In this second stage of the Dolomites World Heritage Geotrail II you reach the mountain massif, that is left as a remnant of a former Triassic atoll: the Latemar. This second stage leads to the western flank of the former atoll and gives the impression of walking on the seabed of the underwater slope that once rose upwards to the surface of the water.
Find out more: https://www.dolomitiunesco.info/attivita/dolomites-world-heritage-geotrail/?lang=en
From the Passo Lavazè, first follow the road for about 400 metres towards Rauth/Novale (northwards) then, opposite the signpost for Lavazè, turn off on path [9] (Perlenweg/sentiero delle Perle – sign for Reiterjoch/Passo di Pampeago). Soon you reach the forest and proceed slightly uphill to the Passo di Pampeago. At the pass, take a left onto the Perlenweg/sentiero delle Perle and follow the road to the next junction. Keep right there and head towards Mayrl hut (path [23]). Just before the Mayrl hut there is another fork in the road; take a right (path [23A]) and follow the dirt road for a short distance until you reach a right turn. Path [22] turns off to the left below the Latemar massif. At the next two junctions stay on path [22] and finally enter the large debris crater that leads up to the Erzlahnscharte/Forcella del Forcellone (GEOSTOP C). Then comes a short descent to the junction with a forest road (signposted) and you continue on path [22] (cart track) through the sparse trees down to the junction with a dirt road. Follow the road to the right along path [22] until path [21A] branches off to the left. Follow this, then turn right onto path [9] and continue on path [8] (Templ path) towards Lake Carezza (GEOSTOPP D). (Attention: on the geotrail map and in the geotrail descriptions, trail [14] is indicated from Obereggen to Lake Carezza - but this is not an official hiking trail anymore, so the right trail is the Templ path [8]). The trail [8] leads directly to Lake Carezza. At the crossroads, briefly follow the circular path around the lake to the right until the next fork in the path. Follow the natural street path [12] until it joins the Mittersee path. Take a right on path [12] around the little Lake Mittersee (this lake is located in a forest clearing and is only to be found between May and June) and continue until you reach a dirt road close to the main road up to the Passo Costalunga. Turn right towards the Passo Costalunga on path [10] (dirt road). At the next fork bear left then continue on path [13], which subsequently becomes path [21], and up to the day’s destination – the Passo Costalunga.
Getting to the starting point of the tour by public transport is easy and convenient.
By public bus line:
- 180 or 181 from Bozen | Bolzano
- 180 or 184 from Karersee | Lago di Carezza, Karerpass | Passo Costalunga, Welschnofen | Nova Levante
- 184 from Birchabruck | Ponte Nova, Stenk, Eggen | Ega, Obereggen
- 184 from Weissenstein | Pietralba, Petersberg |Monte San Pietro, Deutschnofen | Nova Ponente
- 182 from Steinegg | Collepietra, Gummer | San Valentino
- 180 from Val di Fassa
Bus stop: Lavazèjoch | Passo Lavazè; online timetable search at www.suedtirolmobil.info/en/
Meeting point: Lavazèjoch | Passo Lavazè: https://goo.gl/maps/UwWfytu3jmCJTRhM6
By car: Destination: Lavazèjoch | Passo Lavazè
Parking: parking lot Lavazèjoch | Passo Lavazè
Meeting point: Lavazèjoch | Passo Lavazè: https://goo.gl/maps/UwWfytu3jmCJTRhM6