Great War Trail

Historic trekking route

A challenging walk exploring the remains of the Great War

Trekking trail suitable for experienced walkers.

Starting from the Sunny Valley refuge, you will immediately encounter the mule track hand-built by the soldiers (S564) and the rocky trenches used as shelter and refuge during the long war season: a sight to immortalize in a photograph that will remember the courage and suffering experienced by so many young people in the name of freedom and their homeland.

The trek continues towards Passo dell’Alpe – Mot De Li Leur (S519) and goes up the Piano del Termine , full of hairpin bends with a maximum gradient of 449 metres.

As mentioned, the circular route starting and finishing at Sunny Valley is challenging and the average travel time is around 3 hours.

Historical Notes

In the winter of 1915, the year in which the Great War began, Santa Caterina Valfurva, with its Ortles-Cevedale-Adamello mountain giants connecting to the chain of Alps via the Stelvio Pass and the Gavia Pass, became a strategic military point for the defense of our borders.

Military defense lines were built at a height of 3000 meters , where panoramic and lookout points overlooking the surrounding valleys guaranteed a perfect view of the enemy’s advance intentions and moves.

Amid the snow and crippling cold, typical of winter in Santa Caterina Valfurva, were erected: trenches, artillery emplacements, and caves for the troops .

Today, walking along the mountain paths of Valfurva and, in particular, the Sunny Valley – Passo Dell’Alpe – Mot De Li Leur – Piano del Termin path , it is possible to find barbed wire fences, inlets dug into caves for sentries to station, bridges and stone pavements built by soldiers to reach the highest strategic points for defence.

Today, Santa Caterina Valfurva is, therefore, a place that bears witness to the tragic history of our people and guardian of the pain of the young soldiers engaged in the front.