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Discover the Beautiful Lakes and Lakes of Profa in the Stelvio Park
Explore the hidden turquoise lakes of Stelvio National Park on an easy hike from Bormio 3000, along breathtaking views and Alpine trails.
Did you know that within the Stelvio National Park there are also many small lakes with an intense turquoise colour?
These are the Bei Laghetti and Laghetti di Profa: ten small lakes and micro-lakes, hidden among rocky terraces at roughly 2,750–2,650 metres above sea level.
They lie in glacial basins carved at the foot of the southern and eastern slopes of the Monte Mala–Monteur–Monte Vallecetta ridge, which forms the western side of the upper Val Sobretta.
It’s hard to put into words the intensity of the blue of these lakes, and the contrast between the mountain environment and the water’s stunning colours—reminiscent of tropical seas—is truly breathtaking.
It is currently open on its summer schedule, from 2 July to 11 September (but always check the website for changes due to bad weather!).
From the top, follow trail S541 on foot or by mountain bike. The path is narrow and rocky but not particularly demanding.
The entire route is downhill. The Bei Laghetti are almost 3 km away at an altitude of 2,750 m.
The Laghetti di Profa are about 1 km farther, at 2,650 m. From there you can continue through Stelvio Park towards Bormio 2000 on trail 542 or towards Bormio town, or return to Bormio 3000 and descend again by cable car.
From Bocca di Profa you can also see Lago delle Tre Motte, the largest of the nearby lakes,
followed by Lago Stelù, Lago Brodech and Lago del Pian Poirif.
If you fancy a hike through the heart of the mountain landscape, you can choose to descend on foot all the way to Bormio 2000.
After leaving the Bormio 3000 cable-car station, skirt the building anticlockwise and follow the signs for route 541 to the “Bei Laghetti”.
The first section runs along the eastern ridge of Monte Vallecetta, offering magnificent views of Bormio and the surrounding peaks.
At the first junction, clearly marked by wooden hiking signs, turn left downhill, still on route 541 towards the “Bei Laghetti”.
The descent on a wide path features a stony surface. After a few hundred metres downhill the trail begins to climb.
Near a red-and-white trail blaze, keep right and continue uphill (ignore the tempting level path on the left!).
The short climb—only a few hundred metres on a comfortable path—leads to another well-marked downhill stretch, again with a stony surface.
With fine views of the north face of Monte Sobretta, the route continues without orientation problems until it reaches the 2,716 metres of the marvellous Bei Laghetti.
The tranquillity of the place and the colour of the water of these high-mountain lakes will leave you speechless! Here the path becomes less distinct, but it keeps to the left of the lakes and, well marked by wooden stakes, heads south towards the “Bocca di Profa”.
On reaching the 2,660 metres of the Bocca di Profa, you can look down on one of the Profa lakes.
Your hike continues north-east along Val Sobretta on trail 518 towards the “Baitin dei Pastori” and “Bormio 2000”.
From the “Bei Laghetti” onwards you’ll notice that bare stone gives way to a sparse high-mountain meadow.
Descending the pleasant Val Sobretta path among plateaux and short steep drops, the vegetation gradually becomes richer as the altitude falls
—and your breathing easier! Near the switchback descent to the “Baitin del Pastore” plateau, you’ll spot a beautiful gorge beside the trail.
This deep, narrow canyon, with its striations and sinuous shape, is testimony to the grandeur of nature. Continue downhill to a junction where you turn left onto route 542/521 towards “Bormio 2000”.
Cross the wooden bridge and turn right uphill onto the obvious trail 542.
The climb, though short, is fairly steep at first.
The route now leads through a fragrant forest of stone pine and rhododendron, with fine views of Monte Confinale and Monte Tresero.
Lower down you can also see the village of Santa Caterina Valfurva.
Continue your walk over gentle undulations to a magnificent clearing where the descent begins; in just a few minutes, still in a beautiful conifer wood, you reach the “Monti di Sobrettina”.
At the junction follow route 543 towards “Bormio 2000”, where the path becomes wide and driveable.
The last 5 kilometres are a gentle downhill stroll through a lovely stone-pine wood to the Bormio 2000 gondola station.
The area is equipped with tables and benches for a pleasant (and well-earned) break. Once you’ve regained some energy, head back to the hotel: our spa, pools and a tasty Valtellina dinner await you!
Special thanks to Bedognè Stefano for allowing us to use the itinerary description extracted from his book "Bormio In Cammino"
Dario Da Zanche
These are the Bei Laghetti and Laghetti di Profa: ten small lakes and micro-lakes, hidden among rocky terraces at roughly 2,750–2,650 metres above sea level.
They lie in glacial basins carved at the foot of the southern and eastern slopes of the Monte Mala–Monteur–Monte Vallecetta ridge, which forms the western side of the upper Val Sobretta.
It’s hard to put into words the intensity of the blue of these lakes, and the contrast between the mountain environment and the water’s stunning colours—reminiscent of tropical seas—is truly breathtaking.
How to reach the Bei Laghetti by cable car
The easiest way to reach the Bei Laghetti and Laghetti di Profa is to take the Bormio Ski cable car up to the Bormio 3000 / Cima Bianca summit (3,012 m).It is currently open on its summer schedule, from 2 July to 11 September (but always check the website for changes due to bad weather!).
From the top, follow trail S541 on foot or by mountain bike. The path is narrow and rocky but not particularly demanding.
The entire route is downhill. The Bei Laghetti are almost 3 km away at an altitude of 2,750 m.
The Laghetti di Profa are about 1 km farther, at 2,650 m. From there you can continue through Stelvio Park towards Bormio 2000 on trail 542 or towards Bormio town, or return to Bormio 3000 and descend again by cable car.
From Bocca di Profa you can also see Lago delle Tre Motte, the largest of the nearby lakes,
followed by Lago Stelù, Lago Brodech and Lago del Pian Poirif.
Walking route from Bormio 3000 to Bormio 2000
If you fancy a hike through the heart of the mountain landscape, you can choose to descend on foot all the way to Bormio 2000.
After leaving the Bormio 3000 cable-car station, skirt the building anticlockwise and follow the signs for route 541 to the “Bei Laghetti”.
The first section runs along the eastern ridge of Monte Vallecetta, offering magnificent views of Bormio and the surrounding peaks.
At the first junction, clearly marked by wooden hiking signs, turn left downhill, still on route 541 towards the “Bei Laghetti”.
The descent on a wide path features a stony surface. After a few hundred metres downhill the trail begins to climb.
Near a red-and-white trail blaze, keep right and continue uphill (ignore the tempting level path on the left!).
The short climb—only a few hundred metres on a comfortable path—leads to another well-marked downhill stretch, again with a stony surface.
With fine views of the north face of Monte Sobretta, the route continues without orientation problems until it reaches the 2,716 metres of the marvellous Bei Laghetti.
The tranquillity of the place and the colour of the water of these high-mountain lakes will leave you speechless! Here the path becomes less distinct, but it keeps to the left of the lakes and, well marked by wooden stakes, heads south towards the “Bocca di Profa”.
On reaching the 2,660 metres of the Bocca di Profa, you can look down on one of the Profa lakes.
Your hike continues north-east along Val Sobretta on trail 518 towards the “Baitin dei Pastori” and “Bormio 2000”.
From the “Bei Laghetti” onwards you’ll notice that bare stone gives way to a sparse high-mountain meadow.
Descending the pleasant Val Sobretta path among plateaux and short steep drops, the vegetation gradually becomes richer as the altitude falls
—and your breathing easier! Near the switchback descent to the “Baitin del Pastore” plateau, you’ll spot a beautiful gorge beside the trail.
This deep, narrow canyon, with its striations and sinuous shape, is testimony to the grandeur of nature. Continue downhill to a junction where you turn left onto route 542/521 towards “Bormio 2000”.
Cross the wooden bridge and turn right uphill onto the obvious trail 542.
The climb, though short, is fairly steep at first.
The route now leads through a fragrant forest of stone pine and rhododendron, with fine views of Monte Confinale and Monte Tresero.
Lower down you can also see the village of Santa Caterina Valfurva.
Continue your walk over gentle undulations to a magnificent clearing where the descent begins; in just a few minutes, still in a beautiful conifer wood, you reach the “Monti di Sobrettina”.
At the junction follow route 543 towards “Bormio 2000”, where the path becomes wide and driveable.
The last 5 kilometres are a gentle downhill stroll through a lovely stone-pine wood to the Bormio 2000 gondola station.
The area is equipped with tables and benches for a pleasant (and well-earned) break. Once you’ve regained some energy, head back to the hotel: our spa, pools and a tasty Valtellina dinner await you!
Special thanks to Bedognè Stefano for allowing us to use the itinerary description extracted from his book "Bormio In Cammino"
Dario Da Zanche