Alta Via 2 - The Finest Multi-Day Hike in the Dolomites

Hike 125kms from Brixen/Bressanone to Passo Cereda via wild trails, epic via ferratas and some of the best huts in Europe!

Red Evans

Images

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The ascent towards Forcella d'Oltro

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The road after path 718 descent

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The road after path 718 descent

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Wildflowers at the start of the ascent to Forcella d'Oltro

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The descent on path 718

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A sign for Passo Cereda

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The start of path 718 traverse

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The view at Forcella d'Oltro

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The traverse on path 718

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The view at Forcella d'Oltro

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The view behind when ascending to Forcella d'Oltro

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Path 718 leading off near to Rifugio Treviso

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Path 718 leading off near to Rifugio Treviso

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The descent from Forcella d'Oltro

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Sign posts on path 718

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Views from path 711

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The descent from via ferrat Del Canalone overlooking Rifugio Treviso

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Evening via ferrata views on Del Canalone

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Evening via ferrata views on Del Canalone

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Rifugio Treviso

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The start of the 1300m descent from Passo delle Lede

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Path 709 turning onto path 711

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The bivouac Carlo Minazio half way down path 711

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Airplane wreckage on path 711

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Heading north from Rifugio Pradidali on path 709

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Descending into the trees on path 711

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Path 711

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Evening via ferrata views on Del Canalone

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Views from Rifugio Pradidali

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Via ferrata on path 715

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Via ferrata leading up to Passo del Farangole

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The descent off Passo del Farangole

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The ascent to Passo del Farangole

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Cable aided section on the descent from Passo Del Farangole

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Ladder section on the descent from Passo Del Farangole

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Path 703 views

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Path 703 via ferrata

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The steep descent on path 702 from Rifugio Rosetta Pedrotti

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Rifugio Rosetta Pedrotti

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Path 703 getting roasted by the sun

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Path 715 cable aided

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The looking behind from the climb towards col Forcella Venegia

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Respect the locals!

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On path 751

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Sunrise at Rifugio Mulaz

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col Forcella Venegia

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Rifugio Mulaz

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Respect the locals!

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One of the cable-aided sections on path 751

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Looking back towards Rifugio Passo Valles

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Path 751

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More cable-aided sections on path 751

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The views descending to Rifugio Fuciade

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Rifugio Passo Valles

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If your on the AV2 at the right time of year, the wild flowers are stunning

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Looking towards Rifugio Fuciade

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The ascent on path 658

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Looking down the scree slope

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Looking back towards Monte Colac

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Looking back up towards Rifugio Fuciade

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Ascending towards Passo Cirele

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The mighty Sella Group

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Looking right just after Rifugio Puez

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Brigata Tridentina Via Ferrata

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Path 666 from Passo Gardena

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Rifugio Pisciadu

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The suspension bridge on the hard section of the via ferrata

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A viewpoint from one of the saddles

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The Brigata Tridentina via ferrata start

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Walking down towards Passo Gardena

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Mid way up the via ferrata

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Turn right here for the hiking path up to Rif. Pisciadu, turn left for the via ferrata

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Val Setus gully, take this if your not interested in doing the via ferrata

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Approaching the Val Setus gully

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The trail leading towards the via ferrata

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Via Ferrata Dei Finanzein

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Rifugio Contrin looking towards Monte Colac and the summit of the via ferrata Dei Finanzein

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Walking towards Lago di Fedaia

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Moving towards the crux on via ferrata Dei Finanzein

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The summit of Monte Colac

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Descending via ferrata Dei Finanzein

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Walking past the artificial lake at the start point of the via ferrata Dei Finanzein

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The merge onto path 646

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Behind the dam

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The church on path 605 heading towards Penia

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The bridge on path 605 that crosses into Penia

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Rifugio Pordoi

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Views from the ridge

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Dont miss out

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Looking back towards Passo Pordoi

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Looking towards Marmolada

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Rifugio Viel dal Pan

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Cesare Piazetta via ferrata somewhere far right of this image

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The descent after Rifugio Pordoi

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Rif. Pordoi

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Follow signs for Rif. Boe

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Piz Boe summit

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A suspension bridge on the Cesare Piazetta

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Via ferrata Cesare Piazetta

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Via ferrata Cesare Piazetta approach

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Via ferrata Cesare Piazetta approach

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On the summit at Piz Boe

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Rifugio Boe

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Via ferrata Cesare Piazetta start

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The short cable-aided section just before the turn off to Cima Pisciadu

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A climbing rope is not necessary but via ferrata equipment definitely is!

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Piz Boe summit

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Setting off from Rif. Pisciadu

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Via ferrata Cesare Piazetta

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Directions to either Cima Pisciadu or Boe

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Path 3A via ferrata

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Path 3A via ferrata

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Piz Duleda summit

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Incredible views with Piz Duleda summit left of centre

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Views on the climb up to Forcella Della Roa

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Look out for marmots!

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Looking down path 3B aiming for Rif. Puez around the corner

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Rifugio Puez

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Path 3, Rif. Puez

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Path 3A leading to the via ferrata

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Piz Duleda summit

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Views from the Dolomiten Panoramaweg

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Sass De Putia from the road

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Top station at the Plose Gondola

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Walking down the valley

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Turn right here onto path 4

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Not lacking in the views department

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At Rif. Genova, walk up the little hill to the south in the evening to see this!

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Heading down into the valley

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Heading down into the valley

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Evening views from Rif. Genova

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Entering Puez Odle National Park

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Entering Puez Odle National Park

Description

Like any solid multi-day adventure, you will be faced with the good, the bad, and the ugly. The good - spectacular views and incredible routes. The bad – noisy dormitories, arduous terrain and ravenous weather. The ugly - no water.

Dubbed “Alta Via delle Leggende” – high route of the legends – the Alta Via 2 (AV2) snakes its way through Italy’s famous Dolomite mountains, crossing Puez-Odle National Park, the Sella Massif and around the Marmolada Group - housing the region’s highest mountain and largest glacier. The trail takes you through lunar landscapes with iconic Dolomitic spires rising high above the ground, to alpine meadows and wooded valleys containing vast areas of colourful wildflower meadows. The spectacular geology of this area showcases a variety of rock providing dream-like viewpoints with utterly breath-taking landscapes. For the hardcore hikers seeking a truly Dolomitic adventure, the AV2 is an absolute must.

This FATMAP guidebook starts in the mountain town of Brixen / Bressanone in the South Tyrol and travels 125.5km ending in Passo Cereda situated in the province of Trentino. Although the official route of the AV2 is 160km long and finishes in the town of Feltre, the trail after Passo Cereda is said to be less dramatic and more tedious than the trail prior to Passo Cereda. For those seeking to hike the extra 2 – 4 days to the town of Feltre itself to officially complete the AV2, please source that information from elsewhere.

This guidebook lists 11 days of hiking, staying in rifugios (mountain huts) at night and includes some well-known via ferrata / klettersteig / iron-ladder routes that scale peaks and traverse sheer walls. Please note that 11 days is only a guide. For those wanting to complete the route in a shorter / longer duration or only complete certain days of the route, plan accordingly. Although some days in this guidebook may seem short in duration, this is to accommodate for sufficient rest after a long day beforehand or to give you the option to complete a local via ferrata route.

A word of warning regarding via ferrata. This FATMAP guidebook and the GPX files associated with it enter some technical and challenging via ferrata routes. These routes range from beginner difficulty leading up to an extreme graded via ferrata. All guides in this guidebook provide links to further information on each named via ferrata and optional routes / paths to skip difficult via ferrata terrain. The official AV2 route itself does contain sections of cable-aided trails with high exposure to fatal terrain. For those with a climbing background this should pose no issue. For those without, consider using via ferrata equipment in these sections. The AV2 requires hikers to make autonomous decisions, meaning it is up to you whether you use equipment or tackle a via ferrata. Use your judgement wisely and never feel ashamed to turn around. The AV2 is no easy stroll in the park!

Climate change and global warming is a very real threat and these effects can be seen evidentially in the mountains. Limited snowfall during the winter months means that rivers and lakes are poorly filled by snowmelt in spring and summer, leading to emergency water shortages at rifugios and mountain villages. For hikers and climbers, this escalates to no shower or toilet facilities at rifugios, undrinkable tap water and even the closure of some rifugios.

Bottled water is available to purchase but at a price. Water sources on the AV2 that would usually be reliable for direct water collection may cease to exist in the upcoming years, especially as the Dolomite region is liable to long droughts. A recommendation is to purchase a good, portable water purifier / filter that gives you access to drinkable tap water. Entering the lunar and barren landscapes of the Dolomites with minimal water is bad situation on a hot day.

The AV2 is not for the faint-hearted. Formidable ascents and gruelling descents, laborious traverses and strenuous crossings make it a tough day out in the mountains for any avid mountaineer. Those willing to undertake this adventure of a lifetime, the rewards and satisfaction provided by this trail make the AV2 a true Italian masterpiece of nature.

Adventures