recommended route
Dolomites High Altitude Trail 2
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Rifugio PradidaliPhoto: Hartmut Wimmer, Outdooractive Premium
Author’s recommendation
Track types
Show elevation profileSafety information
The high-altitude trail can only be recommended to persevering mountaineers with sufficient alpine experience, climbing skills in secured and free terrain (up to difficulty level II) and ice experience. Absolute surefootedness and freedom from vertigo as well as orientation skills are required!
- There is a risk of falling rocks on steep mountain flanks and secured climbs!
- Be careful after prolonged rainfall, with residual snow and icing in early summer, as well as during fog and thunderstorms!
- A solo ascent is not advised.
Start
Destination
Turn-by-turn directions
Stage 1: Kreuztal mountain station - Schlüterhütte
.We start the high-altitude trail with a ride on the Plose cable car from the valley station in St. Andrä near Brixen up to the small settlement of Kreuztal. From there we hike about 2 km to the Plose Hut. The route to the southeast via the Lüsnerscharte, Halsl and Edelweißhütte to the Schlüterhütte is well marked and, apart from the somewhat arduous ascent to the Peitlerscharte, has no difficult sections in store.
Stage 2: Schlüterhütte - Puezhütte
From the Schlüterhütte hut, in the midst of the Puez-Odle Nature Park, the trail continues south upwards to the Bronsoijoch, then on the southern flank of Sobutsch and Medalges westwards to the Kreuzjoch. There you continue southwards on trail no. 3 below the Wasserkofel - partly over screey, rugged slopes - to the Forcella Roa. Via the Vall della Roa and the Forcella de Sieles, we reach the Puezalm and finally the Puezhütte.
Section 3: Puez Hut - Pisciadù Hut
.The section from the Puez Hut to the Gardena Pass turns out to be a pleasant hike and leads on trail no. 2 first south to the Forcella de Ciampei, then in a south-westerly direction above Lake Crespeina to the Crespeina Pass, to the Cirjoch and via the Jimmy Hut to the Gardena Pass. A steep ascent follows on trail no. 666 through the Val Setus (scree, hairpin bends, often remnants of snow), where we are helped in part by wire ropes and iron clamps. We reach the Sella Ringband, which surrounds the Sella massif about halfway up. There, a little later, we reach the Pisciadù Hut on the left.
Stage 4: Pisciadùhütte - Boèhütte
.The next stage continues south on trail no. 666 above the Lech de Pisciadù; first over scree, then on a secured climb into the Val de Tita. After leaving the high valley, we climb up and down to the junction of path 649, on which we go straight on to the saddle in front of the Zwischenkofel. From there, you can either take trail no. 666 over its summit or keep to the right on the Coburger Weg (climbing sections with difficulty level I) to the Boèhütte hut.
.Stage 5: Boèhütte - Rifugio Castiglioni Marmolada
.The fifth stage leads southwards on trail 627 along the western flank of Piz Boè to the Pordoi Pass with the Rifugio Forcella Pordoi. From there, the descent follows through the steep gully to the Pordoijoch (Passo Pordoi). From there, head south on trail no. 601 to the Rifugio Fredarola, then slightly uphill in an easterly direction to the Rifugio Vièl dal Pan. The Bindelweg is an enjoyable high-altitude hike through the Padon Group with wonderful views of the Marmolada and Sassolungo Group. Then follows the steep descent to Lago di Fedaia with the Rifugio Castiglioni Marmolada.
Stage 6: Rifugio Castiglioni Marmolada - Rifugio Contrin
.Now follows one of the most demanding sections of the high-altitude trail, which can only be recommended to experienced hikers and in appropriate weather conditions - check the current (snow) situation beforehand! It is advisable to use crampons and ice axes on the Marmolada glacier and a KS set on the ascent to the Marmolada-Scharte. From the south shore of the lake, walk to the valley station of the Fedaia cable car, then climb to the Rifugio Pian die Fiacconi on foot or by cable car. From there we take trail no. 606 westwards to the Marmolada glacier. We ascend south-westwards over the glacier and finally reach the Forcella Marmolada via a steep slope (firn, often icy). Via an iron ladder (trail no. 606) we descend into a narrow gully, then in hairpin bends to the Rifugio Contrin.
Stage 7: Rifugio Contrin - Passo Pellegrino
.We pass Malga Contrin on the left and climb to a meadow. From there we continue westwards to the western flank of the Cima Ombretta. The ascent to the Passo delle Cirelle takes place over a lot of scree. We then descend on trail 607 in serpentines to Fuciade in the Val di Cigole. In early summer, old snow must be expected on the descent (ice axe and crampons advisable)! From the Rifugio Fuchiade we descend in a south-westerly direction across meadows, then through sparse forest to the Lago di Pozze with the Rifugio Miralgo, then on to the Passo di San Pellegrino.
Eappe.
Stage 8: Passo Pellegrino - Passo di Vallès
.From the large car park, we climb in a south-easterly direction on trail no. 658, passing under the gondola lift, to the scenic eastern ridge of Col Margherita. From there, head south high above the Lago di Cavia until you reach a road, which you follow down to the left to the Forcella di Pradazzo. From there, there is a beautiful hike south to the Passo di Vallès with the Capanna Passo Vallès.
.Stage 9: Passo di Vallès - Rifugio Mulaz
.Trail no. 752 leads us in steep hairpin bends up to the Forcella di Venegia, then through the southern flank of Cima del Lago and Cima Venegiotta to Passo Venegiotta. On trail no. 751 we climb in steep switchbacks to a shoulder where trail no. 753 branches off to the left. However, we keep to the right, towards the southeast, on the eastern flank of Monte Mulaz. For the following ascent to the Rifugio Mulaz, sure-footedness and climbing experience at I. level of difficulty are required (wire ropes, remnants of snow, scree).
Stage 10: Rifugio Mulaz - Rifugio di Rosetta
.We follow trail no. 703 first to the Forcella Margherita, then below the Cima di Focobón over scree slopes and crumbly rock to the Passo delle Farangole. Scenically magnificent, but demanding (sure-footedness, head for heights, climbing at grade I), the crossing takes place on the east side of the northern Pala Group. Trail 703 leads into the Val Grande, then southwards high above the Valle delle Comelle and has numerous exposed sections. At the head of the Valle delle Comelle, our trail meets no. 704, it climbs steeply to cross trail 756, there turn right to the Rifugio di Rosetta.
.Stage 11: Rifugio di Rosetta - Rifugio Pradiali
On trail 702, the route heads south to Passo Val di Roda, followed by an intermediate descent in hairpin bends, before soon climbing gently again to Col della Fede. Below the western falls of the Pala di San Martino, we reach a junction where we keep straight ahead on trail no. 715. We come to an exposed rock ledge (rope) that leads us into a scree hollow. After the steep ascent to the Passo di Ball, the descent is finally over steep slopes, partly scree, to the Rifugio Pradiali.
Stage 12: Rifugio Pradiali - Rifugio Treviso
.The next stage again provides us with magnificent scenery, but is the most demanding section of the entire high-altitude trail (unsecured climbing passage grade II.) and should therefore only be tackled in good visibility and appropriate weather conditions. Trail no. 709 leads north into a high valley - below on the right we see Lago Pradiali. A marker then points the trail 711 to the right. Over a 70 m high wall, secured with wire ropes and iron stirrups, ribbons, rock ledges and scree, we reach the Passo delle Lede. From there we descend to the Bivacco Carlo Minazio. Afterwards, trail no. 711 leads in a south-easterly direction, very steep and long downhill, with climbing sections in the I. degree. At the junction, we keep left downhill into the Val dei Canali, have to cross the stream and then climb up to cross trail no. 707, which we follow to the Rifugio Treviso.
.Stage 13: Rifugio Treviso - Passo Cereda
.Path no. 718 points us south through woods, bushes and boulders. In a gully with panels, the trail heads eastwards in switchbacks up a steep gully, then steeply and quite laboriously up grassy slopes and scree gullies to the Forcella d'Oltro. An intermediate descent follows in very steep hairpin bends before we ascend - crossing steep grassy slopes (be careful!) - in a south-westerly direction to a shoulder. Below the walls of Rocchetta and Cima Feltraio, we continue to a fork where trail 718 leads half-left down to the meadow shoulder of Regade, then onto a driveway. There we hike down to the right to Passo Cereda.
Stage 14: Passo Cereda - Bivacco Feltre
.We follow trail no. 801 east through the forest to the end of the mountain road. Now a footpath, it directs us to a forest road where we head south-east to a fork. We keep to the right of footpath 801, which leads us across several ditches and a gully to the foot of Piz di Sagron. From there, we enter a scree basin and head up towards the north ridge of the Pala Verde. On the marked trail, we go up the ridge to a scree band, on which - after passing a landslide zone - we climb. We then have to tackle a very steep, dangerous scree slope and scree until we reach a shoulder above the Passo del Comedon. From there we make the transition (partly very steep and exposed) to Bivacco Feltre e Bivacco Walter Bodo.
.Stage 15: Bivacco Feltre - Rifugio Bruno Boz
.On trail 801, head southwest to the fork at the foot of the Col del Mul, then straight over the Pian del Re and, partly with climbing passages, up to the Col die Bechi shoulder. Now the high-altitude hike (Traversata Cimonega) begins under the east and south walls of the Sass de Mura to the Pass de Mura. It offers magnificent views and a particular wealth of flowers, but requires full concentration and caution. From there follows the descent to the Rifugio Bruno Boz.
Stage 16: Rifugio Bruno Boz - Rifugio dal Piàz
.On trail no. 801, we first head south up to Passo Finestra, then into the east side of Monte Zoccare Alto. There we go up, then up and down to a shoulder where we turn right under the Forcella Zoccare Alto. On the eastern flank of the northern ridge of Sasso Scarnia, we climb steeply to the ridge level, then to a rocky rise. There, on the right, we climb in switchbacks to a saddle, then to a shoulder (2150 m). The paths are often exposed and require absolute surefootedness and a head for heights. We descend over scree below the east face of the Sasso Scarnia and then traverse to the lower southeast ridge. The long stage then continues with the traverse to Alpe Ramezza. After crossing the rocky plateau "Piazza del Diavolo" further to the west, we follow an old war path to the green alpine meadows of the Busa di Piètena and to Passo Piètena. Then follow the descent to Busa Le Vette Grandi and the subsequent climb to Passo Le Vette Grandi. A little further south we reach the Rifugio dal Piàz.
Stage 17: Rifugio dal Piàz - Passo Croce d'Aune/Feltre
.Trail no. 801 leads in a south-westerly direction on an old military road, whose hairpin bends we can partly shorten by following paths through woods and meadows, down to Passo Croce d'Aune. From there we hike along the pass road via Pedavena to Feltre or take a taxi or bus (not on Sundays).
Public transport
By train to Bressanone railway station, continue by bus (line 321) to the valley station of the Plose gondola
.Return from Feltre by bus to Trento or Bolzano, continue by train to Bressanone
By road
From the north on the Brenner motorway via Innsbruck and the Brenner Pass (exit Brixen-Nord/Pustertal) to BrixenCoordinates
Equipment
Sturdy and well-worn hiking boots, comfortable and functional clothing (windproof, waterproof, several layers), KS set, rockfall helmet, rope, ice axe, crampons, large rucksack with rain cover, map and compass, sun protection, lamp, first aid kit, water and food supply, camping equipment with bivouac/sleeping bag.Localization
Statistics
- 25 Waypoints
- 25 Waypoints
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