Hidden lakes in Trentino that you can't miss

Lake Garda, Lake Caldonazzo, Lake Levico…Did you know that there arealmost 300 lakes in the Trentino region?Large, small, mountain lakes—they are truly beautiful and come in vibrant colors. You surely know the most famous ones, but today we want to tell you about the ones you simply cannot miss during your holiday at the Terme di Comano.

The first two we recommend are just a few kilometers from here. You will only need to head down towards the lake valley to come across the Lake Toblino, a quintessentially romantic destination thanks to the atmosphere you experience walking along the shore and the Castle that rises on its banks. The Mediterranean climate gives rise to vegetation rich in scents and aromas: lemons, olives, aromatic herbs.
What sets it apart and makes it so fascinating is the light mist that rises from its waters, especially early in the morning, and transforms it, as the legend goes, into the ideal kingdom of fairies and sprites, fantasy characters that have always been loved by young and old. If you are also a lover of good food, a stop at the Hosteria Toblino or a wine tasting at the Cantina Toblino is a must.

Continuing along the road, at the fork for Santa Massenza, you will instead find the lake of the same name, connected to Lake Toblino and Lake Molveno, from which it receives the water that still powers the large hydroelectric plant. The village overlooking it is undoubtedly the temple of grappa making: in the numerous distilleries among the copper stills, it is possible to witness all the stages of production and listen to the master distillers tell stories and legends that have populated this village.

“Precious pearl in an even more precious setting” – these were the words the poet Antonio Fogazzaro used to describe the lake of Molveno, a true jewel set in the Brenta Dolomites. Its formation can even be traced back 3,000 years to the post-glacial era. 

Today, thanks to the water flowing from the Adamello, we can admire this mirror framed by the Brenta mountain range, a wonder of the Adamello-Brenta Natural Park, an ideal place for outdoor activities, cycling along the shores, or basking in the sun on its more than 13 hectares of beaches.

A little further away, it takes just over an hour to reach from the Grand Hotel Terme di Comano. I recommend visiting Lake Tovel, in Val di Non, in the heart of Adamello Brenta Park.
On this excursion, it is truly worth bringing a camera to capture the botanical and wildlife secrets of this magical place. Today, you can admire its brilliant colors, from light blue to deep green: depending on the weather and the season, it almost feels like being on a Caribbean beach.

But what makes this place so special is a story dating back to the 1960s, when the lake suddenly turned red. Legend has it that after a tragic battle to gain supremacy over Ragoli,Princess Tresengaand her people died on the shores of the lake, thus dyeing its waters, and even today there are those who claim to see the princess wandering along the shore, sighing... For the more skeptical, this striking chromatic effect was due to a particular algae that gave the lake its characteristic color by floating to the surface. And which of the two versions do you prefer to believe?

A blue mirror, elongated and narrow, just a few kilometres from Riva del Garda. The Lake Ledro is a dream for sports and relaxation enthusiasts, a natural oasis with a beautiful 10 km path that runs all around the lake and no fewer than 4 public beaches. 

Not just nature. The lake is also famous for the discovery of an extensive Bronze Age pile-dwelling area on the eastern shore, a veritable Neolithic village from 4,000 years ago, now included in the UNESCO World Heritage List. Not to be missed: the nearby Pile-Dwelling Museumin Molina, one of Europe’s most important pile-dwelling sites, with its huts and numerous objects and artefacts from the period.

Cold, clear water like that of the Alpine lakes you can find at high altitudes during numerous mountain hikes. In Val Nambrone, just a short distance from Comano in Val Rendena, you really cannot miss the Cornisello lakesat 2,120 m, which can also be reached by car.

Framed by Cima Giner, Cima di Bon, Cima Cornisello, and Om de l'Amola, they stand out as the upper lake, very deep with intense blue water, and the lower lake, shallower and with clearer waters. For those who want to venture out on a longer hike, it is possible to reach Lago Nero at 2,250 m, from which you can enjoy a breathtaking panorama of the Brenta Dolomites, truly unique and rare.

© Photo - Trentino Sviluppo S.p.A. - 2020