Lessinia Regional Nature Park

For the most compact introduction, start around Camposilvano and follow the official tourism description through contrada Brutto into Valle delle Sfingi. The valley itself is about 800 metres long; that is a landscape measurement, not the length of a complete walking circuit. Its limestone pillars owe their shapes to the different erosion of Rosso Ammonitico and Oolite di San Vigilio. Follow the existing paths and return the same way rather than improvising across pasture. Read the valley access description.

For a clearer sense of the high plateau, take the signed 250 from Passo Fittanze, beside the war memorial, towards Passo della Liana and the approaches to Malga Preta di Sopra and Malga Fanta. Return by the same route. Adding the publisher’s three section lengths gives 3.31 kilometres each way, approximately 6.6 kilometres return; this is our calculation, not a separately published circuit. Allow three to four hours with pauses. Use the detailed Verona Sentieri description and a current map.

The arch near Sant’Anna d’Alfaedo is an excellent reason for a shorter outing: a massive natural opening, around 40 metres across, seen from paths around the rock. The tourism office directs visitors from parking near Trattoria Ponte di Veja, with stairs and descending paths towards the arch. Give yourself about 45–60 minutes for a visit if the permitted access route suits you. That is a suggested allowance, not an official trail time. See the official visitor page.

On a clear day, make the Passo Fittanze walk your main outing and keep the rest of the afternoon flexible. On the other day, choose Camposilvano’s museum and Valle delle Sfingi, deciding on the Covolo only after checking the steps and current access. If Ponte di Veja is your priority, substitute it for a different outdoor stop rather than automatically adding more driving. This is a menu of visits: switch days when the weather changes, and shorten a walk before you feel pressed for time.

Keep dogs on leads and leave geological finds where they lie. Do not drive along restricted farm or forest tracks, and use only permitted routes for cycling. Mushroom gathering is separately regulated: the park updated its rules in 2026 and identifies the permitted agro-silvo-pastoral zones on a dedicated map. A walk in autumn woodland is not permission to forage. Read the current mushroom information if that is part of your plan.

In rain, give Camposilvano’s museum the time you might otherwise have spent walking. For a different day or base, Bolca offers a museum devoted to its fossil heritage, including the ancient marine world represented by local finds. The museum and the Pesciara quarry have separate timetables; a museum visit does not establish access to the quarry. Check the operator’s visitor information and confirm directly, especially in winter. A cave entrance or rock overhang is not a substitute for a planned indoor visit during bad weather.

The park lists Alpine Marmot, Chamois, Gray Wolf, Golden Eagle and Black Woodpecker among its wild fauna. Bring binoculars, enjoy anything you happen to see, and resist planning a day around finding one particular animal. Be particularly wary of treating a wolf as a visitor attraction. Watch from a distance, avoid calls or playback, and never approach a den, nest or young animal. A quiet walk can be worthwhile even when the only animals in view are grazing cattle.

The park’s flora list includes Cowslip, with yellow flower clusters in spring grasslands, and Common snowdrop in cool, damp woodland. Flowering shifts with elevation and the season. Photograph plants where they grow and keep your feet on the path; a good close-up does not need a picked specimen. Use a reliable field guide if you want to identify flowers closely.

Much of the plateau’s water travels through the limestone instead of remaining in surface streams. That karst drainage helps explain why so many of the park’s landmarks are cavities, arches and eroded rock forms. The open uplands are also a working landscape: centuries of grazing have helped maintain the pastures, and much of that land is privately owned. Enjoy the view while respecting the people and animals who use it.

Give spring walks room to be slow: muddy ground or lingering snow can make a shorter route the better choice. On a hot summer day, carry enough water before heading into open pasture and avoid leaving the longest exposed section until a thunderstorm is building. In autumn, make the final turnaround earlier than you would in June. If the forecast leaves you uncertain, use the museum-and-village plan and save the plateau for a clearer day.

Camposilvano’s museum is a practical partner to the valley walk, with a fossil collection linked to the work of Attilio Benetti. Its posted standard ticket is €4. The current website lists weekend and holiday opening outside the main summer period, a mid-January to mid-March closure, and extra openings for booked groups; confirm your date on +39 045 6516005. For park conditions, contact the park office on +39 045 6799211. Arrange food and toilets around a confirmed venue rather than counting on facilities along the walking route.

Verona is the main rail gateway. From Verona Porta Nuova, continue by bus, taxi or car; the train does not take you onto the plateau. The tourism office links ATV services 110 for Bosco Chiesanuova, 109 for Erbezzo and 104 for Sant’Anna d’Alfaedo/Fosse. ATV’s locality index also lists Camposilvano under 115 and 117. Check the exact date, stop and return journey with the operator: town service is not proof of a bus to your trailhead. Start with the official travel information.

Use Bosco Chiesanuova as a practical reference for the central plateau, Sant’Anna d’Alfaedo for the western geological sites, and Camposilvano for the valley-and-museum outing. Choose the actual starting place in your navigation app, not simply ‘Lessinia Park’. Leave spare time between sectors and avoid building a day around a tight transfer after a walk. The point of staying locally is to spend more of the day outside, rather than continuously moving between viewpoints.

For a visit centred on a meal and the Camposilvano area, the official tourism listing for Rifugio San Carlo advertises wheelchair access, a lift and an accessible toilet. Treat these as the venue’s listed facilities, not a certification of the surrounding paths. Contact it before booking to confirm the parking-to-door route, usable spaces and toilet dimensions for your needs. The park’s September 2026 inclusive programme was a booked, partner-specific event; it should not be mistaken for an everyday accessible transport or trail service.

Ponte di Veja’s E5 approach was subject to works under an April 2026 ordinance that provided for an alternative access route; confirm the arrangement with the park. Separately, Crespadoro’s September 2025 order closed the section of Sentiero 202 ‘Milani’ between junctions 207 and 211 pending successful safety inspections. Reopening has not been confirmed. Do not build an eastern mountain traverse through that section without current confirmation. These are specific restrictions, not a closure of the whole park.