Bristot, Nevegal

🗺️ Overview

  • Location: Nevegal, Belluno (Italy)

  • Start point: Restaurant La Casera (approx. 1400m)

  • End point: Rifugio Bristot (a bit over 1600m)

  • Time: ~1 hour 15 minutes to the hut

  • Difficulty: Easy to moderate

  • Highlights:

    • Optional scenic ridge path with views of Lake Santa Croce

    • Malga Faverghera with botanical garden and viewpoint

    • Panoramic 180° view of the Dolomites from Rifugio Bristot

  • Optional extension: Rifugio Visentin (1776m, +1h, less scenic)

  • Best for: Families, casual hikers, lovers of polenta and mountain views


This hike is beyond classic. For me, it's the classic of classics. It takes place in Nevegal—the mountain where my parents bought a chalet when I was born. I think I’ve been there at least once every year since, so let’s say… 30 times and counting.

The Hike

The most typical route we do starts at Restaurant La Casera (around 1400m) and climbs to Rifugio Bristot, which sits just above 1600m.

The beginning is probably the steepest part, as the trail follows a wide gravel road. After the first bend, you can opt to leave the road and follow a more scenic ridge path that offers sweeping views over Lake Santa Croce far below. A great option is to take the ridge on the way up and return via the gravel road for a bit of variety. The two paths reconnect after about 20 minutes, near Malga Faverghera.


In front of the malga, there’s an alpine botanical garden and a freshly renovated viewpoint—perfect for a quick pause. I still remember when this road doubled as a ski slope, back when snow was more reliable and a ski lift operated here. Those days are long gone, and the abandoned metal supports were thankfully removed, letting the mountain breathe again.


After the malga, the trail flattens briefly before one final push: a short but steeper climb to the highest point of the hike, in front of the now-abandoned Rifugio Brigata Cadore, which once served as a military barracks. From there, the road gently rolls up and down until it reaches Rifugio Bristot.

At Bristot, you'll be rewarded with typical mountain fare—think steaming plates of polenta, mushrooms, and pastin, a local kind of mountain hamburger. Even better? The breathtaking 180° view of the Dolomites from the terrace in front of the hut.

If you’re still up for more, you can continue along the road for another hour to reach Rifugio Visentin (1776m), the highest point in Nevegal. Personally, I find that stretch of trail less engaging, so I usually turn back at Bristot.

Getting Back

For the return, you can simply retrace your steps—taking either the gravel road or the ridge path, depending on how you came up. If you don’t have a car waiting at La Casera, there are also several marked trails that descend the slope and lead directly to the village center of Nevegal, making it easy to catch a ride or explore further.

ngaging, so I usually turn back at Bristot.

Bonus: Casera le Erte

I add a bonus hike in Nevegal. It is a short one ideal for families. It starts midway on the road to La Casera at this point. There is no panel but you can park along the little road. Or at least we always do. Then you start off and cross the faverghera ski slope and take left uphill just after.

After the initial uphill the path becomes flattish for 10 minutes. When you reach the steepest part of the hike. After it you cross the Coca ski slope and continue uphill after a while the large path becomes almost flat and you arrive to Casera Erte or "The house of the seven dwarfs" as it was known when I was a kid. Next to it there are now also wooden sculptures and a giant bench one of the series of giant benches hidden all around Italy.

You can have picnic and stop the hike there of you can continue and in 15 min and a little uphill you will reach Malga Toront where you can have an actual traditional meal. The hike hike is 2.6km one way and 170m elevation of you go all the way to the Malga and Will take about 45min.

Location: 32100 Nevegal, Province of Belluno, Italy

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