Hike on the Legends Trail on the Salto

Shortly after San Genesio village, we turn left into the Salto car park. The trail, marked in white and red, starts here. It leads past the riding stable on the left and winds its way up through the forest. The first section is moderately steep. We soon reach an asphalt road, which then turns into a gravel path. This is the start of the Salto, the high plateau on the Monzoccolo.

Haflinger horses, known for their "blonde" manes, graze on the meadows. We come across the first of the 16 legends, which are described in three languages. It explains why Grifo Castle is called "Pork Castle". The sun is shining, and the Schupfen - the small huts that the Salto is famous for, alongside its larch forests - are hidden behind trees. The legends tell tales of the endless ball of yarn, the butter witch of Avigna, and Tille, the captive mermaid. Here is one for you:

"A large, powerful city once stood on the Langfenn meadows. The inhabitants led a sinful life and did not follow God's commandments. They were very greedy and gave nothing to the poor. One day, the city sank into the ground with all its people. Today, only a swampy hollow remains there."

After a short picnic, we turn back and stop at the Edelweiss inn on the way. Here you will also find the European long-distance path (marked as E5). This route leads from the French Atlantic coast in Brittany across the Alps to Verona in Italy.

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Author: MS

Experienced: August 2009
Last updated: 2026

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