Collina: Mountain trails, a glacier lake and ski touring

For a trip to Collina, you can focus on a glacier lake, a hiking route or a ski tour. If you’re looking for a hotel in Collina, it’s best to plan each day around your specific destination: the trails differ in their stated times, elevation gains and terrain. It’s particularly important to note which duration refers to the ascent and which describes an entire route.

Lago di Volaia and the Traversata Carnica

Lago di Volaia is a glacier lake on the Italian-Austrian border. From Rifugio Tolazzi in Collina di Forni Avoltri, you can reach it via hiking trail CAI 144. The ascent is listed as taking about one hour and 45 minutes, with an elevation gain of 600 metres. The approximate duration and elevation difference give you two concrete figures to help plan your hike. Check seasonal conditions before your trip.

The Traversata Carnica starts at Rifugio Tolazzi, near the Collina hamlet of Forni Avoltri. It is listed as a six-hour route, with an ascent of 750 metres and difficulty level E. Unlike the information for Lago di Volaia, the time given here applies to the entire route, whereas for the lake it refers to the ascent. This distinction helps you interpret the figures rather than compare them as equivalent walking times. Check current trail conditions before setting out.

Ski tour to Forcella Plumbs

The ski tour to Forcella Plumbs starts at an elevation of 1,224 metres in Località Edelweiss, Collina di Forni Avoltri. It first passes through forest, then crosses open terrain to the mountain pastures below the Casera Plumbs hut. The 1,224 metres refers to the starting point; the forest, open section and mountain pastures mark the route’s subsequent stages. Snow and avalanche conditions can vary, so check them before setting out. The change in terrain is one concrete feature that distinguishes this ski tour from the hiking trails to the lake and along the Traversata.

A visitor account from 2020 describes the Sentiero delle portatrici as a downhill trail over Forcella Ombladeet and past the ruins of Malga Cjampei. Trail conditions can change, so check current conditions before setting out.

Architecture and history

The Chiesa di San Michele Arcangelo in Forni Avoltri has an attached bell tower with robust proportions, a belfry and a hipped roof. A round arch separates the nave from the choir. The building thus presents two distinct features: the striking silhouette of the tower on the outside and the division between nave and choir created by the arch.

The Trincea del Volaia draws attention to military history: it preserves relics from the First World War recovered by volunteers. The religious architecture and preserved war relics therefore offer distinct cultural points of interest.

A seasonal connection

The first edition of the “Festa dei cavoli nostri” took place in early October and marked the start of the cabbage harvest. The date of this historical event is therefore directly linked to the beginning of the harvest season.

Discover more destinations: San Giovanni Al Natisone, Torreano, Remanzacco, Raveo, Gemona Del Friuli, Lestizza, Cornino, Pocenia

For the overview of the wider area, see: Udine.