Franzensfeste Puntleider See
Franzensfeste Puntleider See

MTB tour to Lake Pontelletto

From the Fortezza railway station we cycle via Le Cave and Pontelletto to the Pontelletto Hut and hike on to Lake Pontelletto

Fortezza is well connected to the railway network and easy to reach. This is the starting point for our challenging tour to Lake Pontelletto, a beautiful mountain lake. The Upper Valle Isarco Cycle Path runs directly past the station area - we follow it to Mezzaselva and Le Cave.

Here we cycle up a mountain road to the hikers' car park near the Lechnerhof farm. The gradient is significant, but the road is well asphalted. A rushing waterfall provides a welcome distraction from the effort. On the bend after the car park, the gravel path begins - the footpath to the Malga di Pontelletto branches off to the left, but we stay on the forest track. The first sections are steep.

After just over two and a half hours and a short downhill section, we reach the Pontelletto Hut, which is open during the summer months. Here we park our mountain bikes and hike for 15 minutes along trail no. 14 to Lake Pontelletto (Puntleider See) at an altitude of 1,850 metres. On hot summer days, this peaceful mountain lake is the perfect place to cool down and relax.

The return journey follows the same route, bringing us back to our starting point at the railway station in Fortezza. This is a physically demanding tour with some steep sections.

The combination of cycling, hiking and - in midsummer - a potential dip in the lake, followed by a stop at the mountain hut, makes for a wonderfully varied day out. It can also be done purely as a two-hour hike from the car park, or as a winter hike during the colder months.


Author: BS

Experienced: May 2011
Last updated: 2026


difficulty: difficult
  • Starting point:
    railway station of Fortezza (745 m a.s.l.)
  • Overall time:
    05:00 h
  • Total route length:
    34,7 km
  • Altitude:
    from 745 m to 1.850 m
  • Altitude difference (uphill | downhill):
    +1449 m | -1450 m
  • Route:
    Fortezza - Mezzaselva - Le Cave - Pontelletto Hut - Lake Pontelletto - same way back
  • Signposts:
    Upper Valle Isarco Cycle Path, "See Alm", no. 14
  • Destination:
    Lake Pontelletto (1,850 m a.s.l.)
  • Resting points:
    Pontelletto Hut (May to October)
  • Track surface:
    asphalt until the parking space, gravel path until the Pontellatto Hut
  • Recommended time of year:
    Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec
  • Download GPX track:
    MTB tour to Lake Pontelletto
  • More information:
    The overall time shown above refers to the cycling time only, not including breaks or stops.

We highly recommend checking the weather and trail conditions in advance and on site before starting this tour.

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