How to get there
The itinerary departs from the Giovo pass (1706m), where there is a water fountain.

Route
The route is quite easy and sets out on a path that is easy to follow. It enables you to go right to the head of the Valle Albano valley, crossing the meadows and shrub lands that characterise it.
Around 15 minutes after setting out from the starting point (1100m from the Passo del Giovo pass) you will reach a spring known as the “Fonte del cavallante” [Horse-keeper’s spring], which is marked by a metal sign.
The path has slight ups and downs and crosses several streams, which are collected in small valleys and cut across the southern slopes of the valley. If you continue for another 20 minutes (2200m from the Passo del Giovo pass) the path intersects the detour to the mountain pasture of Nembruno Superiore.
After about another 25 minutes it crosses another mountain pasture where there is a drinking trough. The trail then continues gently downhill until it reaches the course of the Albano river, close to which the track forks and leads, on the right, to the Bocchetta di Sommafiume mountain pass and, on the left, to the Sommafiume shelter.
Turning left you will arrive at the Sommafiume shelter within around 10 minutes (1798m – unmanaged). From here you can admire the whole Valle Albano valley and the peaks that characterise the north-western slope (Cima Verta, Cima Pomodoro and Monte Albano mountain). At the shelter there is a drinking trough with water.
The return journey takes the same amount of time as the outward one.

Rest stops
- Rifugio Sommafiume (1784 m) – Loc. Sommafiume, Municipality of Gravedona ed Uniti – For bookings and keys: Bar San Gottardo - Piazza Paracchini n. 12, Dongo - +39 0344 81307 – Open from the end of May/June to the end of October 

Warnings
Check the weather forecast before starting your hike

(Text by Istituto Oikos)

Download GPX Track