Brenta & San Martino Dolomites Hiking Tour

Best Hikes in the Dolomites

The Brenta Dolomites & Pale di San Martino

Brenta Dolomites & Pale di San Martino Slide Show

Brenta Dolomites & Pale di San Martino Slide Show for iPad and iPhone

Join us in the Dolomites of Italy in the summer to experience alpine meadows filled with wildflowers. Hike in two less frequently visited mountain groups–the Brenta Dolomites (Dolomiti di Brenta) and the Pale di San Martino. These two mountain groups along with seven others make up the magnificent Dolomites range of the northeastern Italian Alps named a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2009.

Cut off from the main portion of the Dolomites by the Adige River, the Brenta Dolomites mark the western extent of the complex geomorphology that defines the Dolomites. In the Brenta Dolomites all the quintessential Dolomites elements are on display: soaring peaks and pinnacles, flower-filled meadows, lovely villages, and some of the finest high-country rambles in the entire range. Here, too, you’ll find a bevy of gorgeous alpine lakes, a rarity in much of the rest of the Dolomites.

The Pala Group of the Dolomites (known as the Pale di San Martino in Italian) along with the Friulian Dolomites (Dolomiti Friulane) and the Belluno Dolomites (Dolomiti Bellunesi) constitute the southernmost ramparts of the range. The Pale di San Martino is known for its dramatic cliff faces, rocky spires, and an extensive high plateau (Altopiano di Fradusta) that extends across the top of this mountain group. Here, the surface of the ancient coral reefs that formed these mountains is exposed. The landscape of the altopiano is austere, lunar-like and unforgettable! As in the Brenta Dolomites, mountain huts (rifugi) and gondolas and chairlifts (funivie) enhance your hiking experience!

If you love the landscapes of the Dolomites and are longing for more trail time among the peaks, this trip makes for an ideal follow up to our original Best Hikes in the Dolomites trip!

Arrival Day
Plan your arrival in Bolzano (Bozen), Italy for this day. On this evening of (June 25), we encourage you to attend a complimentary evening “wine and cheese” reception in the Stadt Hotel Citta (Piazza Walther 21, Bolzano) at 6:30 PM. We’ll give you a brief overview of the trip, and you’ll have the opportunity to meet the other members of the group in a relaxed environment before the trip begins on the morning of June 26.

Hiking in the Bletterbach Gorge.

Day 1
Overnight in Molveno
Dinner included
Transfer from Bolzano to the Bletterbach Geopark (about 1 hour travel time) which protects a red rock gorge at the base of the sharp peak of the Weisshorn (Corno Bianco, in Italian). The Bletterbach Gorge is one of the nine components of the UNESCO-designated Dolomites World Heritage Site. The colorful rhyolite, sandstone, gypsum and limestone strata you’ll see at Bletterbach are atypical of most of the rocks you’ll observe in the other areas of the Dolomites. Explore the network of trails in and around the gorge. Enjoy lunch in a typical Dolomites mountain refuge before continuing by vehicle to the lakeside town of Molveno. Settle in for a two-night stay.

The Weisshorn (Corno Bianco) rises above the red walls of Bletterbach Gorge.

Well-built trail to Rifugio Croz dell’Altissimo.

Day 2
Overnight in Molveno
Breakfast and dinner included
This morning, the Molveno-Pradel lift will whisk you up the eastern slopes of the Brenta Dolomites. From the top of the lift you can hike a spectacular trail hanging above the Seghe Valley to the Rifugio Croz dell’Altissimo. You can continue further climbing steadily to reach the Rifugio Selvata set in a subalpine bowl. For a challenging and vigorous hike, you can ascend through exciting limestone terrain to the lofty Rifugio Pedrotti and the neighboring Rifugio Tosa, the latter the oldest mountain refuge in the Brenta Dolomites. Revel in alpine splendor surrounded by the skyscraping peaks of the high Brenta.

The Rifugio Pedrotti near the Bocca di Brenta.

Day 3
Overnight in Madonna di Campiglio
Breakfast and dinner included
Begin the day with a vehicle transfer from Molveno to the mountain town of Madonna di Campiglio. Ride the Grostè lift to its upper station set in the windswept, rocky high country of the Brenta Dolomites. Descend directly to the green meadows at Spinale or choose a longer route that leads you through the high pastures of the lovely Vallesinella and past the spectacular Vallesinella cascades. Settle in for a four-night stay in Madonna di Campiglio.

Brenta Dolomites high country near Groste.

Day 4
Overnight in Madonna di Campiglio
Breakfast and dinner included
Take the Cinque Laghi (“Five Lakes”) cable car into the Presanella massif. The peaks of the Presanella are not technically part of the Dolomites, but this area offers impressive views eastward to the bulk of the Brenta Dolomites. From the upper cable car station, set off on a one-way hike that will lead you past the splendid, glistening high country lakes of Serodoli, Gelato, Lambin and Ritorto. At the end of the hike, return to Madonna di Campiglio via the Pradalago cable car. For a less strenuous hike, you can ascend into the high country via the Pradalago cable car before hiking to the lakes of Ritorto and Lambin. Retrace your steps to the Pradalago cable car to return to Madonna di Campiglio. Whatever option you choose, the views of the Brenta Dolomites from the trail on this day are not to be missed!

Lago Serodoli, Presanella massif.

Rifugio Brentei in the Brenta Dolomites.

Day 5
Overnight in Madonna di Campiglio
Breakfast and dinner included
Today’s hikes will take you into the rocky heart of the Brenta Dolomites! Ride the Groste cable car to its upper terminus in the Brenta high country. Then follow a trail that traces its way beneath towering peaks to reach the Rifugio Tuckett set in a boulder-strewn basin at the base of a narrow valley leading up to the pass called Bocca del Tuckett (“Tuckett’s Mouth”). Behind the refuge rise the sharp peaks of Castelletto Superiore and the Cima Sella. From Rifugio Tuckett descend past the Rifugio Casinei tucked on a wooded ridge to trail’s end. For a longer hike, stay high past the Rifugio Tuckett following a spectacularly engineered trail blasted into a cliff face to reach the Rifugio Brentei set in a basin below the massive bulk of the Cima Tosa (peak). From Rifugio Brentei descend into the Vallesinella to conclude the hike.

Rifugio Tuckett with the deep notch of the Bocca del Tucket in the background.

The largest of the Tre Laghi (“Three Lakes”), Presanella massif.

Day 6
Overnight in Madonna di Campiglio
Breakfast and dinner included
Ascend by cable car once again into the Presnella massif, this time to hike to the lakes of the Melodrio basin–Lago Scuro, Tre Laghi, Lago Alto and Lago delle Malghette. Revel in high country meadows and enjoy views of the Brenta Dolomites from a series of lakes and tarns–plentiful in the Presanella but more infrequently found in the porous terrain of the Dolomites.

Reflections, Tre Laghi, Presanella massif.

Alpenrose meadows above Lago delle Malghette.

Day 7
Overnight in San Martino di Castrozza
Breakfast and dinner included
Travel by vehicle to the town of San Martino di Castrozza set in a valley at the foot of the Pale di San Martino mountain group. En route to San Martino, ascend by cable car into the mountains south of the town of Cavalese from where you’ll enjoy a hike to the blue mountain tarn of Lago di Bombasel. From the lake, views extend northward to the Latemar and Rosengarten mountain groups. A short distance beyond the lake, the grassy pass called the Forcella di Macaco offers views over wild country to the south. After the hike, continue by vehicle over the Passo Rolle and decend to San Martino where you’ll settle in for a four-night stay. SEVEN DAY OPTION CONCLUDES THIS DAY (breakfast and transfer to Bolzano the following morning are included).

Lago di Bombasel.

The Pale di San Martino from near Rifugio Tognola.

Day 8
Overnight in San Martino di Castrozza
Breakfast and dinner included
This morning, a short vehicle transfer will bring you to the base station for the Tognola lift which will carry you up to the Rifugio Tognola on the flanks of its namesake peak. Begin hiking northward below the summits of Cigolera, Ceremana, and Colbricon to arrive at the Colbricon Pass and the nearby lake and refuge of the same name. From the lake (Lago di Colbricon), there are two ways to continue. You can choose a hike through forest and meadows on the trail known as the Translagorai bound for Passo Rolle where the hike ends. Or, if you’re feeling energetic, you can depart Lago di Colbricon on a steep path that climbs to toward the summit of Monte Cavallazza where you’ll discover the remains of trenches from the First World War. Monte Cavallazza was on the front line between the Austro-Hungarian forces to the north and Italian forces to the south. Follow the ridge northward toward Passo Rolle passing above the Cavallazza lake and its entourage of smaller tarns each reflecting the dramatic peaks of the Pale di San Martino. At the end of the hikes, shuttle back to San Martino by vehicle.

Sunset on the Pale di San Martino.

Still waters, Lago di Colbricon.

Day 9
Overnight in San Martino di Castrozza
Breakfast and dinner included
Travel by vehicle from San Martino to the Passo Valles on the northern flanks of the Pale di San Martino. From Passo Valles, contour along the open slopes of the Cima Valles enjoying views of the Marmolada and Civetta mountain groups. Reach the pass known as the Forcella Venegia where a stunning view of the Pale di San Martino suddenly opens before you. Descend into the Val Venegia through open meadows punctuated by conifer groves and alpenrose thickets before ascending steadily to the valley head at the Passo Costazza where you’ll find a wonderfully-sited mountain hut offering spectacular views of the north face of the Pale di San Martino and the needle-like spire known as the Cimon della Pala. The short hiking option ends here with a shuttle ride back to the hotel. If you’re in for more hiking, you can add a hike along the Sentiero dei Finanzieri, a trail which will carry you through the multi-hued, banded cliffs of the Crode Rosse to the Colverde lift station. At Colverde, ride the cable car back down to San Martino di Castrozza.

The north face of the Pale di San Martino rises above the Val Venegia.

The spectacular trail ascending to the altopiano of the Pale di San Martino.

Day 10
Overnight in San Martino di Castrozza
Breakfast and dinner included
This last day of hiking allows you to experience the altopiano (high plateau) atop the Pale di San Martino as well as one of the most superbly engineered mountain trails in the Dolomites. The trail that provides access to the altopiano ascends the steep western face of the Pale di San Martino in long gradual switchbacks reminiscent of the trails in the Grand Canyon. The route ascends the western face of the Pale di San Martino via the valley You can choose to either hike up to the altopiano from San Martino di Castrozza, or alternatively, you can ascend to the altopiano via the Rosetta cable car and walk back down to San Martino. Either direction you choose, you’ll enjoy wonderful views of the rocky spires of the Campanili (“bell towers”) of the Val di Roda along with other peaks and pinnacles that punctuate the western face of the Pale di San Martino.

The high plateau (altopiano) of the Pale di San Martino and Rifugio Rosetta.

Departure Day
Depart San Martino di Castrozza for Bolzano rail station and your onward connections. Planned arrival time in Bolzano is 12:00 noon. Please plan your departure from Bolzano accordingly.

A view of the maroon cliffs of the Crode Rosse and the peak of Cusiglio from Passo Rolle.

The Brenta Dolomites as seen by the Pradalago webcam on June 12, 2017 at 12:40 PM.

Enjoy a panoramic view of the Brenta Dolomites as seen by the webcam at the upper station of the Pradalago lift at Madonna di Campiglio. The best views are during the morning and early evening hours. Madonna di Campiglio is six hours ahead of Eastern time and nine hours ahead of Pacific time.

Brenta Dolomites & Pale di San Martino Slide Show

Brenta Dolomites & Pale di San Martino Slide Show for iPad and iPhone