Livigno in Summer: 9 Activities for Experiencing the Mountain

17 September 2024 • 12 minutes read

1. Summer trekking in Livigno

Walks, outings, treks: whatever you want to call them, walking tours remain a certainly strenuous but at the same time relaxing way to enjoy the mountains, and Livigno is no exception.

On foot you can reach isolated and hidden places in the mountains where you can enjoy the silence and unspoiled nature. Below are two places that we think are unmissable:

Croce di Crap da la Parè

A classic trail for those who want to see Livigno from above, an easy walk accessible to all. The trail is a quiet up and down that passes within a short distance of the summit of Mount Crapene.

You can start from Passo d'Eira, where you can leave your car, and from there with the N134 trail it is about 45 minutes, or you can start from the top of the Mottolino cable car and lengthen the trail by about 15 minutes.

For those who want to stop and eat, the M'eating point hut a short distance away offers a good variety of typical dishes.

There are no drinking fountains along the trail and much of the trail is exposed to the sun, so the advice is to fill your water bottles well before departure and arm yourself with a hat and sunscreen to protect your head and shoulders.

Black Lake

Very close to Livigno, drive to Foscagno Pass take the sent. N130 that climbs the flank of Monte Rocca.

Passing the junction with the service road coming from the valley, continue zigzagging until you reach a saddle.

From here you descend and shortly arrive at Lago Nero. Very little crowding on this outing (about 1.30 h for 370 mt of ascent), which is why you often come across shy chamois that find fresh grass and privacy in these places.

The walk gives time to enjoy the panorama

2. MTB and E-bike: Bike routes to explore Livigno in summer.

There are several Bike Parks in Livigno for those who want to approach the world of mountain biking and for those who want to test their skills. For those who want to explore the mountains by MTB or E-bike, there are plenty of routes around Livigno for everyone.

When you're in town, don't forget to stop by the Bike Center where every day are local guides and instructors are on hand to offer tips, tricks and advice for all targets.

We offer two easy routes and one a little bit more challenging:

Val Federia

Val Federia opens parallel to the valley of Livigno, from the opposite side of the mountain of Carosello 3000.

From the parking lot of the restaurant La Calcheira, just follow the main dirt road that very gently takes you up to Alpe Federia where there is Malga Federia, a farm where you can refresh yourself and breathe the air of authentic mountain life.

Between round trip, the trip reaches a total of about 10 kilometers and 400 meters of elevation gain. The trail is easy and suitable even for the first day of vacation, to adapt to the altitude.

For lovers of longer trails, the trail continues uphill to the Cassana Refuge.

To reach it, just upstream from Pian de l'Isoleta is the sign for trail N172, which with wide switchbacks climbs 600 meters in altitude in about 4 kilometers.

Valley of the Mines

Our second proposed easy route is the Valle delle Mine, a trail that starts from the parking lot of the La Tresenda agritourism, climbs the paved road to Pont da l'Al, where it continues with the dirt path N119 and arrives at theAlpe Mine agritourism after a route that in total is about 3 kilometers long and with an elevation gain of 300 meters.

If you choose to stop at the farmhouse to eat, you can't fail to order the mutton tagliata and the buckwheat cake with raspberry jam; they are two specialties and the value for money is excellent.

On the way back, you can take the N117 trail that takes you back to the village by walking along the opposite side of the mountain.

Alpisella Valley

An intermediate level trail that can be followed either by Mountain BIke, or by e-bike for those who may not feel super trained, starts from the Alpisella refreshment stand where you enter the beautiful valley of the same name that climbs alternating between flat and steep sections.

After 5 km you reach the pass with the Alpisella pond and begin to descend for another 4 km or so to Lake San Giacomo where a picnic area is available; unlike the other hikes we have mentioned, therefore, in this case the options for eating remain a packed lunch or a return to the starting point.

Round trip is almost 20 km for 900 m of elevation gain, and it is also a popular hike up to the pass where, a little higher up, is Malga Alpisella.

3. Downhill MTB

It is not possible to talk about Outdoor Experience in Livigno without mentioning its bike parks. Bikers from all over the world gather in Livigno in the summer and a huge, international community is formed every season.

It is possible to ride on two bike parks: the Mottolino is one of the top European bike parks and the Carosello 3000 worth a visit.

Downhill is a sport from the world of cycling, in which riders launch themselves at great speed down steep slopes.

Athletes use special bikes made to withstand wild terrain and keep their balance while downhill.

It is a spectacular discipline that attracts the attention of fans and spectators alike because of its adrenaline-pumping nature and the combination of challenge and the beauty of the natural landscapes in which it takes place.

If you are a beginner, we recommend reading our Guide to Downhill, which explains in detail what it is, how and where to practice it.

Livigno's guides also organize experiences for groups of children and teens who want to learn how to downhill.

4. Sports at Livigno Lake

Water sports can also be practiced in Livigno in summer.

From the Alpisella refreshment stand you can rent rowboats, kayaks, sup and pedal boats. Swimming is advisable only for the most daring physicists: this is still an alpine lake at 1800 meters above sea level, where the waters remain cold all year round and the weather can also change very quickly.

To eat, we recommend the nearby Alpisella Restaurant, always open for lunch and with a set menu for dinner on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays and delicious local dishes.

5. Visits to Stelvio National Park

Cancano Lakes

One of the gateways to the park is Livigno itself, which is located near the westernmost part of the Stelvio National Park.

We recommend accessing the park through Cancano and its lakes. You can drive up to the Torri di Fraele and continue further to Scale Lake, past which there is a bike rental business where you can rent mountain bikes and e-bikes.

From here very conveniently by renting muscle or electric bikes it is possible to venture into the wilder parts of the park.

There are several possibilities: the most classic and popular is the tour around Lake Cancano or with a little more resourcefulness it is possible to keep the lake on the left and continue following the signs for Solena Picnic Area: from here you can proceed to Valle della Forcola.

The dirt road climbs to Malga Pedenolo, opening the view to wide spaces dotted with typical alpine vegetation. Up to Malga Pedenolo the route is about 12 kilometers for 800 meters of elevation gain: it is advisable to undertake this route with a good level of training or to rent an e-bike.

6. Mountaineering and Climbing in Livigno

After all, Livigno is referred to as "Little Tibet." Livigno in summer is also a playground for the more adventurous who want to test themselves in more complex and vertical situations.

We advise you to rely on the mountain professionals, the mountain guides, for these kinds of activities.

With patience and mastery they will know how to show you the solution tailored to your abilities to guarantee you a challenging day, but within your reach. We suggest two activities in particular.

Climbing experience in Livigno

The creativity of the gesture and the boldness of the movement are just some of the ingredients needed to experience the game of climbing.

The mountains are the favorite place for this particular activity that requires physical, but above all, mental commitment.

Given the low risk and high degree of protection, the experience of climbing with mountain guides turns out to be an unforgettable and absolutely recommended activity.

Via ferrata Piz Trovat (3146 mt.)

A trip facilitated by the fact that part of the approach to the mountain is done with the Diavolezza cable car.

Departing from Livigno, it is necessary to move by car in Valposchiavo to the northern slopes of Piz Bernina, precisely to the Berghaus Diavolezza about 26 kilometers.

From the top of the cable car to the summit of the mountain, one travels the very well-equipped via ferrata that also includes an adrenaline-pumping suspension bridge.

The entire route can be completed in about 2 hours for 250 meters of elevation gain. The return is done by walking down the opposite side of the mountain and in less time you will find yourself back at the arrival of the cable car.

7. Cheese experience in Livigno

In Livigno in the summer, as in many other mountain destinations, alpine pastures are inhabited, with grazing cows and their shepherds.

This is a typical feature of our Alps, which should be deepened and cherished.

We offer two unique experiences to understand the value behind this ancient activity.

"Farmer for a Day"

Should cheese be your passion, we can only recommend the farmer-for-a-day experience.

It is not sports, but we assure you that at the end of the day it will be like having run a marathon.

The life of a farmer is by no means quiet, but it is truly enriching to know firsthand how much work goes into making alpine cheese.

You will be in close contact with the cows for much of the day, realizing that at the end of the day their needs are not so different from ours.

The experience takes place at Malga Federia at the top of the valley of the same name-you can see in Step 2 how to get there-begins at 5 p.m. and concludes during the late morning of the following day.

Cheese house in Trepalle (Livigno)

For a shorter but equally intense experience, we recommend the House of Cheese in Trepalle for a varied cheese tasting: more than 100 types. We recommend the Bitto D.O.P. the Casera D.O.P. and the "drunk cheese."

Ask to be escorted to the aging rooms, gravel floor and waterfalls to maintain the exact measure of humidity, a true "temple of cheese," where after years of experiments, cheeses aged in hay and marc are produced, with exceptional results.

8. Mus. Mountain culture in Livigno

When you think of how people used to live here in Livigno you think of a time long ago and far away, in fact still our grandparents' generation-about 70 years ago-moved around on sleds, made cheese at home, and sewed woolen socks.

The Mus is a true ethnographic museum that is constantly changing: in fact, new exhibits are set up periodically, and you can discover ancient tools and utensils that you no longer remember existed.

Open from July 1 to September 5, Tuesday through Sunday, 10 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. and 3 p.m. to 7 p.m. Sunday closing at 6 p.m.

In August, it is also open on Friday evenings from 9 to 11 p.m., to allow even the most nocturnal tourists to visit the exhibits

Beware of crowding: the museum can hold a maximum of 15 people and, especially on rainy days, is very busy. The cost of the ticket is 5€ and includes a guided tour of about one hour

9. Golf in Livigno

In Livigno in the summer there is also an opportunity to try new activities that you wouldn't normally consider, so why not throw yourself into golf? One of the goals of the Livigno Golf Club is precisely to ignite a new passion in sportsmen and women.

The instructors are trained and patient professionals, lessons are every Tuesday and Thursday, and on Friday afternoons you can participate in a competition with members.

The total area is 1850 meters, with 3 different greens, one for each skill, open from June to September every day from 9:30 am until 6:30 pm.

Livigno truly offers activities and entertainment for all tastes. Not only skiing and winter spoort but plenty of opportunities to experience the mountains all year round.