4 Day Trek In The Dolomites

ALTA VIA DEL GRANITO ON MONTE ZIMON | LAGORAI DOLOMITES L’Alta Via del Granito (Granite ridgeway) is a magnificent circular hike on the peculiar granite peaks on the Cima d’Asta chain and Cime di Rava, that sits in the Lagorai Dolomites. The ridgeway consists of a network of ancient trails and former military roads, which date back to the First World War and connect the only two mountain lodges of the chain. This route offers three days of easy trekking among fabulous natural landscapes, memories from the Great War, Alpine huts and mountain pastures, along with the evidence of the ancient pact between humankind and nature. ROUTE DESCRIPTION DAY ONE:  MALGA SORGAZZA - RIFUGIO CALDENAVE From Malga Sorgazza, which has now become a restaurant, you take the steep trail 328 which leads  to  Forcella  Quarazza  going  past  Lago  di Costa Brunella. From here, you walk on bypassing the southeastern ridge of Cima Trento and arrive at Forzelon di Rava. From Forzelon (saddle/pass), a  short  diversion  is  recommended.  It  goes  on Cimon Rava (2,436 m), which offers a nice view on Cresta del Frate peaks. Once you descend the peak, you hike on along trail 332 bis and you easily arrive at the extremity of the panoramic Val di Rava untl you reach Forcella Ravetta. After this, you descend passing under the northern slope of the imposing Cima Caldenave, walk through a small wood and come out on the large peat bog just before Rifugio Caldenave. DAY TWO: RIFUGIO CALDENAVE - RIFUGI CIMA D’ASTA From  Rifugio  Caldenave  you  reach  the  plain, cross the stream and take trail 360 which, leading you through the impressive Val d’Inferno lakes, climbs up to Forcella delle Buse Todesche. From  here,  walking  pleasantly  on  a  high  altitude, you continue northwards along trail 373 and hike along the eastern side of Cengello and Cima  Lasteati.  In  this  way,  you  reach  Forcella Magna, an important passage that connects Val Sorgazza and Alta Val Cia. During the First World War, this saddle was served by a road open to vehicles, whose ruins are evident and which enabled Italian soldiers to transport large pieces of artillery. From the saddle, you descend on trail 380 until you reach a junction on the right towards Passo Socede (trail 380 bis) on a altitude of 2516 m. The trail is marked by some foxhole ruins. From here, you reach Rifugio Brentari in 15 minutes by walking on granite bumps. DAY THREE: RIFUGIO CIMA D’ASTA - MALGA SORGAZZA From Rifugio Brentari, you descend on characteristic granite plates until the cableway base. On the forest road you reach Malga Sorgazza and  complete  the  circle.  From  the  mountain lodge, it is recommended to hike up on Cima d’Asta  (2,847  m  -  1h  and  15  min  /  370  m  of difference in height), the highest peak of the mountain chain with an extraordinary view. DAY FOUR: TREKKING ON MONTE ZIMON This is an impressive itinerary on a high altitude which connects old existing tracks to one another and allows you to bypass completely the central hub of Cima d’Asta.°It is now possible to do the whole Tour of Zimon by starting and arriving at Rifugio Brentari on an altitude of 2500 m. This path is intended for experienced hikers and signposted as SAT E 392. It bypasses the series of saddles and wild amphitheatres on the massif northwestern slope and meets the long military trail that goes up from Col de Vento ridge. It is recommended to hike on the trail clockwise. The hiking tour has a 800 m difference in height and lasts a bit shorter than 6 hours. The trail meets  in  the  following  order:  Passo  Socede, Forcella Coronon, Vallon del Coronon, Forcella de Medo, Lago del Bus, Forcella col del Vento, Laste Alte, Laste dei Fiori, La Forzeleta and ends at the starting point Rifugio Brentarl.

HIKING PIZ BOE | SELLA MOUNTAIN

Hiking Tour in the Italian Dolomite's across the Sella Mountain Group to its highest Peak, Piz Boé at 3,152 metres.

This is one of the must do walks in the Dolomite's if you are looking for a great day of hiking.  The views are breathtaking and unforgottable, if I had to recommend one walk this would be top on my list.

Starting point: Sas Pordoi cable car (Passo Pordoi, Canazei)
Trail numbers: SAT 627, 638, AV 2
Time of Year: 15 June - 15 Sept (depending on Snow)
Length: 4 km (one way)
Walking time: 1.5 - 2 hours (one way)
Elevation Gain: 370 m (one way)
Max Elevation: 3,152 metres asl
Local information: A.P.T. Val di Fassa, tel. 0462 609 500

GETTING THERE

The best place to baseyourself for this adventure is Canazei, from there you have several hiking options.  To get to Canazei.

By Train
Closest railway stations is Trento, Bolzano and Ora.
Using Train in Italy: Ferrovie dello Stato (Italian State Railways)

By Bus
There are weekly connections with coach lines from Italy's main cities (Milan, Rome, Bologna, Florence, Genoa, Venice, etc.) Using buses in Italy

Daily bus connections from the railway stations of Trento (ATESINA), Bolzano (SAD) and from Ora (SAD), change at Predazzo.

ROUTE NOTES:

The start point for the hiike is Passo Pordoi (2,240 metres),which sits above town of Canazei, in the Val di Fassa of the Trento Province.  Here you either take the cable car up to the 2,947 metres high Mount Sass Pordoi, or hike the trail (1.5 hr) up to the Pordio Pass. This  hike is on the southwest boarder of the Sella mountain range so there is generaly good sun on the entire walk. From the Cable car you will pick up Alpine trail number 627, this will lead over to the Pordoi pass and refugio Boe.  (a section of this trail is part of the Alta Vie Route no 2, one the great multiday routes in the Dolomites.

There is a refugio in the pass if you need a bit to eat or water, there is no other water soource until you reach Refugio Capanna Fassa.  You will cross the typical moon-like landscape of the upper Dolomite's on your way to Rifugio Boé, which lies at the upper end of the Val di Mezdí.

Before reaching the Rifugio Boé, trail no. 638 branches off to the right, towards the peak of Mount Piz Boé. From here, the trail starts to rise steeply upwards with the most difficult sections are secured by ropes. Ferrate gear is recommended for the route.

After two hours of hiking, we finally arrive at the peak of Mount Piz Boé with its peak cross, the tiny wooden rifugio Capanna Fassa and its wonderful 360°- view of the surrounding Dolomites peaks: Fanes, Marmolata, Sassolungo, and Odle.

If you would like to hike on the shorter but steeper trail, just follow the signpost “Capanna Fassa / Piz Boe” at the Pordoi mountain pass.

HIKING THE FRADUSTA GLACIER | PALE DI SAN MARTINO MOUNTAINS

The Fradusta Glacier and a small lake with the same name, is located in the desert of the Pale di San Martino Dolomite's. There is very little left of the glacier and is it now more of a snow patch that seems to continue to disappear. This is a great day hike for all levels, but be sure to have all the appropriate layers for any weather since it can change in during your walk.

• Mountain Group: Pale di San Martino Dolomites
• Starting point: Upper station of the ropeway Rosetta (San Martino di Castrozza)
• Trail numbers: SAT n. 707 toward “Fradusta”
• Time of Year:  15 June to 15 Sept. depending on snow fall
• Trail length: 4 km each way
• Walking time: 1.5 to 2 hours each way
• Elevation Gain: 480 m ascent, 300 m descent (one way)
• Max Elevation: 2700
• Additional Information: Tourism Board San Martino di Castrozza, Phone: +39 0439 768 867

GETTING THERE:

The closest train stations:

Feltre (Padua-Belluno-Calalzo train line)
Bus connections to Primiero (30 km) and San Martino di Castrozza (45 km): Trentino Trasporti Company buses leave from just outside the train station (tickets are sold at the train station ticket office or on board).
 
Trento (Verona-Brennero train line)
Bus connections to Primiero (95 km) and San Martino di Castrozza (110 km): train (Trento - Borgo Valsugana stretch) + bus (Borgo Valsugana - Primiero/San Martino di Castrozza) with a single ticket; there is also a direct bus line covering the whole trip from Trento to Primiero - San Martino (leaving from the bus station).

Ora (Verona-Brennero train line)
Bus connections (only on working days) to San Martino (70 km) and Primiero (85 km) via Passo Rolle: Trentino Trasporti Company direct bus or SAD Company bus to Predazzo, then continue with a Trentino Trasporti Company bus.

ROUTE NOTES:

You will take the cable car at Colverde up to reach the summit Rosetta (2.650 m). An easy path to the left as you arrive will take you near the refuge Rosetta where you can get snacks, water, and a cafe prior to your walk.  The walk takes you through the unique landscape plateau and into the hearth of the Pale di San Martino mountain Group. Follow the signpost 707 and the white and red marks on the stones, without them the path is not very visible.

This is an easy Alpine hike from an altitude of 2.650 metres to 2.700 metres, but the actual elevation gain and lost during the trip will be about 700 meters, and the up and down walking is through stones, so make sure you have good footwear. 

Walking time will be around 2 hours to reach the small lake. Some hikers like to continue to the summit of Fradusta (2.900 m),  on a clear day this is a great extra walk to add on. Or just have a picnic at the lake and then return to the Rosetta Hut along the same train. 

HIKING PASSO ROLLE TO CAVALLAZZA | DOLOMITES

Hike Italy - San Martino Dolomite Group

Nice day hike at upper evelvation in the Pale di San Martino Group.