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Malborghetto Valley

2061alessio5. 03. 2025 18:49:27

we went to see the new Tibetan bridge and further to Ciurciule pasture, road (old military) closed, from bridge onwards some landslides.

Malborghetto Valley Crossing above the wall, carefully.

Malborghetto Valley Road closed for many years.

Malborghetto Valley Junction, good road leads to Val Rauna valley above Ukve/Ugovizza.

Malborghetto Valley Near Ciurciule and foresters' hut.

(+8)

bagi11. 03. 2025 07:08:34

Alessio gave the idea, which immediately fell on fertile ground nasmeh

. Something new and on top so close just couldn't slip under the radar. Some homework gave me outline data on the path, the above post some useful data on passability, the rest will be seen on site.

Original plan was military road 503 from Naborjet to Ciurciule, then return via paths 504 and 502 to starting point worth visiting Monte Cocca. But planned return turned due to snow conditions in another direction to opposite slope towards Collarice saddle and Priu pasture. Path 504 runs here too, as well as its variants 504A and 504B, which all together delivered me to the valley in a few hours. Completely elsewhere of course, hence much safer.

A few more infos on path 503. To the brand new Nepalese bridge the path is without special features. Old military connection is attractive and runs in nice environment. Bridge crosses landslide that was impassable before its construction. Whole ground is one sandstone strongly eroded by water, which also carried away the road. Landslide is really extensive, bridge high above gully, its span over 50 m.

Continuation is not so easy. Most dangerous point is in next big landslide starting right at concrete wall and beyond (photo 28). Crossing above wall, but do not recommend lower-lying and better trodden path. It leads to hole where landslide has reached inner side of scarp. Someone laid two small spruces over that part, but in case of slip they wouldn't help. Trodden path misled me and I crossed exactly that part, feeling was unpleasant due to narrow passage, stones flying suspiciously from under me. As I saw moments later, better choice is small path one storey higher (photo 29). Still tricky, but much safer.

After this crossing no real troubles anymore. Still many landslides, but can be fully avoided. That it was once drivable road is visible by numerous drainage channels. Drivable never again, but surely will be arranged for hikers someday. Nepalese bridge is herald of these changes.

More follows in photo-story. Condition refers to March 2025.

Coordinates of starting point (Naborjet): 46.5067769N, 13.4400303E

The start of path 503 is the same as the SoldatenWeg path. This one still awaits my visit.

The entrance is right above the highest-situated houses.

From here there is a nice view of the village that is waking up to a new day.

The continuation follows the Way of the Cross. The stations are placed so high that there is a ladder at each.

I don't know if it is of military origin or not, but in any case it is well maintained.

Surprisingly I haven't walked it yet. May there be as many such discoveries as possible :)

View deep into the valley where the Naborjet river flows.

The only tunnel, actually a small tunnel :)

There are many more viaducts. Under this one roars a mighty waterfall.

Upsss … Without Alessia, many questions would arise for me.

Interesting, right after the prohibition there is a completely new sign. Hmm ???

Everything caught is a hit on social networks :)

I cross numerous collapses, which have already been repaired.

Tire tracks are also visible. As long as it's like this, I won't have problems.

But in every side gully, the consequences of numerous disasters are visible.

The road is still excellently maintained, but the environment is becoming increasingly wild.

And the consequences of erosion are becoming more and more visible …

This is completely new. So there's a bridge here.

Year 2024. It has numerous prohibitions, including no dancing on it :)

Remains of the road. The deepest part of the gully is almost 17 m lower.

View back at the 52 m long Nepalese bridge.

Right after the bridge, the road has a quite different character. It's all overgrown, only a path is trodden.

Key point for crossing towards the Ciurciule pasture. Even climbing the concrete wall is difficult :)

A narrow, at least approximately safe path runs a step higher than the slope. The lower path right above the wall is dangerous.

View down from the path to another collapse.

View back. The white strip above the wall is the path I came on. Descent to the road also requires caution.

Further on there are more smaller collapses, but they do not hinder passage.

I climbed a similar scarp over the abyss a little earlier, only there was no road next to it :)

Planina Ciurciule, nice valley cul-de-sac

I abandon the planned return due to snow and choose another direction. I have to go back a good kilometer

Here I turn towards the Sella Collarice pass. I have to climb almost 300 elevation meters to it

Surprisingly I soon encounter snow. These are shady areas and the sun has little effect

Soon I'm over the pass. At the highest point there was a quarter meter of snow

Lower I head onto 504A, where part of the Puanina Tour path runs. We hiked it last year

Preparation for Easter, a good 10 m high egg on Planina Priu :)

Already known path. Descending towards Ukvam

Highlight of the day. Everywhere whole plantations of calves

Path 405B. This will bring me to the main road

On the left are the Ukve, through which I didn't go this time

I have the choice of a longer cycle path or shorter road. Little traffic, so I choose the latter

I cross the bridge before Hensel fort on the outer side of the fence, as otherwise I wouldn't reach the bypass around the tunnel

In the 1930s the Italians carved into the rock under the ruins of the Hensel fort a defensive line of the Alpine Wall

Still waiting for a visit. I'll come soon :)

Monument to Friedrich Hensl, who fought against the French in the distant year 1809

Still some main road awaits me, then I turn right onto the village road

Naborjet, a beautiful and tidy little village

GPS track of the hiked route. It added up to 18 km and 800 m of ascent

(+6)

miri11. 03. 2025 08:40:23

Great

(+3)

ločanka11. 03. 2025 09:25:29

I like it very much nasmeh

(+3)

turbo11. 03. 2025 09:50:56

Beautiful areas. If you think of some kind of connection of Puanina tour in Ukve with this path, and Testa di Malborgetto is close, and in June no snow here and longest day... velik nasmeh

(+3)

bagi12. 03. 2025 06:04:09

Thanks everyone nasmeh

. This bit of path from the bridge onwards is not quite for everyone, but therefore closer Puanina tour without such issues and suitable also for this season (click).
And Turbo you're right. In summer lots can be connected here, this time more adjustments.

(+1)

ločanka11. 11. 2025 08:51:52

This attracted us right away when it was posted. But it came up on Sunday. I think the tour is good for all seasons. We were a bit worried about how it is now with that nasty passage a bit after the bridge that bagi mentions, but the worry was unnecessary. Now everything is remedied, new little path with well-secured rope over the landslide, so there at least in this time no problems.

We did a similar loop as bagi, namely like this:
Naborjet- Tibetan bridge- Malga Ciurciule - Sella Collarice - Malga Priu - Ukve -Naborjet

The best for us was the Ciurciule pasture, where it is such that one could easily stop for longer and just enjoy. Really like food for the soul, peace and quiet, little bridge, stream, hut, blueberry, golden larch, and view on mountains right to Montaž. The day is now short and we had to go on.
Wonderful also the Priu pasture with view on Mangart, Jalovec, mountains above Beli potok, right to Viš view. Only here we met other people.
From the pasture we descended to the edge of Ukve and along the main road past the tunnel back to the starting point.
The whole path is well marked, some marks completely new, actually lots of all marks.
As I already mentioned, we didn't see many people, but with three of them we spoke Slovenian. The older man in Naborjet even sang us Lili Marleen in Slovenian. He really made us laugh, but at the same time enthused us nasmeh

view towards Vallone di Malborghetto, peak in the background Alpe Piccolo (already conquered)

remains of collapsed road, view from bridge (landslide in 2009)

lots of work here too to arrange everything

over the little bridge to the forestry house

Rio Aurnig, right path to saddle Caldiera

view of the mountains above Beli potok to Viš

our path, black dot marks the bridge, to it 5 km, entire path 20 km, total elevation gain 800 m

(+7)

bagi12. 05. 2026 12:07:07

This time we set off from the Canal Valley along path 502, where the more difficult sections were completely renovated a few years ago (link). The path is now fully passable without special difficulties, even for anyone up to the scenic bench from the Šenkatrija direction. Some more demanding sections further on do not require special equipment, just a bit more experience comes in handy …

From the Ciurciule pasture we returned in the opposite direction to last year. All more demanding spots are now arranged and passable, unlike the adrenaline crossings of the previous year nasmeh

. The return to the starting point also went along a non-traffic bike path, so we returned to the starting point without any problems. The condition refers to May 2026. More follows in the photo story...

Coordinates of the starting point ( Šenkatrija / Santa Caterina ) : 46.5028464N, 13.4028297E

We park in Šenkatrija, right next to the chapel. There is space for only a few cars.

Next to the chapel there are also signs for our path 502. The warning refers to the demanding section.

The initial ascent is steep, but in numerous switchbacks. It doesn't lag much behind the ascent to Pisimoni.

Fortunately, we are in the shade for a long time; the sun meets us only on the flattening.

Bench for resting. Up to here, the path is suitable for everyone.

From here there are also nice views. To the right in the background is the famous Šinavc.

This is the continuation. Nothing special, but it requires experience.

The descent is steep but completely safe. There is also a steel cable at the edge of the ladder.

Without protections, this crossing would be extremely demanding.

The material is some sort of sandstone that crumbles just from looking at it :)

Continuation and at the same time exit from the gully.

Further on there are also protections, mainly because of the steep terrain below the path.

Some tree fall debris has been cleared and is passable without problems.

Tiudi continuation along 502 offers some demanding sections.

Malga Cucco. The path continues along the left edge.

Right behind it, a surprise: the foresters were having a party

The road is destroyed for a length of nearly a kilometer, the ruts also a meter deep

Illogical sign. The path we just walked is marked as impassable only from this direction

Rifugio Forestale Clinach, firmly locked

From the forestry hut onwards the path is nicer, the ruts within acceptable limits

Slowly descending into the valley of the Malborghetto river

It flows fast, but you thoroughly wash your shoes along it

Another forestry hut on the Ciurciule pasture. They are having mass there in full church attire, so we don't stop

Interesting bridge over one of the numerous tributaries

View back to the beautiful pasture where a special peace reigns

Continuing on the repeatedly repaired road, damaged by countless landslides

We walked here last spring. The most demanding part is ahead

This is a complete novelty for us. Above the collapsed road section there is a new path

Excellently executed. The path rises substantially above the washed-away road and crosses the dangerous slope

They even installed catching nets below it

Section of the path we crossed last year right above the scarp. This section too has been washed into the valley

No longer new for us, but still attractive :)

They even added Tibetan prayer flags :). This is new too

Deep below is the bed of the Malborghetto river. It is encountered again as a tributary of the Bela

Beautiful fountain in front of Santa Maria church

Bela River, which currently barely deserves the name river :)

Not much traffic, despite the weekend there are very few cyclists

We covered 21 km and 1100 m of elevation gain

(+6)

2061alessio12. 05. 2026 19:13:37

Bagi, thanks for the info and pics, pic 23, I'll notify ours to remove the sign, are there any white-red markings visible on the path/road between Cucco pasture and Clinach saddle? mežikanje

(+1)

bagi13. 05. 2026 06:25:50

No, I didn't see many of them, if any at all. Foresters were working along the road, who had ruined the road for almost a kilometer, so we focused all our attention on navigating between the muddy wheel ruts and not on the markers zavijanje z očmi

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