Via Alpina Red Trail Stage R71 . Stilfser Joch Stelvio Pass - Arnoga

Rather long route, but without major uphill elevation gain, much of it in the Stelvio National Park. The hike begins at the Stelvio Pass (2757 m), from which the trail leads to the Garibaldi Refuge (2845 m), clearly visible from the pass. The trail reaches Pizzo delle Tre Lingue, not far from the hut, and then descends into Swiss territory following a convenient military mule track to the yoke of S. Maria (2480 m), Umbrail Pass, where the Italian-Swiss customs post is located. Continue following a very scenic half-trail along the orographic right side of the Braulio Valley to Bocchetta di Forcola (2768 m). Descend into the Forcola Valley skirting the ruins of a military barracks, follow the mule track that passes the Malga di Forcola (2313 m), from where, on a dirt road, you arrive in the locality of Cancano (1960 m), a wide basin once an alpine pasture now covered by two imposing reservoirs. You cross the dam, climb up toward the Lake of Monte Scale and continue always on a dirt road passing near the Torri di Fraele (1941 m), a significant point on the route of the medieval Via Imperiale d'Alemagna. Continue through some short tunnels carved into the rock until you reach a hairpin bend, from where a completely flat dirt road starts on the right and reaches the locality of Arnoga (1850 m), at the junction with the SS 301 for Bormio - Livigno.