Val di Mello: The complete guide to Lombardy's largest nature reserve

Where it is located and how to get to Val di Mello

Val di Mello is located in Lombardy, in the province of Sondrio, at the end of Val Masino, on the northern side of Valtellina.

To get there, you have to drive along the SS 36 state road from Lecco to Colico following the eastern shore of Lake Como.

When you get to Colico you have to continue through Valtellina towards Sondrio and, once you have passed Morbegno, another beautiful town worth a visit, take a detour to the left into the area of Ardenno, following the signs for Val Masino. After about 15 kilometers you will arrive in the municipality of Val Masino, in the locality of San Martino.

This is your starting point.

Local administrations are very strict about car access to Val di Mello and only 40 vehicles are allowed per day, with a small parking pass that costs 10 euros and must be purchased directly in the village, at theSan Martino Info Point located on Via Provinciale. To contact the Info Point you can call 334 39 99 708 from 9 a.m. to noon, or email info@valmasino.info.

The Info Point in the locality of San Martino

Park in the locality of San Martino, in an hourly zone where the cost is 7 euros for the whole day (recommendation: bring coin for the parking meter because although credit cards are accepted, the system does not always work) and start your walk that in about twenty minutes will take you to the beginning of the valley where you can begin your walk.

If you prefer to move by public transportation, the best option is to take a train on the Milan-Lecco-Sondrio-Tirano route, get off at Morbegno station, and then take a bus to Val di Mello. Trains leave at twenty minutes of every hour from Milano Centrale station.

Trekking and walking

Val di Mello is rather small and flat, the main trail does not require any particular athletic training and is suitable for everyone, even families with small children because the path is wide and beaten enough to be walked quite easily.

However, if you prefer to follow more challenging and uphill trails, our advice is to bring a baby carrier backpack for younger children.

The valley is covered from start to finish in an hour and a half, with practically no elevation gain; if you start from one of the parking lots in San Martino, you have to add another half hour to your calculation to get to the mouth of the valley and just as much time to get back to the car.

Follow the valley's central trail along the Mello stream, and as the scenery closes in between towering trees on either side of the walk, you'll encounter waterfalls and alpine lakes.

It is precisely when the lakes are encountered that the view opens up to postcard-perfect scenery, with the forests reflecting on the crystalline surface of the water that turns from turquoise to emerald green.

Continuing down the valley, the trees give way to rock faces where on clear days it is not uncommon to see roped clim bers challenging the mountain.

Val di Mello in autumn, with its rock walls dominating the landscape

Next, past the last group of huts in the Rasica locality, the trail returns to the interior of the forest and begins to climb among large rocky boulders until it reaches the end of Val di Mello, near the small bridge over the Torrone stream and the Chiusa waterfall. The climb continues steeper, still among the trees, following the lower limit of the Oasis Plaques, a rock face for climbing enthusiasts.

For those who want to continue, you can climb further by following a winding path that leads up to theAlpe Pioda pastures where you can see a spectacular panorama overlooking the entire valley.

To go back, you will have to retrace the road you followed back to the Rasica locality and at here, having crossed a small bridge, you can return to the beginning of the valley by skirting the river from the opposite bank to that of the outward journey, thus completing the small loop trail that runs through the valley.

What to see in Val di Mello: points of interest not to be missed

Val di Mello is full of natural wonders and small picturesque places that you will encounter during your walk. Here are the ones not to be missed:

The Contessa's Bidet

The Bidet della Contessa is perhaps the most famous and most photographed point of interest in the entire valley; it is a small alpine lake with crystal clear waters that take on turquoise and emerald tones due to nature's reflection on the surface.

With the arrival of autumn, the green of the forests gives way to the colors of the earth and leaves as they prepare for the cold season, and the lake area takes on a mystical and evocative atmosphere, with the logs of the islet in the middle of the body of water emerging from the lake and the morning mist.

The BIdet Della Contessa is one of the most photographed places in Val di Mello

Iron Falls

The Ferro Water fall is the first one you will encounter as you enter Val di Mello; it collects the waters of the Val di Ferro, which is on your left if you choose to start from San Martino. Along the way, you will have to make a detour to the left after Ca' di Rogni; you will reach the waterfall in about fifteen minutes.

The entire waterfall consists of four jumps totaling 210 meters along a granite wall, and the water flow is usually much greater in the spring while it is smaller in the fall.

One of the four jumps of the Iron Waterfall

Qualido Pond

The Qualido Pond has the distinction of being extraordinarily recent, as it was formed only in 2009, after a landslide broke off from the mountain and partially blocked the course of the Mello stream.

It is a popular place for tourists, who especially in summer come to cool off after a long walk in the valley. Bathing in the pond is allowed although, being an alpine lake, the water is definitely very cold.

Its special feature is the totally transparent water that reflects the colors of the trees that surround its shores, giving it the appearance of a precious gem, especially when the sun hits the small ripples on the surface and makes them sparkle.

The Qualido Pond where the more daring take a swim in the cold mountain water.

Cascina Piana

CascinaPiana is the largest group of huts in Val di Mello, forming a small village where you can fill your water bottles with drinking water directly at the drinking fountain and where you will find shelters where you can eat and stay for the night.

It is an ideal place to stop during your walk, whether you want a hot dish or prefer to have a picnic while admiring the granite walls that surround the area and the sportsmen and women roped up climbing.

The enchanted scenery of the Cascina Piana resort after a snowfall