Spring valley

In the heart of the forest between the Big Monticolo Lake and Lake Caldaro, so to say between the quarters of Monticolo (Appiano) and Campi al Lago (Caldaro), there's a little valley which goes its own way regarding its flora. It is located in a marshy hollow, protected from too heavy climatic conditions, while warm air flows enter the valley from the south located Lake Garda.

To that effect the heralds of spring react, and at the end of February the first spring snowflakes and liverworts stick their heads out of the soil in the Spring Valley, also called Fabión Valley. The otherwise brown and grey landscape is covered with a white sea of flowers, while the surroundings peaks are still snow-capped and invite to sunshine skiing. Some weeks later, crocuses, primroses, violets and anemones follow.

Alders and chestnut trees dominate the forest which is crossed by the small Rio Angola brook. The hike starts at Lake Monticolo and leads in about 1.5 hours without a major altitude difference to Mt. Monte di Mezzo and into the basin of Lake Caldaro - or vice versa. Please note, that the valley (Frühlingstal, in German - Valle della Primavera, in Italian) is not only a climatic phenomenon and a botanical highlight, but also a protected biotope: Picking flowers is strictly forbidden!