The 7 most beautiful hikes

Active holiday-goers consider Dolomites Val Gardena a favourite destination just because of its infinite hiking paths. We’ve chosen seven of the most beautiful hiking paths which will take you to amazing scenic spots, friendly mountain huts, and unique natural experiences. A perfect suggestion for families seeking an adventure, hikers wanting a leisurely stroll featuring lift facilities, or sporty hikers. All these hiking paths are thoroughly assessed, well posted, and will make you want to go on other countless activities in the Dolomites, a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

• Starting point: S. Cristina (1.428 m)
• Itinerary: S. Cristina (1.428 m) > Col Raiser lift (2.106 m) > across the meadows of the Mastlé Pasture (Seceda) (trail No. 2) > Cuca hill (trail No. 6) > Pic mountain (2.363 m) > Sëurasas (2.176 m) (trail No. 6A)
• Alternative: Cuca hill > walk around the Pic mountain (trail N°6A) > Trail N°20 across the „Runcaudie farms“ > Plesdinaz/S. Cristina
• Walking time: 2,5 hours

Seura Sass "over the rock" is thanks to the exposed position one of the most impressive lookout points of Val Gardena. From here you can experience the view on the three main towns of the valley.

The ascent to Col Raiser by cable car (2.106 m). You follow the path n.2 across the meadows of the Mastlé Pasture (Seceda) until the Cuca hill, where you have a beautiful view to the "Lech Sant" (Saint Lake). Suddenly you rise (path n° 6) to the peak of the Pic mountain (2.363 m) from where you will have a 360° panoramic view. For the descent you walk until Sëurasas (2.125 m) until reaching the locality Runcaudië and back to S. Cristina.

• Starting point: S. Cristina (1428 m) or Selva Gardena (1564 m)
• Difficulty: medium
• Total hiking time: 5,5 hours

This tour around the landmark of Val Gardena is a must for all landscape-loving hikers. From the starting point in S. Cristina you take the chairlifts Monte Pana and Mont de Sëura. From the starting point Selva Gardena you take the cable car Ciampinoi. At the top station of Mont Sëura (2117 m) the hike begins in the direction of the Comici Hut (526B + 528 + 526). From the Ciampinoi mountain station (2254 m) the hike also starts in the direction of the Comici Hut (21 + 21A+ 526). Here begins one of the most beautiful sections of the tour: the Stone City (526), through which you will reach the Passo Sella. Passing the Friedrich August Hut and the Sandro Pertini Hut you follow the Friedrich August path (557) up to the Plattkofel Hut. Here you can enjoy a wonderful view over the Seiser Alm, the biggest high alpine pasture in Europe. Directly below the Sassolungo the return path leads to the Mont de Sëura (527 + 526 + 526B) and to the Ciampinoi (527 + 526 + 21A + 21).

Variations/ Alternative routes:

• Tour round the Sassolungo
  • With the use of the lift (hiking time approx. 3 hours)
  • Without the use of the lift (hiking time approx. 4 hours)
• Starting point from Passo Sella (reachable by bus or car)
• Return on foot via Monte Pana (to S. Cristina) or Sochers + La Selva (to Selva Gardena)

• Starting point: Ortisei (1.236 m)
• Itinerar: Ortisei 1.236m > Resciesa (Mountain station) 2.103 m > Brogles Hut 2.119 m > Forcella de Mesdì 2.597 m > Seceda/ Mastlé Hut 2.460 m > Ortisei 1.236 m
• Walking time: 6-7 hours
• Difficulty level: easy at “Brogles” and middle station; ascent Seceda moderately difficult (alternatively with cable car)

The starting point is the breathtaking Resciesa, which can be reached by funicular from Ortisei. From the mountain station then, the actual hike begins: following trail no. 35, you first reach the Brogles Hut. You then continue along the same trail until you arrive at the entrance to the Forcella de Mesdì (trail no. 29). It is one of the most beautiful, yet at the same time one of the most demanding mountain passes in the Dolomites, stretching through the heart of the Geisler/Odle peaks. At the top, you reach the majestic Seceda, which offers an almost unbelievable panoramic view of the mountains of Val Gardena. The most strenuous part is already behind you, but from the end of the Forcella de Mesdì you continue along trail 2B towards the top of Seceda. By the time you arrive there, all the effort will definitely have been worth it. The top is located near the upper station of the Seceda cable car, which comfortably takes you back down to Ortisei.

Alternatively, from the Brogles hut you can reach the middle station of the Seceda cable car and from there comfortably continue by cable car to the Seceda.

• Starting point: Ortisei (1.236 m)
• Itinerar: Ortisei 1.236 m > Funicular Alpe di Siusi (Mountain station) 2.005 m > Tirler 1.741 m > Goldknopf > Compatsch 1.884 m > Funicular Alpe di Siusi (Mountain station) 2.005 m > Ortisei 1.236 m
• Walking time: 5,5 hours
• Difficulty level: medium

The starting point of the hike is the mountain station of the Seiser Alm. Follow the path no. 9 to the „Almgasthof Tirler“, from here continue along the trail no. 8 in direction of Goldknopf, until Kompatsch (path no. 7). The walking time is about 4 hours. The way back leads via Sanon and Monte Piz back to the starting point. You will need about 1.5 hours for this last part.

• Starting point: Ortisei (1.236 m)
• Itinerar: Ortisei 1.236 m > Funicular Resciesa (Mountain station) 2.093 m > Außerraschötz 2.198 m > Funicular Resciesa (Mountain station) 2.093 m > Ortisei 1.236 m
• Walking time: 2 hours (descent by funicular); 3,5 hours (descent on foot)
• Difficulty level: easy

You will reach „Costa dl Cason“ walking north-east from the mountain station. Take the trail no.31 from the intersection to proceed towards Außerraschötz. Along this path, you can enjoy the unique view of the Puez-Geisler Nature Park. Follow the path no. 1 followed by no. 10 until you reach the summit cross (2.281m). Again, you will have a breath-taking view of the Dolomites. Descend to the “Heilig-Kreuz” Chapel. The path no. 35 will take you back to the starting point. The return to Ortisei is possible on foot (about 1.5 hours) or by funicular.

• Starting point: Selva Val Gardena
• Itinerary: Dantercëpies cable car (2.298 m) > Jimmy hut > Cir pass (2.462 m) > Alta Via delle Dolomiti nr. 2 >Crespëina saddle (2.528 m) > Ciampëi > Rifugio Puez (2.475 m) > Track number 14. or 2, 4 and then 16 down to the Vallunga/Selva Val Gardena.
• Walking time: 6 hours
• Difficulty: exhausting due to the long walking time

From the mountain station of the Dantercëpies cable car we take the track 12A to the Jimmy hut from where we reach the Cir pass by taking the rocky forcella Cir. We always follow the alta via delle Dolomiti Nr. 2 until reaching the Puez hut, main destination of our tour.
For the descent it can be taken, either the steeper track n°14 or the track 2,4 and then down on track nr. 16 to the Vallunga.

• Starting point: Selva Gardena (1.563 m)
• Itinerary: From the Daunëi hikers' car park, head uphill until you reach the first signpost to Stevia. Here, turn left uphill until, after about 5 min, a signpost indicates the start of the Palota trail. From Steviola, walk to the Stevia hut and then continue along trail N.17 to the forcella Piza. From the forcella, it takes about 1 hour to reach the refuge Firenze along trail 17B. From the refuge Firenze, go downhill on the path n.1 and at the crossroads turn left on path n.3 towards the Juac hut. From the Juac hut, you will return to the Daunëi hikers' car park.
• Walking time: 4 hours
• Level of difficulty: medium

Stevia the local mountain of Selva Val Gardena, which can be reached on foot directly from the village. From the top you have a wonderful view of the whole valley. The mountain is on the sunny side of Val Gardena, so you never walk in the shade. Along the way you will pass several small lakes where you can also take a short break and relax in pure nature and leave the stress of everyday life behind.

You can find numerous other hiking suggestions in various degrees of difficulty for Val Gardena and in the Dolomites here.

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