Val Venegia to Rifugio Mulaz: Must-Do Hike in Pale di San Martino, Italian Dolomites

This unforgettable Rifugio Mulaz circuit hike in the Pale di San Martino Dolomites is like a satisfying multi-course meal bursting with flavor, color, and texture.

It starts with an aperitif that stimulates your appetite: arriving at the Malga Venegia trailhead. It proceeds with an hors d’oeuvres that awakens your taste buds: walking through the heavenly Val Venegia.

And, it continues with an amuse-bouche that delights your visual palate: Malga Venegiota alpine pasture. As for the main course and the dessert, you’ll have to read on to find out. 

We loved this particular Dolomites day hike because of how it unfolds. It’s never boring, and the rewards are many. When we thought this hike couldn’t possibly get better, it did, again and again. 

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Val Venegia to Rifugio Mulaz Hiking Map

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When Can You Hike from Val Venegia to Rifugio Mulaz 

Late June until early October, depending on weather and snow conditions.

Rifugio Mulaz is open from mid-June until late-September. 

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How to Get to Val Venegia

Val Venegia is located between Passo Rolle and Passo Valles in Trentino.

The closest towns are San Martino di Castrozza and Predazzo. 

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San Martino di Castrozza to Val Venegia

The drive from San Martino di Castrozza takes about 34 minutes (19.6 km).

Head North on SS50 Passo Rolle. Continue to follow SS50.

Make a sharp right onto SP81 (signs for Falcade/Belluno) in the direction of Passo Valles. Turn right to enter Val Venegia.

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Predazzo to Val Venegia

The drive from Predazzo takes about 30 minutes (18.7 km).

Head east on SS50 towards Passo Rolle. Turn left onto SP81 (signs for Falcade/Belluno) in the direction of Passo Valles. Turn right to enter Val Venegia.

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Parking in Val Venegia

There are two main parking areas in Val Venegia: Pian dei Casoni and Parcheggio Malga Venegia. For this specific hike, we recommend parking at Parcheggio Malga Venegia. 

Important: Parking is strictly prohibited in Val Venegia between 9:00 pm and 7 am. 

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Parcheggio Val Venegia Pian dei Casoni

Soon after entering the valley, you’ll see the Pian dei Casoni parking lot. When parking here between 8 am and 5 pm, the fee structure is as follows:

• Car: 3 EUR for 4 hours
• Car: 5 EUR for all day parking
• Campervan/RV: 4.50 EUR for 4 hours
• Campervan/RV: 7.50 EUR for all day parking 

To pay for your parking, use the blue parking ticket machine. These machines only accept coins (2 EUR, 1 EUR, .50 EUR, .20 EUR, .10 EUR, and .05 EUR).

Remember to bring the exact amount of cash in EUR coins. 

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Parcheggio Malga Venegia

This parking lot is located at the Malga Venegia alpine pasture, just below the Malga Venegia hut. We recommend parking here. 

In order to drive to Parcheggio Malga Venegia, you have to pay a 7 EUR toll between the hours of 8 am and 4 pm.

Pay the fee to the collector and drive 1.2 km to the parking lot.

Related: Best Day Hikes in the Dolomites

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Val Venegia to Rifugio Mulaz Trail Description

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Val Venegia to Malga Venegiota (30 minutes)

From the parking lot at the Malga Venegia alpine pasture, follow the gravel road through Val Venegia valley to Malga Venegiota. 

The gravel road cuts across alpine pastures, where free-roaming cattle graze in summer. For safety reasons, it’s important to maintain a safe distance and avoid disturbing these animals. 

As you follow the road, you’re walking towards the northern chain of the Pala Group, which towers magnificently over the valley. As you progress, you’ll walk along the Torrento Travignolo stream and through a pine forest.

The Malga Venegiota alpine pasture hut is a destination in and of itself. To say it’s perfectly situated is an understatement. We grabbed a coffee and a cake here, before continuing on.

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Malga Venegiota to Passo Mulaz and Rifugio Mulaz (1:40 – 2 hours)

From the Malga Venegiota hut, continue walking along the gravel road for about 10 minutes. At the trail intersection, turn left onto trail 710, in the direction of Rifugio Mulaz (signed 2 hours). Shortly thereafter (5 meters), turn right to stay on trail 710. 

The trail gently ascends through the forest. When you get above the timberline, you’ll hike along switchbacks, steadily gaining elevation. There are some steel cables along the route.

If hiking in the morning, the ascent to Passo Mulaz feels quite manageable, because the trail is in shade almost the whole time. 

As you near Passo Mulaz, the trail turns to scree and becomes steeper and steeper. Don’t forget to look behind you, as the morning light engulfs the valley and illuminates the Pala peaks.

At Passo Mulaz, it’s a 10 minute descent to Rifugio Mulaz along trail 751. Eat lunch here. 

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Optional: Monte Mulaz Summit (1 hour one-way) 

Many hikers who venture up to Passo Mulaz and Rifugio Mulaz also hike to the summit of Monte Mulaz.

We skipped it, because we were so beat from the hike to Cima della Vezzanna. However, on another day, that’s something we definitely would have done. 

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Rifugio Mulaz to Passo di Venegiota (2:30 hours)

Follow trail 751 in the direction of Sasso Arduini peak (2582). Soon after leaving the Rifugio, the trail divides. Take the upper, left track, and follow signs to Passo Valles.

Before reaching the summit of Sasso Arduini (which is a detour), trail 751 veers left and downhill. It’s easy to miss, if you’re fixated on heading to the summit.

The descent is initially a bit tricky. The path requires careful footing as you negotiate some rocky hairpins. There are some rusty steel cables that help you manage a slippery/watery section. We were happy to have our black diamond climbing gloves with us.

After about an hour, the trail nears a tiny tarn that makes for a great afternoon resting spot. 

From here, you’ll descend through a gully along a secured path. 

The trail levels out for a while, before dipping, and then diagonally ascending a rocky slope to Passo dei Fochet (2291 m).

From the pass, bear left and follow the balcony trail to a notch. At the notch, you’ll emerge on the northern side of the Pala peaks.

Descend 5 minutes to Passo di Venegiota (5 minutes). At the pass, the trail sign indicates 45 minutes to Malga Venegiota.

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Passo di Venegiota to Malga Venegiota (1 hour)

The trail descends gently across tussock slopes, peppered with boulders and the occasional stone pine or larch tree. It’s easy walking from here on out. 

With delicious views of the Pala mountains, this sublime stretch of trail feels like the ultimate dessert. Shockingly, there was no one hiking this path. 

As you continue, pay heed to the wooden pole trail markers. At one point, the trail splits and it’s easy to lose sight of your way, because of the poor waymarking. Make sure to follow the poles and stay left. 

Eventually, the trail reaches the timberline. Head left onto trail 749, following signs to Val Venegia. Continue descending through the pine and larch forest until reaching the valley floor. When you reach the gravel road, turn right and walk the familiar track back to Malga Venegiota. 

When we arrived at Malga Venegiota in the late afternoon, they had already stopped serving warm food.

Luckily, they were still serving homemade yogurt with berries as well as beverages. We highly recommend the yogurt. Taking a break at this hut post-hike is almost compulsory. 

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Malga Venegiota to Malga Venegia (30 minutes)

Follow the gravel road back to the parking lot at Malga Venegia. 

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Where to Stay in San Martino di Castrozza

The best base for this hike and many others in Pale di San Martino is San Martino di Castrozza. This alpine resort town is a 34-minute drive to Val Venegia. 

From San Martino di Castrozza, you’re well-positioned to hike to Baita Segantini for sunset, ascend to the central plateau of the Pala Group and tackle the Pala di San Martino Circuit Hike (Rifugio Rosetta to Rifugio Pradidali) and the summit of Cima della Vezzana.

Budget | Residence Taufer is an affordable apartment-style accommodation, located 1 km from the center of San Martino di Castrozza. Apartments are clean and fully equipped, with all necessary appliances to make your stay here comfortable. The check-in/check-out is easy and uncomplicated. There’s a welcoming bar downstairs, where you can order espresso, drinks, and snacks throughout the day. And, the views of the Pala Group are sublime!

Midrange | Hotel Vienna is a welcoming family-run hotel, set in the heart of San Martino di Castrozza. This 3-star hotel delivers gorgeous mountain views, cozy and spacious rooms, and a great breakfast. The staff is very friendly and helpful.

Luxury | Sayonara Nature & Wellness Hotel is a top-rated luxury hotel in San Martino di Castrozza. Stay here for the spacious, alpine-modern rooms, the rich and varied breakfast buffet, and the 1000 m2 spa and wellness area. The hotel is a 5-minute walk to the center of town. The hotel’s on-site restaurant is open daily for dinner.

Look for accommodation in San Martino di Castrozza.

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