Along the Remains of the Cadorna Line! Discover the Itinerary to Visit the Trenches at Passo del Verrobbio in the High Val Brembana with Us.

At Passo del Verrobbio in the High Val Brembana, the remains of the trenches built by the Italian Army before the outbreak of World War I are still present and visitable. These trenches were constructed in anticipation of a possible breakthrough of the Tonale Front and a subsequent descent of Austrian forces along the Valtellina. Part of the Cadorna Line, fortunately, these defensive structures were never used.

TRIP SUMMARY

DIFFICULTY: easy

TOTAL ELEVATION GAIN: about 270 meters

MAX ALTITUDE: about 2020 meters

Type: A/R

DURATION: 1.15h Outbound / 0.45h Return

START: Rifugio San Marco 2000 (BG)

ARRIVAL: Passo del Verrobbio (BG)

The starting point for this route is Rifugio San Marco 2000, just below the pass of the same name, where you can leave your car. From here, walk towards the ancient “cantoniera” house, dating back to 1593 and built by the Most Serene Republic of Venice, which controlled Bergamo and its province at the time.

Here you’ll find signs for Passo del Verrobbio and take the CAI 161 trail that will lead you to your destination.

The first section of the trail is easy and almost flat, with expansive views of the surrounding meadows that lead to the artificial Lake Valmora. In the final part of the trail, the slopes become slightly steeper but are of short duration. You’ll reach the pass in no time, from where two wings of trenches start, equipped with openings for machine gun fire, snipers, and artillery, as well as tunnels and small galleries for the protection of personnel and equipment.

The trenches at Passo del Verrobbio were part of the Cadorna Line, named after General Cadorna, Chief of Staff of the Italian Army, who oversaw its construction. This defensive system spans 70 kilometers, extending from the Varese area to the Aprica Pass in Val Camonica. It served as a second line of defense in case the main front at Stelvio and Tonale collapsed or in the event of an Austrian attack through neutral Switzerland. Fortunately, the Cadorna Line was never used.

Finally, from the pass, before returning to the “cantoniera,” you can take a short descent to Verrobbio Lake , where you can stop for a picnic.

The return follows the same route taken on the way there.

The itinerary is easy and suitable for everyone.

You can find the interactive map of the route, complete with elevation profile and downloadable GPS track, at this link.

Near the Trenches, it’s also possible to visit and reach the Ponteranica Lakes with a nice hike. We’ve discussed this in an article on our blog.

Always organize your trips with care, choose appropriate equipment, and verify the itinerary before embarking on it.

BergamoXP

BergamoXP is the first aquatic sports center in the province of Bergamo. We are professionals specializing in the disciplines ofKayak, Canyoning, Rafting, Hydrospeed, River Trekking. We are a team of nature enthusiasts, outdoor and adventure lovers, and connoisseurs of our territory.