Refuge A.N.A. Piateda

Rifugio A.N.A. Piateda sits at 1,550m in the Orobie Alps above the Valtalegone valley in Lombardy. The hut is the logical base for the ridge traverse from Passo della Ganda to Cima di Pizzo Badile. Most hikers approach from the village of Piateda in around 2.5 hours on the marked trail. The route climbs steadily through mixed forest with good path standards throughout.

The rifugio operates year-round and sleeps roughly 40 people in mixed dormitories. The kitchen serves basic mountain meals: polenta, risotto, pasta dishes, and soup. They have a small bar. Water comes from the spring. There's no hot shower but washing facilities exist. The hut runs as a volunteer operation by the A.N.A. (Associazione Nazionale Alpini), the national mountaineering association, so standards are straightforward and unpretentious.

Book by phone directly with the hut well ahead during July and August. Weekends fill quickly year-round. The hut sees steady traffic from local hikers and ridge walkers. Off-season (November–March) call ahead to confirm they're staffed: winter openings are weather-dependent and irregular. This is a working mountain refuge, not a resort—expect basic comfort and friendly, no-fuss service.