradual, the scenery changes often and the destination has an authentic charm, far from the most obvious mountain images.
Lake Costa Brunella is without doubt the emotional heart of the route: a small pearl of water among the mountains, able to surprise even those who already know the Lagorai. The continuation to Forcella Segura adds the pleasure of exploration, altitude and broader views over the surrounding valleys. Together, lake and pass create a hike to remember: varied, rewarding, quiet and deeply alpine.
Federico and Beatrice 07/21/2024
