The road of tunnels, in fact a military communications’ road, is one of the most famous trails of the pre-alpine area, unique in its genre. The excursionist or hiker is attracted not just  by the courageous and unthinkable concept of the layout and by the huge excavation work but also, when there is no fog, by a breath-taking, changeable landscape that can be admired from a natural terrace. The view includes crests, towers and cliffs of various mountains in the area, but it stretches to the sweet sloping hills and the vast plain as well. The longest tunnel is the nineteenth that, like the twentieth, revolves on itself various times, forming a descending spiral within the rock.

The trail 
From Bocchetta Campiglia, going through a modern entrance portal, you enter the mule-track road that after a few turns goes up to the historical entrance of the first tunnel, built in 1917. The trail rises rapidly in the first section, through the rocky towers, the Bella Laita’s natural fortifications, and exciting overhanging cliffs. It proceeds in and out of the first twenty tunnels, some of which have a very particular development (tunnels 12, 19 and 29), until it enters, at altitude 1700 mt, the Val Camossara, that is then largely surpassed by walking its rocky hillside (tunnels 31 and 32). Once you are out of the valley at altitude 1824 mt, the road continues on the plain over the tormented and beautiful area of the Vaj that end up on the road. You nearly approach the Fontana d’Oro Pass (1870 mt; time required: two hours and fifteen minutes). After one last section climbing slightly uphill, which is quite spectacular as it’s cut in the rock, and which takes you to the highest point of altitude, 2000 mt, shortly after the 48th tunnel, the road starts rapidly downhill towards Porte del Pasubio and then arrives at the Rifugio Papa (1928 mt.; three hours) through the tortuous 51st and 52nd tunnels.

The trail is difficult due to the difference in altitude and for some exposed sections. A torch is required as the tunnels are not illuminated. There is no water in the area, so adequate supply is necessary at departure. Hiking attire is necessary.

Information 
Optimal time of the year to walk the trail: from June to October
CAI trail 366
Average difficulty, signalled as EE (Expert Excursionists)

Supporting refuges
At arrival:Rifugio Generale Achille Papa, at Porte del Pasubio (1928 m), where the road ends. Property of CAI, Schio chapter;
At departure, at the Xomo Pass:Rifugio Passo Xomo

Point of departure: Bocchetta Campiglia
Reachable by car (fee parking available). From Schio (VI), take the S.P. 46 del Pasubio. Go through Valli del Pasubio and continue to Ponte Verde (901 m). Before the bridge, turn right and go down the road that goes up Passo Xomo (1058 m). At the height of the refuge of the same name turn left along the road that takes to Bocchetta Campiglia (1216 m), or  continue by foot along the 366 trail which starts at Passo Xomo (in this case follow directions to Bocchetta Xetele, see the signalling sign right after the refuge).

Altitude difference: 784 mt

Time requested: 3 hours

Topographical map: sections of the Vicenza province by the CAI, Section 1, sheet Pasubio-Carega 1 : 25000

From: Sections of the Vicenza province by the  CAI, Pasubio Carega trails