Description

This walk is ideal for discovering the different types of landscapes and habitats within the Ampezzo Dolomites Nature Park.

The area is home to many animals, such as little owls and chamois, and you can find the rare endemic plant Sempervivum dolomiticum, the Park’s symbol. Starting from the Sant’Hubertus car park (at the 111.2 km point on the road between Cortina and Dobbiaco), take the tarmac road towards the mountain hut Malga Ra Stua, walking through the forest. Going uphill, you will see the river Boite with its small waterfalls on your left, and then you reach Ra Stua, where the forest opens onto lovely meadows and the traditional malga Alpine farm, ideal for refreshments. Stay on track n° 6 amidst trees, meadows and the cows that often graze here.

When the track forks, take the right-hand track and stay on track n° 6: you have now reached Cianpo de Cros, location of the source of the Boite, Cortina’s river with a generous flow of crystal-clear water. Carry on, crossing the Val Salata valley until you reach the mountain lodge Rifugio Sennes.

Here, return onto the track from which you arrived for a short stretch, then turn left towards the mountain lodge Rifugio Biella, taking a stretch of track n° 6, part of the famous high-altitude track, Alta via delle Dolomiti, n° 1. From here, the landscape becomes rockier and more barren, as the path climbs and reaches a height of 2,327 m at the mountain lodge Rifugio Biella, which serves appetizing dishes of Alpine recipes.

Take track n° 26 to start the descent, and you will skirt three small Alpine lakes: Lake Gran de Foses, Lake Pizo and Lake de Ra Rémeda Rosses.

Return to track n° 6 at Cianpo de Cros, from where you can go back to Malga Ra Stua and the car park.

By car - To reach the starting point, drive along the SS 51 Alemagna road northwards for about 10 minutes, until you reach a hairpin bend (km 111.2), where you will find the Sant’Hubertus car park.

By bus and jeep service - To reach the starting point by bus, take city bus n° 1 from Cortina’s bus station and ask to get off in Fiames, at the information point of the Natural Park of the Ampezzo Dolomites.

From there, you can take a jeep service to the starting point or directly to Malga ra Stua.