Summiting Cima Presena from Bedole is a great hike. Despite the dauting distance (about 20km) and ascent (1500m) it is a trek that remains interesting as you pass from dense woodland, to grassland to the rocky high mountain terain. Perhaps the most significant downside of this excursion is that a cable car leads from Passo Tonale to Passo Presena, just 5-10 minutes below the summit. This means that as you near the top, you are met with hordes of tourists who can easily see and experience the same view without putting in nearly as much effort. Despite this, Cima Presena is an extremely rewarding hike for the fit and experienced hiker.

To start the excursion, drive up the Val di Genoa. This is road is closed to cars from 9:30 till 18:00, so it is important to be there early. It takes about 40 minutes to drive from Pinzolo to Bedole, so enjoy the stunning views of waterfalls, rapids and mountains as your drive. The car park at Bedole is fairly large however during the peak season it does fill up quickly. Bedole is one of the main access points to the Pian Neve, the biggest glacier in the region. From Malga Bedole, follow the signs to Rifugio Bedole. Here you can have a coffee to wake up before the climb begins.

From Rifugio Bedole, follow the signs to Rifugio Madrone. The path starts from behind the rifugio and zig zags steeply through the forest. This is the steepest part of the day, climbing 600m in little more than a kilometer. The zig zags continue for about 1 hour, then the path becomes much more pleasent as you emerge above the treeline with stunning views of the glacier opposite. The path then undulates for another hour before reaching Rifugio Madrone.

Whilst at Rifugio Madrone, ensure to visit the wonderful glacier observatory, containing information about the nearby glaciers at the soldiers that fought upon them in WW1. There is also a war cemetery nearby, commemerating the soldiers efforts.

From Rifugio Madrone – follow the signs to Passo Presena. The path starts behind the Rifugio and is very steep at first, but fear not, it does not last long. After the first climb, you will arrive at another set of signs, here Passo Presena is not signposted. Follow the trail towards Passo del Maroccaro instead. There is a flat section for a few hundred meteres before another steep and loose climb towards Lago Scuro. Be careful with foot placement here – a slip could be very painful. The path reaches another set of signposts, follow the signs towards Passo Presena once again and enjoy the stunning views of the lake as you climb above it. A final set of signs is reached as the path traverses accross the mountain – finally climbing to Passo Presena.

From Passo Presena – it is extremely easy to reach Cima Presena, simply follow the ridge to the right. Stick to the crest as much as possible for a more interesting route that is left untouched by the tourists who take the cable car. At the summit cross, views of the whole region open up, making it well worth the 1500m of ascent to get here. In descent, repeat the same route.

Despite the height gain and distance of this hike, it is a technically easy hike with easy route finding. However, above Rifugio Madrone, the path becomes quite unclear for a few hundred meters so ensure to follow the paint and cairns carefully. Nevertheless, this walk invloves spending lots of time at above 2500m, where weather can change extremely fast from sun to snow. It is essential to have proper equipment and experience before attempting this hike.