Countless footpaths lead upwards to what is perhaps the most beautiful hiking area of the Dolomites.
There are overwhelming views of a constantly changing landscape ranging from the idyllic to starkly precipitours rock formations.
Proposals in Alta Pusteria
Hikes in the mountains
Moos - Knieberg Time: 5½ hours difference in altitude: 1200 m first a forest path which then becomes a track across the mountain pastures with a sharp gradient during the last hour You start from the refuge Alpe-Nemes-Hütte walking on a forestry road with easy gradient in eastern direction. Here the winding track leads up to the Kniebergriedl and then becomes a path which brings you on the south-east ridge to the summit. During the last part of this walk you find remains of the First World War. While walking, the Knieberg which has the form of a pyramid, is always in your sight and from it you can enjoy a beautiful view of mountains including the Popera Group and the Dolomites of Sexten.
Moos - hike on the ridge - Helm Time: 8 hours markings: red white red number 146, number 160 and number 402 very long hike in a marvellous landscape You start at the Kniebergriedl (see previous hike) and walk on a sharp winding road up to the flat Obstanser Saddle with the frontier barracks now in ruins; beautiful view of Lake Obstanser with the refuge Obstanserseehütte. Here the real hike on the ridge starts. The summits of this ridge are not very high and can thus be scaled easily. A trail follows the ridge on the Austrian side and another one on the Italian side. White boundary stones indicate where the frontier is exactly. After a four hours´ walk starting at the frontier barracks, you reach the refuge Sillianer Hütte from where a rather broad trail leads to the Helm. During the whole hike one can enjoy a marvellous view of the Pustertal Valley and the Upper Comelico, of the Dolomites and the Central Alps. At different places hikers can find remains of buildings constructed for the positional warfare of the First World War. Those people who do not want to climb on the Helm, take the broad track which leads westwards. After crossing the mountain pastures they come to a path leading from the Helm down to the Negerdorf and they finally get to Sexten. However, there is also the possibility to continue on the walk to the refuge Hahnspielhütte and then to the funicular railway which brings you down to the valley. In order to avoid a large part of the ascending trail, you take the funicular railway up to the Restaurant Helm and follow the hike on the ridge in the opposite direction.
top Sexten - Helm time: 4 hours; difference in altitude: 1100 m quite demanding hike with beautiful view of the Pustertal Valley and of the Dolomites of Sexten refuge Rotwandwiesenhütte - Kreuzberg Pass time: from this refuge to the Kreuzberg Pass 2 hours sunny hike with view of the mountain pasture Alpe Nemes on the opposite side of the valley
Moos - Rotwandwiesen time: 1½ hours; difference in altitude: 600 m easy hike on a forest path with moderate gradient
Rotwandwiesen - Burgstall time: ¾ hour; difference in altitude: 300 m quite sharp hike with a beautiful view
Rotwandwiesen - Rotwandköpfl time: 2½ hours; difference in altitude: 600 m circular route with benches and a beautiful view; not for people who suffer from fear of heigths
Sexten - Außergsell time: 2½ hours shady forest path with a marvellous view of Sexten and the ridge of the Karnischer Kamm
Sexten - Innergsell time: 2½ hours and 1½ hours for the way down forest path with a far-reaching view from the summit
top Piccola Rocca dei Baranci (2160 m) Marvellous view to the group of Baranci, the Three Peaks and the Tre Scarperi Starting point: S. Candido (1175 m) Arrival point: Piccola Rocca dei Baranci (2160 m) Time hof hiking: 3 h Difference in altitude: 985 m Level: medium difficulty Tip: toboggan-run "Funbob" for summer month at the Monte Baranci Alternative: possibility to take the chair lift Baranci up to the Rif. Baranci.
Easy walks
Forest path into the Fischleintal Valley Time: 2½ hours markings: red white red number 1A difference in altitude: 200 m rewarding path with benches Near the main square of Sexten cross the "Schiessstandweg" Bridge, go 50 meters up to a barn, turn left and follow the path between the fences. At the edge of the forest turn left and continue along the fields until you reach a broader walk coming from Moos. Going uphill you come to the ruins of fort Haideck. The path is flat now and leads you through the forest, then through meadows and finally through mountain pins to the Hotel Dolomitenhof. From there you walk on a broad trail closed for cars to the refuge Talschlusshütte. During the last part of this hike you can enjoy the unforgettable view of the Dolomites of Sexten.
From Moos to the mountain pasture Klammbachalm Time: 2½ hours markings: red white red number 13 difference in altitude: 600 m mainly forest path, little gradient At the church of Moos an asphalt road turns left. It soon becomes a forestry road which leads along the gorge of the Sexten River and through dense spruce woods. These woods do not completely hide the Dolomites of Sexten so that tourists can admire them on repeated occasions. After a two hours´ walk one reaches the "Saumahd", as the boundary of the mountain pasture Alpe Nemes is called. Passing by a high wayside cross, the flat forestry road leads you to the refuge Alpe-Nemes-Hütte. On the left, however, a beautiful walk goes up to the refuge and the mountain pasture Klammbachalm
top From Sexten to the Forest Chapel Time: 1 hour markings: red white red number 4d difference in altitude: 230 m short and recommendable path Starting at the main square you go up the road called Bergweg to the farms of Hössler, there you turn left and follow the track across the fields up to the farm named Ladstätterhof at the edge of the forest. Now you walk through fir woods. Soon you arrive at the Forest Chapel, also called Chapel of Peace. During the First World War this chapel served as church since the parish church had been destroyed by shellfire.
Dobbiaco - Santa Maria After house number 24 in the Via Gustav-Mahler (near the ice-skating rink and the sports grounds), an asphalted road (road number 11B), just after the bridge, leads you across the Silvesterbach towards the West. After the turn-off, you will come to another junction with a cross and a bench. From here, the first path on your right leads you in the direction of Santa Maria, and the path to your right leads you to the village of Grazze. If you follow the road marking number 11B you will come within a few minutes to a group of houses called the 'Nove Casa'. From here, on your right hand side, a road (road marking number 11) leads you directly to Santa Maria. Once there, follow the same road across the asphalted and sunny walkway to Dobbiaco. Total walking time: 2.5 hours
Dobbiaco - Valle San Silvestro Our route begins in the centre of Dobbiaco and runs along the Via Franz-Anton-Zeiler towards the north of Dobbiaco, and then turns into the Via San Silvestro. From here, a small road turns to the right (road marking number 1B), runs through the forest and along a stream to Valle San Silvestro. In order to return to Dobbiaco, you can walk through Valle San Silvestro and follow the asphalted road in a westerly direction (road marking number 22), which - after passing the 'Leitnstöckl' - will get you back to Dobbiaco. Total walking time: 2 hours
Dobbiaco - Monte Rota As in description number 1 the road leads us to Santa Maria. Behind the church, there is a hiking path through the forest which leads you to the hamlet of Monte Rota. Once you've arrived at your destination, you can enjoy a wonderful view of Dobbiaco and the Dobbiaco Lake. Walking time Dobbiaco - Monte Rota: 2 hours
top Dobbiaco - Costa Nosellari - San Candido - Dobbiaco Nuova Shortly after the church in Dobbiaco Vecchia, we turn to the right onto one of the most beautiful walking trails in Dobbiaco (road marking number 26). The road leads us, slightly ascending, to the Via Ehrenberg and then runs through dwarf pine forests and passing some groups of houses until we come to the Anderterhof (farmhouse). Just below the Anderterhof, the road leads us downhill to 'Castle Klamm'. Before we come to the private tennis courts of the castle, a path running through the meadow guides us to the village centre of San Candido. The return journey to Dobbiaco is along the western side of San Candido, via the bicycle path. Total walking time: 3.5 hours
Dobbiaco Nuova - Dobbiaco Lake - Nature Experience Trail Our walk begins as we leave the main road approximately 100 metres after the railway crossing, when we turn into the Via al Lago. Passing guesthouses and private houses we will come to the sports stadium and the tennis courts. After the sports grounds, our path leads us across a bridge, passing the 'Seghe', using the gravel road which ascends slightly until we come to the Dobbiaco Lake. At the right hand side of the lake, the Departments for Nature Parks have built a nature teaching trail. This teaching trail runs around the Dobbiaco Lake and has 11 stations which helps adults and kids to discover nature in an interesting way. Visitors receive detailed information about the flora, fauna and geomorphology of this region. At some of the stations, visitors need to prove their practical abilities. From the Dobbiaco Lake, you can use the cycle path near Hotel Baur al Lago to return to Dobbiaco. Total walking time: 2.5 hours
Dobbiaco Nuova - source of the river Drava - San Candido We leave the main road which leads to Cortina and turn left after we have passed Albergo Emma. The road marking number 28A runs eastwards behind the Grand Hotel, passing the 'Mondo Magico della Foresta' (Forest Wonder World) through a dwarf pine forest in the direction of San Candido. At about half way we will come to the source of the river Drava. The road leads further through the forest until you come to San Candido. Walking time Dobbiaco - San Candido: 1.5 hours
Santa Maria - Meditation Path - San Pietro in Monte From the pilgrimage church in Santa Maria a meditation path which was built in 1996 and features several stations, leads you to the oldest religious monument of the Alta Pusteria Valley: San Pietro in Monte, a little chapel which was built as the first church in the Alta Pusteria Valley around 800 B.C. The individual stations of the meditation path represent biblical illustrations in word and picture and are made out of stone. Descend from the 'Peterkirchl' in westerly direction on a forest path to the Wegscheiderhöfen (farmhouses) and back to your starting point in Santa Maria. Total walking time: 2 hours
top Dobbiaco Nuova - Carbonin Vecchia - Bagni di Pian di Maia - Villabassa We cross the railway crossing in Dobbiaco Nuova and immediately after the Hotel Union, turn right onto another road. This road is slightly descending and will bring us to the village of Rienza. As soon as you come to a fork in the road, take a right turn and cross the bridge at the next fork. Passing lift facilities, hiking path number 27 leads us through meadows to the farmhouses of Carbonin Vecchia (Gustav Mahler's summer residence & game park). First of all, we will follow the path in a south-westerly direction and then westwards to Bagni di Pian di Maia. From here, take path number 27 once again which will lead you to Villabassa. Walking time Dobbiaco - Villabassa: 1.5 hours
Dobbiaco - Rifugio Genziana - Candelle As described under number 2 you can walk from Valle San Silvestro - taking road number 1B - in the direction of the Rifugio Genziana. After the hut, you come to a fork, where you turn left. Follow the asphalted mountain road (road marking number 25) through the forest in the direction of Candelle. From here you can enjoy a wonderful view of Dobbiaco and the surrounding mountain world. Walking time Dobbiaco - Candelle: 1.5 hours
From refuge to refuge
Moos - refuge Zsigmondyhütte - refuge Büllelejochhütte - refuge Dreizinnenhütte Time: 7 hours markings: red white red number 103, number 101 and number 102; difference in altitude: 1200 m unique and beautiful circular route for trained hikers From Talschluss up to the refuge Zsigmondyhütte, then westwards crossing some mountain pastures covered with sparse vegetation up to the Oberbachernjoch. From there the old flat front walk leads to the Büllelejoch where hikers can enjoy a breathtaking view of the close peaks Eleven and Twelve, the Marmarole Group and the Sorapiss in the south, the Drei Zinnen, the Paternkofel and the Schwalbenkofel in the west as well as the Haunold and the Dreischusterspitze in the north-west. On the left one can still find remains of buildings constructed for the positional warfare, of caverns and barracks. Hikers not suffering from fear of heights can climb on the summit within 15 minutes by walking in the rift. From the Büllelejoch the winding walk leads down in north-western direction by the lakes at the foot of the Drei Zinnen and then again up to the refuge Dreizinnenhütte. Way down through the Altensteinertal Valley.
top Moos - refuge Talschlusshütte - refuge Dreizinnenhütte time: 2½ hours; difference in altitude: 1100 m demanding but impressive hike between the rocks of the Dolomites
Moos - refuge Zsigmondyhütte - refuge Carduccihütte time: 2½ hours; difference in altitude: 1100 m rewarding hike on mountain paths with benches where one can rest
Sexten - Innerfeldtal Valley - refuge Dreizinnenhütte - refuge Talschlusshütte time: 7 hours; difference in altitude: 1150 m alpine circular route with beautiful view of the different groups of the Dolomites of Sexten
Moos - refuge Bertihütte time: 2½ hours; difference in altitude: 800 m rewarding alpine hike for trained people
Kreuzberg Pass - refuge Obstanserseehütte time: 7 hours; difference in altitude: 1100 m demanding hike on mountain pastures; in case of fog one needs a good sense of direction for orientation o Hike of the 5 refuges (refuges Auronzohaus - Lavaredohütte - Dreizinnenhütte - Büllelejochhütte - Zsigmondyhütte - Fischleintal Valley) time: 5 hours unique and beautiful alpine hike between the enormous mountains of the Dolomites of Sexten
Alpine walk of the Dolomites number 4 time: 6-7 days From Sexten to refuge Dreizinnenhütte and to the refuge Auronzo - from the refuge Auronzo to the refuge Fonda Savio and to the refuge Città di Carpi - from the refuge Città di Carpi to the refuge A. Vandelli - from the refuge A. Vandelli to the bivouac Comici - from the bivouac Comici to the refuge San Marco and to the refuge Galassi - from the refuge Galassi to the refuge Antelao and to Pieve di Cadore;
Alpine walk of the Dolomites number 5 time: 7-8 days From Sexten to the refuge Zsigmondyhütte and to the refuge Carducci - from the refuge Carducci to the Ponte da Rin in the Ansiéi Valley - from the Ponte da Rin to the refuge Ciarèido and to the refuge Baiòn - from the refuge Baiòn to the bivouac "Rifugio Tiziano" over the Jau de la Tana - from the bivouac "Rifugio Tiziano" to the bivouac Musatti and to the bivouac Voltolina - from the bivouac Voltolina to the refuge San Marco and to the refuge Galassi - from the refuge Galassi to the refuge Antelao and to Pieve di Cadore;
Alpine walk on the Karnischer Kamm time: 7 days From Sexten with the funicular railway on the Helm, to the refuges Sillianerhütte and Obstanserseehütte - from the refuge Obstanserseehütte to the refuge Filmoor Standschützenhütte and to the refuge Porzehütte - from the Porzehütte to the bivouac Mitterkar to the Hochweißsteinhaus - from the Hochweißsteinhaus to the bivouac Letterspitz and to the refuge Eduard Pichl Hütte - from the Eduard Pichl Hütte to the Plöckenhaus - from the Plöckenhaus to the refuge Dr.-Steinwender-Hütte - from the Dr.-Steinwender-Hütte to the Nassfeldhaus and to Tröpolach near Kötschach Mauthen
Through the Sesto Dolomites and the Fanes - Senes - Braies nature park. Day 1: Fiscalina Valley (Hotel Dolomitenhof) 1,454 metres - Rifugio Fondo Valle 1,548 metres - Rifugio Comici 2,224 metres - Rifugio Pian di Cengia 2,528 metres - Rifugio Locatelli 2,405 metres (4.5 hours)
top Day 2: Rifugio Locatelli 2,405 metres - 'Lange Alpe' 2,283 metres - Forcella Col de Mezo 2,254 metres - Malga Rinbianco 1,844 metres (3.5 hour) Alternative routes: a) either to the Antorno Lake (1,866 metres) and from there ascending on path number 122 to the Rifugio A. Bosi (2,205 metres) at Monte Piana (2 hours) b) or via the Val dei Castrade (path number 108 and then number 111) to Monte Piana and the Rifugio A. Bosi (2,205 metres) (3 hours)
Day 3: Rifugio A. Bosi 2,205 metres - visit of the World War I outdoor museum at Monte Piano (2,305 metres) Alternative routes: a) Descend from the Monte Piana peak on the tourist path (shorter option / path number 6a) to Carbonin (1,438 metres). Ascend from there on path number 37 to the Rifugio Vallandro (2,028 metres) to the Prato Piazzo. (5 hours) b) or descend from the Monte Piano peak on the pioneer path (partly secured with ropes / path number 6) to the Landro Lake (1,403 metres) and then to Landro. Just behind Albergo Tre Cime ascend via the Val Chiara (path number 34) to the Rifugio Prato Piazza (1,991 metres) to the Prato Piazzo. (5 hours) (Tip: Shortly before you come to the Prato Piazzo, at the Sella di Monte Specie (2,200 metres), the path turns left down towards the Monte Specie (2,308 metres) which you can reach within 20 minutes. Beautiful 360° panoramic views!) c) After descending from Monte Piano, you can finish the tour. (2 - 2,5 hours)
Day 4: Prato Piazzo Alternative routes: a) Descend via the Valle dei Canopi on path number 18 to Cimabanche (Landro Valley) and there to the end of the hut hiking trip. (2 hours) b) Via path number 33 to the Flodige Saddle. Then descend via the Sarlalm (path number 14) to the Dobbiaco Lake. End of the hut hiking trip. (5 hours) c) On path number 3 to the Malga Cavallo (2,164 metres) and via path number 28 to Rifugio Biella (2,320 metres). (5 hours)
Day 5: Rifugio Biella (2,320 metres) - Croda del Becco (2,810 metres) - descend via the Buco del Giavo to the Braies Lake (1,493 metres) (5 hours)
