Stelvio National Park is one of Italy's oldest and largest protected areas, stretching across Lombardy, Trentino and South Tyrol. It's a realm of glaciated giants and quiet alpine valleys, centered on the mighty Ortles-Cevedale mountain group.

The scenery here shifts dramatically with altitude - dense spruce and larch forests give way to alpine meadows, peat bogs with carnivorous plants, and finally bare rock, scree and permanent snowfields above 3500 m. In summer, trails wind through blooming pastures where chamois, marmots and golden eagles are common sights, while winter transforms the area around the Stelvio Pass and Gavia Pass into a haven for skiers and mountain solitude seekers. The Stelvio Pass itself, at 2758 m, is the second-highest paved mountain pass in Europe.

• Bormio or Prato allo Stelvio — main access points to the western and eastern sides of the park, reachable by car, moderate difficulty depending on chosen trail
• Trafoi or Solda — alternative access from South Tyrol, leading toward Ortles peak and the high-altitude refuges

• The park covers 24 municipalities and 4 provinces, bordering the Swiss National Park to the north
• Home to the Forni Glacier, the largest valley glacier in the Italian Alps
• Protected species include the reintroduced bearded vulture (gipeto)
• Numerous visitor centers throughout the park provide information on local flora and fauna

Crowning it all is Ortles peak at 3905 m, the park's highest summit and a coveted goal for mountaineers.