Hiking was our priority with a few interesting stops along the way. We went on 15 hikes in the Dolomites over the 3 weeks we were there. We based ourselves one week each in the towns of Madonna di Campiglio, Selva di Val Gardena, and Cortina d’Ampezzo. The mountains are unbelievably spectacular and beautiful; and as one passionate Italian women enthusiastically told us, “You could spend a lifetime hiking here and still not see everything!”
We could load this blog up with tons of amazing pictures we took, but it would likely become impossible to absorb. And in a sense you really have to go there to appreciate the impressive scale of the mountains. So instead we will try to make this blog shorter and highlight our top two hikes from each area.
Madonna di Campiglio – Brenta Dolomites
The weather was a bit cloudy so rather than mountain views we opted to see waterfalls. We hiked to the Vallesinella Falls in the Casinei Refuge. There are a series of falls cascading down a valley. There is also a wonderful Refugio (lodge) for lunch!
The next day the weather was clear so we hiked on a trail that goes across the front of several peaks in the Brenta Group. Part of the fun (and challenge) was going through massive boulder fields. We also got to meet two cute Refugio dogs named Cooper and Matthew!
Selva di Val Gardena – Sassolungo and Puez Dolomites
The Forcella gondola up to Sassolungo is unofficially nick-named the “coffin lift.” Only two people can squeeze inside. It does not slow down, so you need a running start to get inside and someone to help you hop off at the top (so you don’t fall over). In the top middle picture, Dave is pointing to where the gondola ends. From there the hike goes down the other side of the mountain and around (we opted for counterclockwise) back to the starting point. It was a thrilling ride to the top with an excellent lunch stop at a Rifugio and a beautiful hike! We were looking for the elusive edelweiss and happened to find a few at the Sassolungo lift (bottom photo).
Another favorite hike in the area is Monte Seceda. From the top there are spectacular views all around. It is popular and easy to access via gondola, so there are lots of people. We took a different, less traveled route via another gondola and made it into a longer hike. We easily found some quiet trails and enjoyed most of the hike without the crowds. Interesting fact: the farmer who owns the fields on the ledge (he mows them for cow feed) has installed an electronic turn style and charges 5€ to cross (credit card accepted). He was getting frustrated by people leaving trash and walking all over his fields. We are sure he is making a ton of money!
Cortina d’Ampezzo – Tre Cimes and Lagazuoi
Tre Cimes (Three Sisters) is another popular hike, and it snowed the previous night which added to the beauty. We also added on a hike to the stunning Cadini di Misurina viewpoint, lower right picture. It added a couple miles to an already long day, but it was worth it.
Our final hike was to the tunnels underneath Lagazuoi. We took a high speed gondola to the top of the mountain and then spent 5 hours hiking down inside, popping out occasionally at various windows. The tunnels and paths wind through the right half of the mountain in the bottom right picture. These tunnels were dug by the Italians in WWI to undermine Austrian positions on Lagazuoi. The Italians ultimately placed dynamite below the Austrians and blew up an entire ridge. The tunnels are now a via ferrata (iron path) and really fun to explore. Helmet and headlamp required!
The Cows Come Home
In the South Tyrol there are festivals during September and October to celebrate the herdsmen and their cows coming back from their summer pastures in the high mountains. We went to a festival in Soraga di Fassa. We really enjoyed the parades, food, and folk music/dancing.
2026 Winter Olympics is in the Dolomites
Cortina is a host city for the 2026 Winter Olympics. We saw many signs that the Olympics are coming, including construction and professional photo-shoots near some of the hikes we were taking. We are not exactly sure what animals the mascots are supposed to be.
Wonderful Three Weeks
We had an amazing time in the Dolomites. The scenery is stunning, food is good, and we enjoyed many great hikes. The hiking was also prep for our upcoming Nepal trekking. However, before Nepal we headed to Crete for a couple weeks to relax and catch the last beach days of fall.