At the head of the Presena Valley, in the westernmost sector of the Presanella Group, there is a group of small lakes, the largest of which is the Monticello lake. It occupies the bottom of a mountain cirque, and its banks are largely formed by moraine debris. Its waters come from the glacier of the same name and from a few pools. The colour is light green and transparency is very low.
Lake Monticello is located at Passo Paradiso, which lies between Passo Tonale and the Presena glacier.
How to get to Lake Monticello
Passo del Tonale (m. 1883) can be reached by state road 42 from both Val Camonica (BS) and Val di Sole (TN). Before the pass (for those coming from the Lombardy side), leave your car in the car park at the side of the road and take the Paradiso cable car located to the right (south). From there it is possible to continue with another cableway that goes up to the Presena Pass (2997 m).
From the pass continue in a southerly direction and you will reach Lake Monticello inferiore at 2544 m. Leaving the lake along the obvious path that leads to the Presena Hut, you will soon reach the Middle and Upper Monticello Lakes.
The lakes can also be reached on foot starting from Passo del Tonale, near the Area Camper Paradiso. Here you follow the SAT 281 path. Duration: 5 hours. Difficulty: hikers.
