Alpine pastures Sennes, Fanes, Ra Stua and Fosses

4 days, long distance hike from hut to hut

Specifications

This trail requires mountain experience, surefootedness and a certain mental stamina. Here are the summary details so you know what you're getting into:

Starting point: Hotel Trenker at Lake Braies
Destination: Hotel Trenker at Lake Braies
Hiking days: 4
Distance: approx. 51 km
Longest stage: Stage 2: Rifugio Biella – Rifugio Fanes | Walking time: approx. 6 hours and 30 minutes | Length: approx. 15.5 km
Shortest stage: Stage 6: Rifugio Corda da Lago – Cortina d’Ampezzo | Walking time: approx. 3 hours and 15 minutes | Length: approx. 8.6 km
Total walking time: approx. 20 hours
Severity: medium and high
Total elevation gain uphill: approx. 2750 m
Total difference in altitude downhill: approx. 2750 m
Total elevation gain uphill: 1040 m | Stage 1: Hotel Trenker – Rifugio Biella
Total difference in altitude downhill: 1000 m | Stage 4: Rifugio/Malga Ra Stua – Hotel Trenker
Maximum height: Forcella Cocodain 2332 m
Minimal Höhe: Hotel Trenker 1370 m
Open huts: from June to September
Signs: Very good everywhere

Attention

The accommodation must be booked at least 6 months to 1 year in advance. Before you start the hike, always check the weather forecast and ask if the hiking trails suggested here are accessible. The tour may not be undertaken in snow and in winter, as it leads to a large extent through areas with a high risk of avalanches.

Recommended hiking maps

Carte Tabacco 1:25.000

  • n. 031 "Dolomiti di Braies"


  • n. 03 "Cortina d'Ampezzo e Dolomiti Ampezzane"

Definition

  • Rifugio = mountain hut – mostly offering beverage, food and bed


  • Malga = pasture or pasture hut – gives home to the herdsman – often offering beverage and food, sometimes reduced option – usually no bed


  • Strada = street


  • Croda / Cima / Punta / Monte = mountain or peak


  • Lago = sea


  • Forcella / Sella = mountain saddle / mountain crossing

Close-up of Lake Braies with boats in the foreground.

Stage 1

Hotel Trenker - Lake Braies – Rifugio Biella/Seekofelhütte

Altitude difference: 1040 m uphill, 90 m downhill | Length: approx. 8.6 km | Walking time: approx. 4 hours and 15 minutes | Path: no. 1 | Difficulty: Hiking trails – surefootedness required

Main route:
From the Hotel Trenker, cross the road and the river and then take hiking trail no. 1 to Lake Braies. Continue along the western shore to the south side of the lake, follow the signpost Seekofelhütte/Rifugio Biella over the large stone and gravel field, then through the forest and along the rock to the Nabigen Loch, where you continue to ascend on the opposite side. Partly secured over smooth rocks with rope, up to a flat area. Continue between the rock faces through the so-called Ofenscharte/Porta sora 'l Forn (2388 m). There is a small devotional chapel there. From here it is only a short descent to the Seekofelhütte/Rifugio Biella (2327 m).

Tip for hiking experts and summiteers:
Challenging - from the Ofenscharte/Porta sora l’Forn you can reach the summit of the Seekofel/Croda del Becco (2810 m) over partly smooth, but rope-secured rocks.

Stage 2

Rifugio Biella/Seekofelhütte – Rifugio Fanes

Altitude difference: 610 m uphill, 860 m downhill | Length: approx. 13.1 km | Walking time: approx. 5 hours | Path: no. 6 and 7 | Difficulty: Trails

Main route:
First along the forest road, across the plain, follow the sign Rifugio Sennes/Ücia de Sènes (2126 m) along trail no. 6, then downhill on the forest path that leads to the hut. This is followed by the descent along forest road no. 7 to Pederü (1548 m).

Once in Pederü, the ascent via hiking trail no. 7 is first through wooded area, later through mountain pine fields and then rocky landscape to the Rifugio Fanes/Ücia de Fànes (2060 m).

Tips for hiking experts and summiteers:
Easy - from the Fanes Hut along the forest path southwards uphill to the Forcella Limo and then around the beautiful Lè de Limo.
Challenging – from the Limo Lake further to the summit of the Col Becchei Dessora/Cima Parei (2794 m).

Stage 3

Fanes Hütte – Lagazuoi Hut

Altitude difference: 450 m uphill, 830 m downhill | Length: approx. 13.4 km | Walking time: approx. 4 hours and 45 minutes | Path: no. 11, 10a, 10, 418, 6 | Difficulty: Hiking trail

Main route:
From the Fanes Hut along road no. 11 to the Sella Limo and past the Lake Limo, you soon turn into trail 10a to soon get back to forest path 10, which leads along the Valle di Fanes and the River Fanes into the valley. In the Plan de Loa area, turn left and follow trail 418 to Casòn de Antrùiles. Follow the forest road to the north, continue on trail no. 6, which runs just above the road to Malga Ra Stua.

Tip for hiking experts and summiteers:
For experts with equipment: lower part of the Fanes Valley, along the Fanes stream there is a beautifully laid out via ferrata "Gola de Fanes", which partly even passes behind the waterfall. Via ferrata equipment is mandatory.

Stage 4

Rifugio/Malga Ra Stua – Fosses – Lake Braies – Hotel Trenker

Altitude difference: 680 m uphill, 1000 m downhill | Length: approx. 15.2 km | Walking time: 6 hours and 30 minutes | Path: No. 6, 26, path without number, 28, 4, 1 | Difficulty: Hiking trail – surefootedness required

Main route:
First follow the road in a northwesterly direction, then turn off onto hiking trail 26. Initially easy, later steeper uphill, you reach a plateau at the foot of the Remeda Rossa. Past a medium and a smaller lake, further past Lake Fosses (2142 m). Soon turn into the small side path to the Fosses Riedl/Forcella Cocodain. From the Fosses Riedl/Forcella Cocodain (2332 m) you are on hiking trail 28. This takes you slightly downhill to the point where hiking trails 3 and 4 meet. Now follow hiking trail no. 4 slightly downhill to the often dried up Seabl (small lake). Soon this path meets hiking trail no. 1 in the Nabigen Loch and from now on the somewhat steeper descent to Lake Braies begins. At the lake, turn left along the shore, past the chapel and the hotel, stay on the circular path and right before the boat rent follow trail no. 1 in a final descent to the Hotel Trenker.

Tips for hiking experts and summiteers:
For tired hikers' legs: At Lake Braies you can take the bus to the Hotel Trenker, which reduces the hike by almost 2 km.