The Stelvio National Park, set up in 1935 and regulated in 1951 is currently managed by a Board including State, Regione Lombardia, Provincia Autonoma di Trento and Provincia Autonoma di Bolzano. The Chairmen of the Managing Committees, one for each Park section, bring to the attention of the Board of Directors the opinions of the local populations.
After its extension in 1977, that allowed to establish a link with The Swiss Park of Engadina, the Stelvio National Park covers an area of 134,620 hectares, spread among 24 municipalities and 4 provinces : Bolzano (41%), Brescia and Sondrio (44%) and Trento (15%). The Park boarders run along Val Monastero and Val Venosta to the North, Val d’Ultimo to the East, running parallel to Val di Sole, Val Camonica to the South, Valtellina and Val Livigno to the West¸ The centre of the whole area is the Ortles - Cevedale mountain range.
From a geological standpoint, the Stelvio National Park territory is quite varied, including sedimentary and eruptive rocks, with a predominance of metamorphic rocks, like gneiss and granite, forming a great number of peaks and typical Alpine valleys, with an abundance of watercourses: torrents, streams and little Alpine lakes.
LThe Park’s altitude is ranging between 650 m and the 3,899 m of Monte Ortles. Its vegetation features several, subsequent ranges, changing in aspect and composition depending on the height as well as on other environmental parameters. At lower heights, various combinations of broadleaf are present, but conifers are mostly widespread, featuring spruces and, at greater heights, larches and Cembran pines. The shrub range mostly features mountain pines, rhododendrons, junipers, blueberries and alders. Higher up, you will find grazing land with several herbaceous species.
The Park’s wild animal population includes about thirty mammal species, 131 bird species, several reptiles and amphibians, some fish and numerous invertebrates. Deer and roe deer are the most numerous species, as well as chamois at greater heights - widespread throughout he Park area ; rock goats can be found in Val Zebrù. Other mammals in the Park are marmots, squirrels, Alpine hares, stoats, martens, beech-martens, badgers and foxes. Fowls include capercaillies, black grouses and hazel hens, whereas rock ptarmigans and rock partridges can be found at greater heights. Last, but not least, comes the royal eagle, chosen as Park symbol, along with the recently re-introduced Alpine vulture.
If you wish to get a full immersion into this wild setting, there is a wide choice of clearly waymarked routes, starting from simple itineraries for kids and elderly people, to the more demanding ones for experienced mountaineers.

GUIDED WALKS
“Park Guides” are available for guided walks in the Park’s Lombard and Trentine sections. Guided walks are organised all year round - with typical snowshoes in winter. School groups can take advantage of special programs, with the possibility to spend nights at the Park’s facilities. Apart from walking routes in the wilderness, the Park offers a variety of opportunities to get in touch with its historical, cultural and environmental richness, including facilities that bear witness to old time crafts, castles, typical rural houses (masi), museums and churches, as well as orchards, botanical pathways and animal wildlife areas.