Lake Nembia lies in a wooded hollow between Paganella and the Brenta group, in Trentino in the Italian Dolomites, close to San Lorenzo Dorsino. A rockslide dammed the valley and left a small, shallow lake, now protected as a WWF nature reserve. The water is turquoise and very clear, and the shore carries a flat loop path of under 3 km, picnic areas and panels on the wildlife of the reserve. People come to walk the loop, fish for trout and char, and swim in the warm months.
Lake Nembia
Local name: Lago di Nembia
A rockslide dammed the valley to make this lake, and the local microclimate is such that it never freezes over.
- Accessibility
- The lakeside loop is level and families take pushchairs round it.
- Parking
- Free car park on gravel 113 m from the lake; a second car park 318 m away is paid.
- Difficulty
- Flat loop of under 3 km around the lake, with no climbing.
- Transport
- Bus stop Lago Nembia, 111 m from the lakeshore.
What makes it special
The water is clear enough to follow fish across the bottom from the bank, and on a still day the surface goes flat as glass. Lake Nembia sits in a wooded hollow between Paganella and the Brenta group, dammed long ago by a rockslide and now protected as a WWF nature reserve. A wooden footbridge crosses the northeastern side. Panels along the shore explain the wildlife of the reserve, and the lake is stocked with rainbow trout, brown trout and char, managed by the Alto Sarca fishermen's association.
Good to know
- No toilets. There are none at the lake, and none within 800 m of it.
- Cold water. Even in August the lake runs cold, so plan swims short and bring something dry.
- Drinking water. A tap stands about 270 m from the lake.
- Food and picnics. A refreshment bar operates nearby, and there are picnic areas along the shore.
Getting there
Cars come almost to the water: the nearest car park is just over a hundred metres from the shore, on gravel, with a second one a little further back. A bus stop stands about the same distance from the lake. From either, the walk in is flat, and the loop path begins at the shore. The wooden footbridge on the northeastern side lets you cross the lake instead of walking the whole way round.
Best time to visit
Better: the warm months — swimming is on then, and the picnic areas by the shore get used.
Avoid: banking on a long swim; the water is cold even in August.
Fishing runs all year here, so a winter visit still finds open water and people on the bank.
Sun & daylight
Nearby Places
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Lake Nembia on the map
The water stays cold well into August. Wade in rather than jumping — cold shock catches swimmers out even where the lake is shallow.
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Frequently asked questions
Can you swim in Lake Nembia?
Yes, in the warm months. The water near the shore is shallow and clear, and cold — noticeably so even in August.Is there a path around the lake?
Yes. A flat loop of under 3 km runs the whole way round, and a wooden footbridge crosses the northeastern side.Are there toilets at the lake?
No, and none within 800 m of the shore. There is a drinking-water tap about 270 m away and a refreshment bar near the lake.Does the lake freeze in winter?
No. A local microclimate keeps it open, and it is fished all year round.What fish are in the lake?
Rainbow trout, brown trout and char, stocked and managed by the Alto Sarca fishermen's association.