Alta Via dell'Adamello-Tappa 3 (Tita Secchi-Maria e Franco)

The Alta Via dell'Adamello – Tappa 3 (Tita Secchi–Maria e Franco) is a 10-km point-to-point trail in the Adamello Regional Park of Lombardy, Italy, gaining roughly 1,000 m of elevation over a single hut-to-hut day. Rated EE (expert hiker), it crosses three high passes on rugged glacial moraine, including a short chain-assisted scramble to Bocchetta di Brescia at around 2,700 m.

About the Alta Via dell'Adamello-Tappa 3 (Tita Secchi-Maria e Franco)

The Alta Via dell'Adamello is the classic high-level traverse of the Adamello-Presanella massif in the central Italian Alps, waymarked as Sentiero n. 1 and maintained by the Club Alpino Italiano (CAI). Tappa 3 links Rifugio Tita Secchi, perched beside the deep-blue Lago della Vacca at about 2,367 m, with Rifugio Maria e Franco Lomini at Passo di Dernal (2,574 m). The 10-km stage sits entirely above 2,300 m and is one of the wilder, more committing days on the route.

This is not a gentle valley walk. The path threads through bare granite, ancient moraine left by retreating glaciers, and scree basins where snow can linger into July. From Tita Secchi the trail climbs to Passo di Blumone (about 2,633 m), drops into the rocky Conca del Gellino, then grinds back up to the Bocchetta di Brescia (around 2,700 m), where fixed chains protect a brief but exposed scramble. Most hikers complete the stage in 5 to 6 hours, but the relentless up-and-down across loose terrain makes it feel longer than the distance suggests. Navigation on the moraine can be subtle, since cairns are spaced widely and the trodden path fades wherever the ground is pure rock, so a GPS track and a 1:25,000 map are both worth carrying even on a clear day.

As a Regional Walking Network (RWN) route operated by CAI, the trail is signed but unstaffed between huts, so self-sufficiency matters. There is no mobile coverage for long sections, no water resupply beyond mountain streams, and no easy bailout once you commit to the passes. In return you get a high-alpine corridor that sees a fraction of the crowds found on the Dolomite Alte Vie further east.

Historically the Adamello front was a brutal theatre of the First World War, fought above 3,000 m on the glaciers, and remnants of military mule tracks and emplacements still mark the wider massif. While Tappa 3 itself focuses on natural scenery rather than war relics, that legacy explains why so many of these high routes exist at all, and CAI volunteers have re-secured the chains and cairns over the decades to keep the line safe for modern walkers.

Route Overview & Stages

Tappa 3 is itself a single stage of the wider Alta Via, but it breaks naturally into four segments defined by its passes and basins. The table below splits the 10 km accordingly so you can pace the day.

Total moving time runs to roughly 5 hours 30 minutes for fit hikers, with the cumulative ascent near 1,000 m once the rolling terrain is counted. Carry the full day's water and food, because there is nothing staffed between the two refuges.

Highlights & Points of Interest

• Rifugio Tita Secchi (2,367 m) — the starting refuge, set on the shore of Lago della Vacca, a glacial lake hemmed by granite walls and a popular overnight base.
• Lago della Vacca — one of the most photographed tarns in the Adamello, its turquoise water mirroring the surrounding ridgelines on calm mornings.
• Passo di Blumone (~2,633 m) — the first high col of the day, opening views back toward the Cornone di Blumone and ahead into wild upper basins.
• Conca del Gellino — a remote moraine amphitheatre scattered with boulders and seasonal snow patches, the quietest stretch of the stage.
• Bocchetta di Brescia (~2,700 m) — the crux, where fixed chains safeguard a short, airy scramble over rock to the highest point of the day.
• Passo di Dernal (2,574 m) — the broad saddle hosting the destination hut, a natural gateway between the Caffaro and Adamè valleys.
• Rifugio Maria e Franco Lomini (2,574 m) — the welcoming CAI-affiliated hut that closes the stage, named in memory of two local mountaineers.
• Adamello granite landscape — the pale tonalite rock underfoot is geologically distinct from the Dolomites, giving the whole traverse its bright, scoured character.

Best Time to Hike the Alta Via dell'Adamello-Tappa 3 (Tita Secchi-Maria e Franco)

The realistic window for Tappa 3 runs from early July to late September, when the huts are staffed and the passes are mostly clear of snow. While maps may list the route as open April through October, the high cols hold snow and ice well into early summer, and the chain section at Bocchetta di Brescia becomes genuinely dangerous when verglas or a steep snowfield covers the rock.

The single best month is August, when daytime temperatures at 2,500 m typically sit between 8 and 16 °C, snowfields have shrunk to short crossings, and both refuges are fully open with reliable meals and bunks. As of 2026, alpine seasons across Lombardy have trended toward earlier snowmelt, so an experienced party can often start in mid-July, but always confirm conditions with the huts before committing.

July offers long daylight and wildflower meadows lower down, though residual snow in the Conca del Gellino may demand an ice axe and microspikes early in the month. September brings crisp, stable air and the thinnest crowds, but the first autumn snowfalls can arrive by late month and huts begin to close. Avoid hiking this stage in poor visibility — the moraine offers few clear landmarks, and the chains are no place to be in a thunderstorm. Fuel your long day well; our guide on how many calories you need hiking a full day is worth reading before you pack food.

Practical Information

Accommodation

This stage is built around its two mountain huts. Rifugio Tita Secchi (2,367 m) and Rifugio Maria e Franco Lomini (2,574 m) are both CAI-affiliated refuges; expect a dormitory bunk for roughly €25–30 per night, with the standard CAI half-board (dinner, bunk and breakfast) costing about €55–65 per person. CAI members receive a discount on the overnight rate. Both huts are typically staffed from late June to mid-September only.

Booking ahead is essential in August, when bunks fill quickly. Bring a sleeping-bag liner (sacco lenzuolo), as it is required in Italian huts. Wild camping is restricted inside the Adamello Regional Park, so plan to sleep at the refuges rather than pitch a tent. There are no hostels or hotels along the stage itself — the nearest valley lodging is in Bagolino and the Caffaro valley to the south.

Getting There & Back

The Adamello sits between Brescia and Trento. The nearest major railway station is Brescia, on the Milan–Venice line, roughly 60–70 km from the trailhead valleys. The closest international airports are Bergamo–Orio al Serio (BGY) and Verona (VRN), each about 1.5 to 2 hours' drive away; Milan Malpensa (MXP) is around 2.5 to 3 hours.

From Brescia, regional buses serve the Valle Sabbia and Bagolino, but the final approach to Rifugio Tita Secchi requires a long walk in from the road head — commonly from the Caffaro valley or via Lago della Vacca, a 2 to 3 hour ascent. A private car shortens the approach considerably; park at the valley trailhead and walk up the day before. Because Tappa 3 is point-to-point ending at a different valley, plan a multi-day Alta Via or arrange a return walk-out, as there is no shuttle directly linking the two huts.

Permits & Fees

No permit is required to hike Tappa 3. The trail lies within the Parco Regionale dell'Adamello, which is free to enter on foot, though park rules prohibit wild camping, fires and removing flora or rocks. Your only mandatory costs are hut fees and food. Carrying a CAI membership card lowers refuge rates and is worth it if you plan several alpine huts in a season. Check current hut opening dates and trail status through the official park authority at Parco dell'Adamello before you travel.

Gear & Packing List

Tappa 3 demands proper alpine kit. The chain-assisted scramble, loose moraine and high altitude mean sturdy B1 or stiff hiking boots, trekking poles, and a helmet are sensible — rockfall is real around the Bocchetta. Early in the season, microspikes and an ice axe handle lingering snowfields in the Conca del Gellino. Pack full waterproofs, an insulated layer for the passes, sun protection, at least 2 litres of water capacity, and a head torch.

Keep your load light but complete. A streamlined 35–55 litre pack is ideal for a hut-to-hut traverse where you carry sleeping kit but not a tent or stove. Good options from our database include the 2400 Windrider for minimalists, the more supportive Abisko Hike 35, and the larger Atmos AG 50 if you want extra capacity for layers and food. If you are weighing your whole setup, our roundup of the best ultralight backpacks of 2026 compares seven packs head to head.

Similar Trails You Might Like

If the high-alpine, hut-to-hut character of the Adamello appeals, the long-distance Alte Vie of the Dolomites offer the same style of multi-day mountain traverse with their own dramatic limestone scenery. Each is waymarked, served by CAI refuges and best tackled in summer. Consider these related Italian routes:

• Alta Via n. 2 delle Dolomiti - Dolomiten-Höhenweg Nr. 2 (Italy), 185 km
• Alta via n. 6 delle Dolomiti (Italy), 180 km
• Alta via n. 6 delle Dolomiti - XI tappa (Italy), 180 km
• Alta via n. 6 delle Dolomiti - X tappa (Italy), 180 km
• Alta via n. 9 delle Dolomiti - Dolomiten-Höhenweg Nr. 9 (Italy), 140 km

For a different flavour of dramatic mountain crossing outside the Alps, the cross-border classic in our guide to hiking the Theth to Valbona trail in Albania shows what a single spectacular high-pass day can deliver.

Frequently Asked Questions

When is the best time to hike Tappa 3?

August is the single best month, with daytime temperatures around 8–16 °C at the passes, minimal snow, and both refuges fully staffed. The broader season runs from early July to late September. Avoid earlier dates, when snow lingers on the Conca del Gellino and the Bocchetta di Brescia chains, and confirm conditions with the huts before you set out.

How difficult is the Tita Secchi to Maria e Franco stage?

It is rated EE (escursionisti esperti, or expert hiker), making it one of the harder days on the Alta Via. The difficulty comes from sustained travel across loose moraine, three high passes, and a short chain-protected scramble at the Bocchetta di Brescia near 2,700 m. A good head for heights, sure footing, and basic scrambling experience are all needed.

How far is the stage and how long does it take?

Tappa 3 covers about 10 km from Rifugio Tita Secchi to Rifugio Maria e Franco Lomini, with roughly 1,000 m of cumulative ascent across rolling terrain. Most fit hikers complete it in 5 to 6 hours of moving time. Because the ground is rocky and the passes steep, allow extra time and start early to stay ahead of afternoon thunderstorms.

What accommodation is available on the route?

The stage runs hut-to-hut between two CAI refuges: Rifugio Tita Secchi at 2,367 m and Rifugio Maria e Franco Lomini at 2,574 m. A dormitory bunk costs roughly €25–30, and half-board (dinner, bunk, breakfast) about €55–65. Both are typically open from late June to mid-September. Book ahead in August and bring a sleeping-bag liner.

Do I need a permit or pay any fees?

No permit is required. The trail lies inside the Parco Regionale dell'Adamello, which is free to enter on foot, so your only costs are hut fees and meals. Park rules ban wild camping, fires and removing rocks or plants. A CAI membership card reduces refuge rates and pays off if you stay at several huts during a season in the Italian Alps.

Trail stewardship and waymarking are coordinated by the Club Alpino Italiano (CAI), which maintains the Alta Via dell'Adamello as Sentiero n. 1.