Bivacco Carlo Minazio (often called Bivacco Minazio) is situated in the Pale di San Martino, in the Italian Dolomites, between the regions of Trentino and Veneto. With towering dolomite stone peaks of over 3000 metres, this part of the Dolomites is breathtaking to behold and offers some incredible hikes. Bivacco Minazio sits at an elevation of 2292 metres with views of the surrounding mountains and valley below.
Where is Bivacco Minazio
Bivacco Minazio is situated in the Pale di San Martino, in the Italian Dolomites. Just a 2 hour drive from Venice, Vicenza, or Verona, and a 3 hour drive from Milan, this area is easily reachable from Italy’s northern cities by car. Public transport options here are very limited, and whilst possible, it is likely to take you many hours to reach the start of the hike.
If you don’t have your own vehicle to drive, or you are on holiday, we recommend hiring a car in Italy to see as much of this incredible area as possible. There are ample free car parks in this area and having your own car gives you the freedom to see what you want, when you want in the Italian Dolomites.
Renting your own car when traveling gives you the freedom to discover the country at your own pace, and it’s often cheaper too! When travelling we always use DiscoverCars.com. They check all the local companies and find you the best car at the cheapest price! Check out DiscoverCars.com here.
How to reach Bivacco Minazio
There are a number of starting points for this hike. You can either start from the south from Malga Canali, using the nearby free carpark or from Cant del Gal depending on which direction you intend to take. Hikers coming West from Gosaldo may wish to continue on to Bivacco Minazio after visiting Rifugio Treviso as part of a multi day hike.
Note: The hike to Bivacco Minazio is relatively straightforward but technical in places. Depending on your fitness level you should be able to complete the hike, but proper footwear, equipment and experience is needed.
From Malga Canali
From Malga Canali the best route to take is a loop anticlockwise that includes Bivacco Minazio, Passo delle Lede and Rifugio Pradidali. This loop is around 16 kilometres (10 miles) with 1500 metres (5000 feet) of vertical ascent. For a shorter version you can just head to Bivacco Minazio and return the same way rather than completing the main loop.
Starting in the Malga Canali car park you follow route 707 which takes you past the river on a semi paved surface. After around 30 minutes you will see a turn off to the left onto route 711. This part of the trail takes you through thick forest with a number of small river crossings, and gets steeper and steeper the further on you go. After around an hour you will emerge from the forest onto a rocky path, heading further up into the mountains. When the path forks, you follow the fork left with signs to Bivacco Minazio.
Towards the end of the hike there are a few scrambling sections, so make sure you have secure hand holds and footing, and take extra precautions in these sections. After around 3 hours total, 5 kilometres distance and 950 metres of vertical elevation, you should arrive at Bivacco Minazio!
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From Cant del Gal
From Cant del Gal you have two options. If you intend to do the entire loop you can either head clockwise or anticlockwise. Anticlockwise will take you first past Malga Canali as mentioned above, and the route becomes the same. To reach Bivacco Minazio from Cant del Gal clockwise, you first take route 709 towards Rifugio Pradidali. After around 2 hours and 5 kilometres of distance you will reach Rifugio Pradidali where you continue on to the Passo delle Lede.
The Passo delle Lede sits at an elevation of 2700 metres, so in winter and spring, crossing it is likely not to be possible. During the summer months you can either take the 709 trail and the 711B, following signs to Bivacco Minazio, or if you want to do a via ferrata, you can take route 711 from 709 to reach the top of the pass. Proper experience and equipment is needed for the via ferrata and it is not to be undertaken without the safety precautions and experience. You can view this route including a map here on Komoot
From Rifugio Treviso
From Rifugio Trevisio you follow the 711A trail until it joins up to the 711, where you continue on to Bivacco Minazio. It should take around 2.5 hours to reach Bivacco Minazio from Rifugio Treviso in total with around 4 kilometres of distance and 800 metres of vertical elevation.
How to reach Rifugio Pradidali from Bivacco Minazio
From Bivacco Minazio, Rifugio Pradidali is around a 2.5 hour hike away. First you need to head up to the Passo delle Lede from the Bivacco, taking you to a height of 2700 metres. From the top of the pass, you can either take the via ferrata route, number 711, or the 711B which takes you around the longer way. From the 711B you join onto the 709 when you see signs for Rifugio Pradidali and follow the trail downhill.
What to expect from Bivacco Minazio
Bivacco Minazio is relatively large and sleeps 12 people comfortably. There are 2 rooms inside with bunk beds; one larger room with 9 beds and a smaller room with 3 beds where the extra blankets are stored. The Bivacco has mattresses and blankets, but we always recommend you bring your own sleeping bag regardless!
Next to the bedrooms is a large dining area with table and benches, and a small kitchen area where people have left some useful items for other hikers to use. There is also a visitor book which you should sign if you sleep in the Bivacco!
Where to find water at Bivacco Minazio
Around a 7 minute walk from Bivacco Minazio is a water source you can use for drinking. Leaving the front door of the Bivacco you take a left, then follow the red arrows that are painted on the floor towards the water source. The trail will take you slightly uphill, but very shortly you should be able to hear the sound of running water.
Note: We didn’t feel the need to filter the water before drinking as we were very high up the mountains, and there was not likely to be anything further upstream contaminating the water. If in doubt, use a water filter or boil the water first before drinking to be safe.
Where to stay in Pale di San Martino
For those wishing to just visit Bivacco Minazio, and not sleep there, there are a number of accomodation options in the Pale di San Martino area to choose from.
All of our recommendations below have a score of over 9/10 on Booking.com and most come with breakfast and dinner included!
Hotels in Pale di San Martino View all
When to visit Bivacco Minazio: The best time of year
✅ If you wish to just visit the Bivacco and not complete the rest of the Passo delle Lede loop including Rifugio Pradidali, it should be possible between the months of May to October. The ideal months are during the italian summer and autumn, but late spring will also be possible. Those wishing to complete the entire loop should do so from late June – early July until the end of September. Rifugio Pradidali opens in mid June and closes in September.
❌ The winter months of November to March mean constant snow up on the mountains. Whilst getting to the Bivacco on the shoulders of winter (November or March) may be possible, it should only be done with the proper equipment. We visited in late June, 2024, and whilst the weather was great there was still a lot of snow and ice on top of the Passo delle Lede. This made crossing over the pass and onwards to Rifugio Pradidali impossible due to safety concerns. The path to the Bivacco however was very safe and fully clear of ice.
Need to know! Your FAQs about Bivacco Minazio answered
What altitude is Bivacco Minazio at?
Bivacco Minazio sits at an altitude of 2292 metres (7950 feet) above sea level.
What is the easiest way to reach Bivacco Minazio?
The easiest route to reach Bivacco Minazio is from Malga Canali. This route is only around 2.5 – 3 hours depending on your fitness, and 4 kilometers (2.5 miles) long. Vertical ascent is around 900 metres (2950 feet).
Where can I park for free near Bivacco Minazio?
There is ample free parking next to Malga Canali. Alternatively you can park for free at Cant del Gan.
Can I find water at Bivacco Minazio?
There is a small stream about 7 minutes walk from Bivacco Minazio. Leaving the bivacco you turn left and follow the red arrows painted on the rocks to reach the water source.
Is the hike to Bivacco Minazio difficult?
The hike to the Bivacco is technically difficult in places, but in general it is straightforward. There are a few scrambling sections so proper footwear and experience is needed.
What to do next?
If you are interested in bivouacs like Bivacco Minazio, take a look at our guide on Bivacco Bedin, the pearl of the Pale di San Lucano!
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