June in the Mountains — Alpine Pastures and Refuges Before the Crowds

June: the golden month of the Italian mountains

While the beaches begin to fill, the Italian mountains in June live their purest moment. The snow has retreated from the trails, the high-altitude meadows burst into flower, the alpine pastures reopen and the mountain refuges welcome the first hikers of the season. Unlike July and August, in June the trails are half-empty, booking a refuge is unnecessary on weekdays and prices are still those of low season.

Alpine Pastures of the Orobie (Bergamo)

The Orobie Alps are a range little known compared to the Dolomites, but equally spectacular. In June the alpeggi — the high-altitude huts where cheeses are produced — reopen after winter. The Sentiero delle Orobie Orientali links refuges and pastures in a multi-day route. For a weekend, the Rifugio Coca (2,025 m) is reachable in 3 hours from Valbondione: half board around 55 euros. Formai de Mut, a PDO cheese produced in the alpine pastures, is a unique gastronomic reward.

Val Maira (Cuneo)

Considered one of the most beautiful and least known valleys in the Alps, Val Maira in June is a paradise of flowering meadows and semi-abandoned Occitan borghi. The Percorso Occitano is an 8-stage circular trek through stone hamlets, with overnight stays in refuges and guesthouses (half board from 45 euros). In June the trails are perfectly walkable and very few other walkers are encountered. From Cuneo it is reached in an hour by car.

Occitan cuisine

Don't miss the raviòles (potato and toma cheese ravioli), buckwheat polenta and cheese crusts. The innkeepers of Val Maira cook with local ingredients: a lunch costs from 18 euros.

Altopiano della Paganella (Trentino)

Less celebrated than Val di Fassa or Val Gardena, the Altopiano della Paganella offers accessible hiking with views of the Brenta Dolomites. In June the cable cars reopen for the summer season and the themed trails (such as the Sentiero dei Reti) are suitable even for families. Rifugio La Montanara (1,525 m) serves canederli and strudel with a view. Molveno, at the foot of the plateau, has a lake suitable for swimming from the end of June.

Parco Nazionale della Majella (Abruzzo)

Abruzzo's Mother Mountain in June offers a unique spectacle: the flowering of the high-altitude karst plains, similar to the more celebrated blooms of Castelluccio but without the crowds. The Piano delle Cinquemiglia and the meadows of Pescocostanzo are coloured with orchids, narcissi and gentians. The park's refuges serve as bases for hikes towards Monte Amaro (2,793 m), the second highest peak in the Apennines. From Sulmona, the park's gateways are reached in 30 minutes.

The Friulian Dolomites

The most remote and wild of the Dolomites are the Friulian ones, a UNESCO World Heritage Site like the others but with a hundredth of the visitors. The Campanile di Val Montanaia is one of the most spectacular monoliths in the Alps. In June, Rifugio Pordenone (1,249 m) is the ideal starting point: half board 55 euros, reachable in 2 hours' walking from Cimolais. The trails are well-marked but require some experience.

The Alpe di Siusi without the crowds

Europe's largest plateau is notoriously crowded in the height of summer, but in early June — before the school holidays — it is still peaceful. The rhododendron bloom across the green meadows with the Dolomites as a backdrop is straight from a postcard. Take the cable car from Siusi (round trip around 25 euros) and walk towards Rifugio Bolzano: 3 hours, an unforgettable landscape.

Practical tips for the mountains in June

• Above 2,000 m there may still be residual snowfields: check trail conditions before setting out (CAI websites or refuges)
• The days are long (sunrise at 5:30, sunset after 9 p.m.): make the most of them by starting early
• At refuges on weekdays in June, booking is not necessary; at weekends it is advisable
• Bring high-factor sun cream: UV intensity at altitude is strong even in mild temperatures
• Temperatures vary widely between day (18–22°C) and night (5–8°C): dress in layers
• Some cable cars and lifts reopen in mid-June: check opening dates

June in the mountains is the best-kept secret of the locals. Make the most of it while it lasts.