Hike Through A Beautiful Mountain Village ON Lake Barcis
Being stationed at Aviano Air Base, Italy placed me in a position that made traveling very accessible. About two-hour drive north, you can make it to Austria, two hours east, easily puts you in Slovenia or Croatia. Two-hour drive in other directions puts you into some beautiful places within Italy. What about those weekends when you are off-duty and you want to keep it somewhat local? Well, I might have a spot for you.
Barcis is a very small village, nestled at the foothills of the Natural Park of the Friulian Dolomites, that rests on the shores of Lake Barcis. The lake, known for its turquoise-hued waters, is part of the Forra del Cellina Nature Reserve. The lake is artificially formed and is the result of putting a dam near the convergence of two fast-flowing rivers — the Cellina and Pentina. You will be pleased to know that boating, fishing and swimming are available to make your trip even more enjoyable.
How To Get To Lake Barcis
Getting to Barcis is easy and it should take you less than 40 min. From Aviano Air Base head north on Via Pordenone towards the town of Aviano’s Industrial Area. Take the first exit on Via Giuseppe Ellero. Take the first left Via Monte Tremol, which would take you to a traffic circle. Take the second exit towards San Martino till you hit the next traffic circle. Take the fourth exit on SP19 towards Montereale Valcellina. You will continue to on SP19 until you drive into SR251 into Barcis.
Hike Lake Barcis Touristic Loop
Parking can be limited, especially on the weekends. Once you have parked, start making your way towards the shore of the lake. You can not miss it.
Hike Summary
- Distance | 3.5 miles (5.6 km)
- Elevation Gain | 354 ft (77.4 m)
- Average Time | 2.5 hrs
- Difficulty | Easy
- Trail Type | Loop
The trail is moderately trafficked and is best used from May until October. Head west from where you landed on the trail and you will eventually end up walking on a boardwalk, if you didn’t start on it. Moving this direction you will be taking the trail in a counter-clockwise direction.
Every Sunday morning, there is a small market in town’s square where you can buy some dolomite products from the local vendors. If you look across the lake, you will notice a beautiful lake house sitting out by itself. Its solitude in the woods and its reflection makes it look like you are staring at a live postcard.
As you keep heading west, the path will start bringing you closer to SR251, the main road that goes through the town. Eventually it will take you out of the town and towards ‘Passarela di Barcis‘, a bridge that lets you cross the lake and continue circumvent it.
The bridge was once used to cross over allowing one vehicle at a time. Now the entrances on both sides are blocked, making it only accessible for pedestrians.
Don’t forget to look towards the town. The view from the bridge is quite breathtaking. The emerald blue-green water makes this environmental jewel striking. The color of the water can be traced to the sediments carried by the river that feeds the lake, now forced into the calm of reservoir that is created by the dam.
Lake Barcis is an artificial lake sitting in the mountain, which was built in 1954 to produce hydroelectricity. Now this man-made beauty is open to a lot of different sports such as sailing, surf, kayak, hovercraft, speedboat racing (Barcis has hosted an international race), scuba diving, and swimming.
Once you are ready to cross the bridge, continue to hug the shore line. You will be on the road for a little bit and make sure you are walking against traffic for your safety. There are some blind spots to incoming vehicles, therefore be mindful.
As you are walking on the road, you will have different glimpses of the town at various angles. It is an enjoyable and easy walk. Further on the trail, you will encounter a ‘tempietto’, small temple with the Virgin Mary.
After paying homage to this little temple, continue on the road and you will encounter a nice panoramic view of the town of Barcis. Right there, I have find one of my favorite views.
Near, I have found this wooden sign with a heart cut out in the center of it. Many people stop here to get some cute pictures of themselves or with a loved one.
As you move forward, you will come across another bridge. Here you can see a small waterfall cutting through the forest and mountain pouring itself into the lake. Not too far from there, you will notice a trail on the left side that goes into the forest. Take it.
This will take you off of the road and bring you closer to the shore of the lake. There is plenty of shade, greenery and views of the lake and the town.
As you continue through this trail, take time to enjoy this touristic scenic route. You can stay on the road the entire time, but in my opinion, you will miss some beautiful views. I encourage you to get closes to the water.
Next you will come across ‘Diga di Ponte Antoi’, the dam that makes the reservoir. To get there, you will have to walk through a tunnel, that is designated for pedestrians and vehicles. There is no sidewalk, so be careful and stay on the left side. Once you make it to the other side, you will find yourself on top of the dam. Enjoy the views on both sides.
After the dam, you will continue towards a restaurant called ‘Osteria Ponte Antoi‘. This osteria is a popular destination at Barcis. Stop by to get yourself some food or a beer. The hike around the lake is almost over.
One of my favorite parts was the man-made land bridge, ‘Terrapieno Lago di Barcis‘, that crosses you over back to SR251, the highway that brought you into Barcis.
As you start coming back into the town, you will find plenty of picnic areas where you can stop at and enjoy some relaxation. You will see plenty of families using these amenities. Its on a first come – first serve basis and it a great place to have a gathering with friends.
Even though I walked this trail, it can easily be done on a bike if you stay on the road the whole time.
CONCLUSION
Barcis is one of those picturesque towns that will keep calling you back. The lake’s blue-green hues with the reflection of the mountainous forests gives a beauty that is hard to replicate. Regardless if you take the walk around the lake or not, the panoramic views from the town’s shorelines will leave an impression in your memories that will last a lifetime.
What are some of your favorite destinations you have gone to while being stationed in Europe? Leave comments and questions below.
