The Lago Selvaggio at the foot of the Picco della Croce is a spectacular sight in the heart of the Fundres Mountains
Image gallery: Hike to Lake Selvaggio in the Fundres Mountains
To reach the starting point of this mountain hike, we drive from Campo di Trens via Valgenauna to the hamlet of Flanes di Sotto, and from there, we take the gravel road into the Senges Valley. The small Flaner Säge hikers' car park is located here. We follow forest path no. 2A upwards through the valley. As we pass the Senges alpine pastures, the forest begins to thin out.
The valley widens, and after a bend, the path leads directly to the rustic Simile Mahd Hut at 2,011 metres above sea level. This mountain refuge on the Fundres High Route serves traditional South Tyrolean cuisine and provides overnight accommodation in a dormitory. Since we set off early, as recommended, we do not linger here just yet. Instead, we follow signpost no. 2.
This section of the Fundres High Route heads towards the Giogo di Senges and Lake Selvaggio. At first, the trail climbs gently across flowering alpine meadows. The path then turns behind the Purnegg peak and takes us through a valley of high pastures to the unmanaged Ochsenalm.
Past this hut, the ascent begins towards the Giogo di Senges pass at an altitude of over 2,600 metres, situated between the prominent Kalkgrubenspitz and the Cima di Pianbello, a foothill of Mt. Picco della Croce (Wilde Kreuzspitze). Immediately after the crossing, where patches of snow often remain even in July, the deep blue waters of Lake Selvaggio (Wilder See) come into view.
The view of the high alpine landscape is remarkable. The lake itself is one of the largest mountain lakes in South Tyrol. With a depth of 46 metres, it is also the deepest alpine lake in South Tyrol. Taking a break here is essential! The descent is much less strenuous. We follow the same route back and enjoy a stop at the Simile Mahd Hut.
Author: AT
Experienced: July 2020
Last updated: 2026
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- Starting point:
- Flaner Säge hikers' car park in the Val di Senges valley (1,401 m a.s.l.)
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- Overall time:
- 06:00 h
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- Total route length:
- 16,8 km
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- Altitude:
- from 1.401 m to 2.635 m
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- Altitude difference (uphill | downhill):
- +1236 m | -1236 m
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- Signposts:
- no. 2 (Fundres High Route)
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- Destination:
- Lake Selvaggio (2,538 m a.s.l.)
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- Resting points:
- Simile Mahd Hut (June to September)
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- Recommended time of year:
- Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec
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- Download GPX track:
- Hike to Lake Selvaggio in the Fundres Mountains
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- More information:
- The overall time shown above refers to the walking time only, not including breaks or stops. The highest point of the hike is the 2,635-metre high Giogo di Senges pass.
If you want to undertake this hike, we recommend checking the weather and trail conditions in advance and on site before starting this hike!
