Lake Braies – Cortina d’Ampezzo

6 days, long distance hike from hut to hut

Specifications

The Alta Via 1 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: Cortina d‘Ampezzo
Hiking days: 6
Distance: approx. 70 km
Longest stage: Stage 2: Rifugio Biella – Rifugio Fanes | Walking time: approx. 5 hours | Length: approx. 13.1 km
Shortest stage: Stage 6: Rifugio Corda da Lago – Cortina d’Ampezzo | Walking time: approx. 3 hours and 15 minutes | Length: approx. 10 km
Total walking time: approx. 32 hours
Severity: medium and high
Total elevation gain uphill: approx. 5000 m
Total difference in altitude downhill: approx. 4000 m
Total elevation gain uphill: 1040 m | Stage 1: Hotel Trenker – Rifugio Biella
Total difference in altitude downhill: 920 m | Stage 6: Rifugio Croda da Lago – Cortina d’Ampezzo
Maximum height: Rifugio Lagazuoi, 2752 m
Minimal height: Cortina d’Ampezzo, 1224 m
Participating Dolomite groups: 5
Open huts: from June to September
Signs: Very good everywhere

Attention

The accommodations 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: 1,010 m uphill, 430 m downhill | Length: approx. 12.5 km | Walking time: approx. 5 hours and 30 minutes | Path: no. 10-11, 20b, 20 | Difficulty: Hiking trail – surefootedness required

Main route:
From the Fanes Hut along the road no. 10 to the Forcella Limo and past the Limo Lake, you then cross the plateau of the Malga Gran Fanes/Fanes Grande pasture, following trail 11. Path 20b leads steadily uphill between the peaks of Cima Scotoni and Torre del Lago to the Forcella del Lago (2486 m). From here, the descent begins over a gravel slope and between boulders to the Lagazuoi Alpe and the Lech de Lagació/Lagazuoi Lake (2182 m). Passing the eastern shore of the lake, the trail first climbs leisurely and then, from the Forcella del Lagazuoi (2573 m), follows hiking trail 20/Sentiero del fronte steeper uphill to the Rifugio Lagazuoi (2752 m).

Tip for hiking experts and summiteers:
Easy: from the Rifugio Lagazuoi along the old military road about 15 minutes walk to the summit of the Lagazuoi Piccolo (2778 m). It is also recommended to see the war positions from the First World War in the surroundings of the Rifugio Lagazuoi.

Stage 4

Lagazuoi Refuge – Nuvolau Refuge

Altitude difference: 530 m uphill, 700 m downhill | Length: approx. 9 km | Walking time: 5 hours and 30 minutes | Path: No. 20, 401, 402, 403, 404, 412, 440 | Difficulty: Hiking trail – surefootedness required

Main route:
First, the hike leads back, downhill via path 20 to the Forcella del Lagazuoi (2573 m). Continue quite flat along path 401 to Forcella Travenanzes (2507 m). This Sentiero del fronte will take you to one of the front lines of the First World War (1915 – 1918). Here, the Austro-Hungarian army fought on one side against the Italian army on the other. On your hike, consider how arduous and dangerous the life of the soldiers must have been under such precarious conditions, especially in winter and with very cold night temperatures.
From the Forcella Travenanzes follow path 404 eastwards under the rock walls of the Tofana di Rozes to the Forcella di Bos (2331 m), descend to a rest area (1985 m) on the state road 48. Follow the road southwards for 300 m and continue then the trail 440. At first gentle, later steep and then more leisurely uphill to the Rifugio Averau (2413 m). There is only one last climb to a plateau where the Rifugio Nuvolau (2575 m) is located.

Tips for hiking experts and summiteers:

Medium: To the Rifugio Dibona – From the Forcella di Bos, continue along the trail to the Valon de Tofana (2375 m). Now follow path 403 to the forest road and continue to the Rifugio Dibona (2083 m). Follow the forest path downhill for a short time, then branch off onto hiking trail 412 in a southwesterly direction under the rock bank to trail 404 and further southwest to forest road 402.

For experts with equipment: Through the Galleria del Castelletto/Tunnel of the Castellet – accessible from the Forcella di Bos. Via ferrata equipment and flashlight are required

Stage 5

Nuvolau Refuge – Croda da Lago Refuge

Altitude difference: 390 m uphill, 830 m downhill | Length: approx. 9.2 km | Walking time: approx. 4 hours | Path: No. 438, 443, 436, 458, 467 | Difficulty: Hiking trail – surefootedness required

Main route:
A part of the previous path back to the Rifugio Averau (2413 m), continue along path 439 to the Rifugio Cinque Torri (2137 m), downhill along trail 437 to the Ponte de Rucurto and the road. Cross here and continue along hiking trail 437. First in the woods, then follow path 434, ascending to Val Negra, where there is Lake Federa and next to it the Rifugio Croda da Lago (2046 m).

Tip for hiking experts and summiteers:

Medium: Passo Giau and Casera Mondeval di Sora to Rifugio Città di Fiume – from Rifugio Averau follow forest road 464, then turn off and take path 452 which runs along the foot of Nuvolau and later descends to Passo Giau (2236 m). Follow the road briefly to the east and then cross it. Now follow trail 436 to Forcella Giau (2373 m), continue below the rock walls of the Lastoni and above Lago delle Baste (2281 m). Then we recommend a detour to Casera Mondeval di Sora (2158 m), where an archaeological site from the Mesolithic period is located nearby. Continue first to the southeast and later to the north, following path 466 to the Rifugio Croda da Lago.

For experts with equipment: Via Ferrata Ra Gusella – the steep descent begins directly from the Rifugio Nuvolau along path 438/Via Ferrata Ra Gusella. Via ferrata equipment is mandatory. The path joins trail 443 and shortly afterwards path 452, which leads to Passo Giau. From here on continue as in the previous tip.

Stage 6

Croda da Lago Refuge – Palafavera

Altitude difference: 110 m uphill, 920 m downhill | Length: approx. 10 km | Walking time: approx. 3 hours and 15 minutes | Path: No. 432 | Difficulty: Hiking trail

Main route:
From the Rifugio Croda da Lago, follow the forest path 432 to Malga Federa, then follow the panoramic path Ra Gores de Federa. Make sure you use the easy variant (Sentiero facile), because the difficult part requires via ferrata equipment. Continue along the paved side road, past Lago di Pianozes. Continue uphill along the road to the hamlet of Campo di Sopra and slightly uphill and downhill, then cross the Boite stream and enter the center of Cortina until you reach the old train station.

From there, a bus brings you to Dobbiaco and another from Dobbiaco to Braies, the starting point.

Tip for hiking experts and summiteers:

For experts with equipment: the Ra Gores de Federa via ferrata can be climbed on the descent from Malga Federa. It is a relatively easy via ferrata, but it still requires the appropriate equipment.

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