Malga Miesnotta di Sopra

Malga Miesnotta di Sopra sits at 1,920m on the eastern flank of the Brenta Dolomites, in the Val di Fumo valley north of Lake Molveno. Reach it from Molveno village (750m) via a well-marked trail that climbs steeply through larch forest for roughly 2 hours, gaining 1,170m. The final section opens into alpine pasture. In summer, you can also access it from rifugio Grostè via the high trail across the Bocca di Brenta (3–4 hours), though this route demands solid scrambling experience and a head for exposure.

This is a working dairy farm, not a climber's hut. The rifugista makes cheese from the herd's milk and serves hearty local food—expect polenta, casunziei (mountain ravioli), and fresh dairy products rather than freeze-dried mountaineer rations. Capacity is modest, around 20 beds in simple rooms. Meals are home-cooked; book your dinner when you reserve. Water comes from the spring. The hut has no shower. It operates June through September, weather dependent.

Book directly with the hut by phone or email at least two weeks ahead in July and August. July weekends fill fast with families hiking from Molveno. Early June and September offer easier access and quieter nights. Bring cash—card payments are unreliable. The hut is a destination in itself for the cheese and the valley views, not a waypoint on a high traverse.