Bivacco Paolo e Nicola, Bivacco Coldosè & Bivacco Moregna: Trans-Lagorai Trail Hiking

Here you have my first-hand hiking report to three bivouacs on Trans-Lagorai Trail, the Bivacco Paolo e Nicola, Bivacco Coldosè & Bivacco Moregna. The route includes also three beautiful lakes, so keep reading.

Coordinates, numbers & details

• Nearest place for supplies: Predazzo.
• Mountain group: Lagorai, Dolomites, Italian Alps.
• Coordinates Bivacco Paolo e Nicola: 46.2568539 N, 11.6649972 E.
• Coordinates Bivacco Coldosè: 46.2596050 N, 11.6246864 E.
• Coordinates Bivacco Malga Moregna: 46.2672819 N, 11.6355869 E.
• Route difficulty: walk up.
• Maximum elevation difference from the car parking: 589 m (1932 ft).
• Parking coordinates: 46.2902247 N, 11.6465089 E.
• Useful map: Val di Fiemme Lagorai – Latemar, Tabacco, 014, 1:25000.

Access roads and map

I have prepared the interactive and zoomable map below, and it shows the following important points on the round tour which I walked from the north side of the Lagorai chain:

• Marker 1: Car parking.
• Marker 2: Bivacco Paolo e Nicola.
• Marker 3: Bivacco Coldosè.
• Marker 4: Bivacco Malga Moregna.

Note that you can explore this area also by using maps from AllTrails. 

Bear in mind that the forest road from Predazzo to the car parking is very narrow and at some places rather steep. There are parts with asphalt and parts with macadam. At some passages, you can only pray that nobody will come in your direction when you drive up.

There are huge trucks that transport logs from the area, so it is best to go when they do not operate. This means early in the morning and perhaps very late in the afternoon. But the latter option is not the best because you can expect cars coming from Malga Valmaggiore which is a popular place, a sort of high elevation restaurant.

Route description

Below you have several different stages of the route described in detail:

From car parking to Bivacco Paolo e Nicola

The car parking is the same as for Bivacco Cece, at Ponte di Valmaggiore. It must be said that the road continues to Malga di Valmaggiore, and there is a parking there as well, but there was a sign that this was for the Malga visitors only.

However, later when I came back from my round route, I have seen cars parked and some people were clearly preparing to sleep in the cars. So I am not sure about the actual situation.

If you want to play safe, leave the car as described above, at Ponte di Valmaggiore, and walk up towards the Malga. This is only some 15 minutes or so walk. Here are some signs at the Malga di Valmaggiore:

From Malga di Valmaggiore continue up the valley through a beautiful forrest, the route is 335. Here you have one photo of the area:

At one point in the forest you will see wood cut and prepared for people who want to carry it up the mountain to Bivacco paolo e Nicola. Here is the table where they ask people to do so:

When you are out of forest, there is a steep passage which you have to climb before getting to the Bivacco Paolo e Nicola. Here is a view back over the valley which you have just walked up from Malga di Valmaggiore:

If you do this in the morning, this will be the area where you will enjoy the first sunshine, and the bivouac will soon appear above you:

Getting here means you are now on Trans-Lagorai (TL) trail, and this bivouac is a part of it. For some people this is the first shelter they use when they start from Passo Rolle.

But this is a long TL section, and you can make it easier by sleeping in Bivacco Aldo Moro that is on the same trail and much closer to Passo Rolle.

Bivacco Paolo e Nicola

This is a wood shelter, fully equipped, with mattrasses, and plenty of stuff for cooking. There is plenty of wood prepared and stored in a covered space outside.

Note that there is a water source close to the bivouac, you will see the sign on the outer wall pointing in its direction:

The bivouac is beautifully designed, in fact it is more attractive from inside than from outside. Here is a view of its sleeping area with 9 separate bunk beds:

The wood burning stove is fully functional, even with a oven, here you can see how I was making coffee which was available, together with several Bialetti pots: 

From Bivacco Paolo e Nicola to Bivacco Coldosè

If you decide to continue along the TL trail in the south-west direction, you will follow the route that goes to Forcella Moregna (2397 m). The route number is 349. Below you can see the area where the route climbs up, it goes in between the two peaks visible in the photo. The closer peak is Cima Moregna (2517 m).

Here you have the view back from the steep path towards Forcella Moregna:

Very soon you will have this beautiful lake below you, this is Lago Brutto, and this literally means “Ugly Lake”. Can you believe?

The route goes along the right side of the lake, and when you pass it, you will have another lake in front of you, Lago delle Trote (Lake of the Trout):

So you descend here and there is a set of tables for various directions. You go to the left now, towards Forcella Coldosè (2183 m).

When you get to Forcella Coldosè, you will see the bivouac as Shown in the photo below, it is on the sunny side of the slope, on a very pleasant place:

 

Bivacco Coldosè

This is a very modern shelter made of wood, beautiful from outside and from inside, see how it looks:

I must say, for me this is the best equipped bivouac ever, and here are a few details inside. The beds are modern, equipped with mattrasses, blankets, and pillows, and there is also an attic with extra space to sleep and with more mattrasses stored there.

The kitchen has plenty of pots for cooking, practically everything you need, with lots of food, coffee, and an incredibly modern stove. But note that the shed outside was empty when I visitied the place.

There are solar cells outside, so you have electricity inside, and there is an installation for charging phones. There is even an outhouse close to the building, and this is a rarity in the Alps.

You will want to know that water is available directly in front of the shelter.

From Bivacco Coldosè to Bivacco Malga Moregna

You will walk back to the mentioned Lago delle Trote, and from there follow the route 339. Inspect the map given above. At one moment you will have the view of the lake far below you, so this is Lago di Moregna.

The photo below show it, and you can see the buildings next to it, those are Malga Moregna and Bivacco Moregna.

Elevation of the place is shown in the photo below togehter with some directions.

Bivacco Malga Moregna

You will want to take a rest here, the Bivacco is a stone building, and the nearby Malga seems to be always closed.

It is white and pleasant inside, and here are some details:

Note that there are no mattrasses here. There are a few blankets and the wood for the stove was available as ytou realize from the photo.

Descent route back to parking

You continue down the mountain by following the route 339, it eill take you to Malga Valmaggiore where you can take a rest and have a meal.

After that you are on the same road that goes to the parking which is around 1200 meters below.

All the details of this round tour are presented in my video, please have a look:

My tour timing

I followed the route as described above. So there is not much to add except for my timing, this may be useful for your planning. 

I started at 7:30 am from the parking, and I was at Bivacco Paolo e Nocola at 9:30 am. I had a long rest there and continued at 11:40 am. At 1:50 pm I was at Bivacco Coldosè, which means it took me 2 hours and 10 minutes.

At 2:30 I was on my way to Bivacco Moregna, and I arived there at 3:05 pm. 

The remaining part I did not check my watch, but this is probably some 40 minutes or so till Malga Valmaggiore. So plan one hour to the car to be sure.

Gear for the tour, water & food

There are no exposed passages on this tour, so you do not need any extra equipment. I used Mammut Sapuen GTX boots, a pair of trekking poles, and my Mammut Lithium 40 backpack.

In the backpack, as usual, I had a rain poncho and rain pants, plus a rain jacket.

If you want to stay in any of the shelters, make sure you have your own sleeping bag.  

You have already seen that water is availble on two places, but if you have a purifier you can also take the water from any of the lakes. 

Final thoughts

Thank you for reading. Let me know if you have questions or comments, there is a comment section below. Please join us at our Facebook group Dolomites Visitors Hub. 

FAQs

What is the best time of year to hike the Trans-Lagorai Trail to these bivouacs?

The optimal time for hiking the Trans-Lagorai Trail is late spring to early autumn, roughly May to September. During this period, the weather in the Lagorai range is generally stable, with milder temperatures and less snow, making trails more accessible.

Summer offers vibrant greenery and clear lake views, but early autumn can provide stunning foliage and fewer crowds. Winter hiking is possible but requires advanced skills and gear due to snow and potential avalanches, as the Lagorai’s high-altitude paths can be treacherous.

Are the bivouacs suitable for overnight stays, and what should I bring?

All three bivouacs, Paolo e Nicola, Coldosè, and Malga Moregna, are equipped for overnight stays, offering shelter and basic amenities like wood stoves.

Paolo e Nicola and Coldosè have mattresses, but Malga Moregna lacks them. A sleeping bag is essential for comfort and warmth, especially at higher altitudes where nights get cold.

Bring a headlamp, as only Coldosè has solar-powered lighting, and pack enough food since supplies aren’t guaranteed. A portable water purifier is handy, though water sources are available near the bivouacs.

Can beginners hike this route, and are there guided options?

The route is rated as a moderate walk-up, suitable for hikers with some experience, but beginners in good physical condition can manage it with preparation.

The trail has no technical sections, but the 589 m elevation gain and uneven terrain require decent stamina. Trekking poles help with stability.

For those unsure about navigating solo, guided tours are available through local operators in Predazzo or Trento, often listed on platforms like AllTrails or local tourism sites, offering expert guidance and group safety.

How can I prepare for variable weather on the trail?

The Lagorai’s alpine weather can shift rapidly, even in summer. Check forecasts for Predazzo or the Dolomites on apps like Meteo.it before heading out.

Pack lightweight, waterproof gear like a poncho, rain pants, and a jacket, as mentioned in the gear section. Layered clothing is key, bring a moisture-wicking base layer, a warm mid-layer, and a windproof outer layer. Sturdy, waterproof boots like the Mammut Sapuen GTX are ideal for muddy or rocky sections, especially near lakes.