Dolomites World Heritage Geotrail II - from Bletterbach to the Sexten Dolomites

A hiking trail to discover the fossil archipelago of the  Dolomites UNESCO World Hetitage

In 2009 UNESCO listed the Dolomites as a World Heritage Site for the aesthetic value of its landscape and for the scientific importance of its geology and geomorphology. From this arose the idea of designing a trekking route through the Dolomites that would present this spectacular history and beauty to hiker.

The Dolomites World Heritage Geotrail explores the entire Dolomites World Heritage Site in 47 stages. 10 of these stages run through the South Tyrolean Dolomites, traversing some of the most beautiful and geologically interesting mountain ranges in the region. There are breathtaking views to be had along a route that features plenty of opposites, while hiking is a unique experience along the well-marked, well-maintained paths.

The Geotrail is thus a combination of long-distance footpath and educational trail. The individual stages of this trail are also possible as day tours; you can almost always use public transport to get back to your starting point or to return from the day’s destination. The main challenge is nevertheless to attempt the Geotrail in ten days, taking the time to explore a unique world full of secrets and for a while escaping the hustle and bustle of our (over-)organised everyday world.

For more information, please visit: https://www.dolomitiunesco.info/attivita/dolomites-world-heritage-geotrail/?lang=de

Lenght: 176 km

Duration: 10 days

Please check the opening hours of the huts and restaurants: www.seiseralm.it/huts

The scenic, long-distance hike through the western Dolomites runs from Brixen/Bressanone in the Eisacktal Valley to Feltre in the Province of Belluno.

The fourth stage of the Dolomites World Heritage Geotrail II descends from Tierser Alpl Mountain Refuge to Seiser Alm (Europes largest Alpine pasture), past volcanic rocks, verdant meadows, and inviting mountain huts, until it reaches Ortisei/St. Ulrich in Val Gardena.

Beautiful mountain hike with a wonderful view of the Merano region and the surrounding mountain scenery. There are some alpine pastures along the way that invite you to stop and relax.

From Feldthurns, take trail 18, which brings you to Schnauders. From there, follow trails no. 17 and 16 to Garn, where trail no. 10 leads on to Verdings and then no. 3 down to Moar zu Viersch. From there, the Chestnut Trail leads you back to Feldthurns.

The eighth stage of the Dolomites World Heritage Geotrail II crosses the Senes plateau and reaches Prato Piazza along the northern side of the Croda Rossa d'Ampezzo. This stage invites you to observe the different forms that the relief takes around us: the peaks, the ridges, the valleys, the plateaus, the gorges, are all traces of the balance between erosion and tectonic uplift, which has been shaping the Dolomites for 30 million years.
Discover more: https://www.dolomitiunesco.info/attivita/dolomites-world-heritage-geotrail/

The Dolomites UNESCO Geotrail consists of 10 daily stages, focussing particularly on the Dolomites’ geological history.

This segment will take you from Truden all the way to the idyllic village of Oberradein. The trail starts out downhill as you proceed towards Kaltenbrunn (lodging options and access to public transportation). You then pass by the famed "Ice Holes" of Kaltenbrunn and steadily uphill by way of Unterradein until you come to Oberradein. This village nestled in an unspoilt alpine landscape features stunning natural beauty, with numerous hiking options.

You can proceed along this very easy segment from Altrei uphill via the Ziss Saddle – not far from there, you can admire the stunning "huckete Stoan," a free-standing erratic boulder made of porphyry the size of a house – until you come to the Horn-Alm (which is managed). From here, you will proceed slightly downhill until you come to the bogland "Schwarz" and "Weiss" lakes. It's now only a short stretch to Gfrill, the goal of this segment.

>> It's great to be walking, especially when swapping the daily grind for a holy place. <<

From Thaur to San Romedio, on the Pilgrims' trail, one cannot but marvel at the spectacle of sanctuaries, wayside shrines, breath-taking landscapes, pastures and mountain crossings. Along its 180 km length with a difference in altitude of 9,800 m, the trail leads to the sanctuary of San Romedio in Trentino, with two stages passing through the Passeiertal Valley.

The Hufeisentour is a seven-day-lasting mountain trail in the Alpes of Sarntal. The route proceeds through the heart of South Tyrol along alpine areas, meadows, traditional alpine huts, peaks and yokes. You walk on unbeaten tracks and natural paths. As well as wounderful and unforgettable views on the UNESCO world natural heritage, the Dolomites, the Zillertaler Alps, the Stubaier Alps, the Ötztaler Alps and the Mountain Ortler in the Brenta Group are waiting for you.
The classical Hufeisentour starts in the eastern Alps of Sarntal at Sarnthein and contains 7 to 8 stages, running in counterclockwise rotation. Of course you can walk into the other direction as well or start at other starting points, for example at Mölten. Here you walk onto the stone cairns "Stoanerne Mandln" and can decide if to walk to the starting point Sarnthein or to the area Meran 2000 (opposite direction).

From Antholz Mittertal (sports area) > Eggerhöfe > turn right > Berger- and Brennalm > Gemsbichljoch > Rieserfernerhütte.
The next mountain hut is the Hochgall - Kasseler Hütte (2,276 m) reachable by the Schneebigen Nock or the Magerstein; high alpine tours.

This segment starts in the village of Aldein, which is located at an altitude of 1,200 meters above sea-level on the Regglberg. From here, you will proceed past several alpine meadows and upwards towards the Jochgrimm. After a few hundred meters of altitude-differential, you will reach the "Stockwiesen" (the local name of these tillered meadows which refers to the intertwining roots and tree stumps that remain in the ground after the land has been cleared) – a real highlight of natural beauty. These larch meadows are home to many rare orchids, alpine anemones, and paradise lilies that thrive here. The route continues uphill, past the Neuhütt-Alm, halfway around the Weisshorn, and then at the Jochgrimm, at an altitude of 1,989 meters above sea-level. Finally, the real highlight of the stage follows: It goes up to the top of the impressive Weißhorn (tip: enjoy the sunset). This pleasant hike will take you through a pristine natural landscape of unique beauty.

The High Route no. 2 consists of a distance of 180 km, divided into 13 stages, which connects Bressanone to Feltre. The itinerary touches the three provinces of Bolzano, Trento and Belluno.

Stage 2 goes from the Plose hut to Rifugio Genova, allowing trekkers to discover the wonders of the Puez-Odle Natural Park, often referred to as "Earth’s history book" due to its geological significance. Along the walk, the majestic Sasso Putia remains always in sight and offers many chances for a souvenir photo.

Stage 3 connects the Rifugio Genova  to the Rifugio Puez. With an additional half an hour walk it is possible to climb to the top of Piz Duleda (2.909m), which offers a stunning view. Due to the multitude of rocks and interesting geological creations, the plateau of Puez is often compared to a moonscape. 

This spectacular 4-stage hike crosses through the Eisacktal Valley from the Rodenecker and Lüsner Alm mountain pastures, over the Plose mountain near Brixen/Bressanone to Lajen/Laion at the entrance to the Grödnertal Valley.

Start to Finish: 

Start: Zumis parking lot, at Rodeneck/Rodengo above Mühlbach/Rio di Pusteria.

Finish: Lajen at the entrance to the Grödnertal Valley.

Total Distance: 61 km Ascent: 2,356 metres in height Descent: 3,004 metres in height

Stages: 4

• Stage #1: from Zumis parking area on the Rodenecker-Lüsner Alm to Maurerberghütte hut (± 6.30 hrs. on foot)

• Stage #2: from Maurerberghütte to Schlüterhütte hut (± 4.45 hrs.)

• Stage #3: from Schlüterhütte to Schutzhütte Raschötz refuge (± 5.00 hrs.)

• Stage #4: from Raschötz to Lajen (± 3.00 hrs.)

From Jochgrimm first up to the Schwarzhorn (2,439 m above sea-level), where you are immediately rewarded with a great panoramic view. From here it goes back again to Jochgrimm and then up to the magnificent Weisshorn (2,317 meters above sea-level), once again you can enjoy a splendid panoramic view. You will then proceed through increasingly dense vegetation downhill and along the Zirmersteig staircase until you reach Oberradein, an idyllic village surrounded by verdant meadows and lush forests.

The first stage of the Geotrail climbs up from the Bletterbach gorge to the summit of the Weisshorn. We pass through stunning scenery that reveals various layers of rock with the oldest at the bottom, the most recent at the very top. Like a book, these layers tell a story – a story that has lasted 40 million years, with the transformation of the Dolomites of the time from a landmass into a sea.

The romanesque church St.Jakob on the Langfenn is positioned on the most visible and on the highest point of the Salto (1525m). The church stands on prehistoric ground and could tell us probabely many interesting and exciting historical things. On the altar we can see Saint Jakob, the protector of all hikers, and on his side the two Patrons of the pest, Rochus and Sebastian..

This pleasant segment leads from idyllic village of Oberradein all the way to Truden – from 1,500 meters to 1,100 meters above sea-level. At the start, you proceed downhill by way of Unterradein until you come to the famed "Ice Holes" of Kaltenbrunn; because of the cool air that streams out of the openings in the ground, it's pleasant here even in the summer. Kaltenbrunn offers refreshment options and connection to public transportation. From here, the route goes slightly uphill and then levels off as you continue to Truden.

The impressively steep and rocky tooth of the Sassongher rises directly before us, while far to the south we see the imposing and majestic northwest wall of the Civetta. Merely crossing the plateau on which the Puez Hut is located represents a unique experience for mountaineers without vast geological knowledge, with bizarre rock formations that only a whim of nature could create. The Pralongiá plateau offers a breathtaking view of the largest glacier in the Dolomites, the north face of the Marmolada.

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The Dolomites High Route 8 leads from Bressanone to Salorno. It goes over a crest, which flanks the Etschtal/Val'Adige valley and the Eisacktal/Valle Isarco valley.

The path begins together with the Dolomites High Route 2 in Bressanone, later the paths separate. The Dolomites High Route 8 offers a relatively easy crossing of the Dolomites. It was built relatively late, in 1981, from the existing network of paths. The most demanding part of the route is the passage from the Passo di Costalunga to the hut Rifugio di Pisa. Since there are many bases, the path can be followed in quite short stages, which makes it also exciting for families with children. The duration of the trail should be between 10 and 13 days. 

Hiking through Passeier Valley

The E5 (Constance – Bozen – Venice) is one of the special European routes. Almost all of the route is an Alpine route and is marked most of the way as E5. This part of the route describes the part from the Austrian / Italian border at the Timmelsjoch through the Passeier Valley to Bozen.

The way is marked always well and crosses a nature protected zone of full fascinations. This way was already committed by the smugglers.

This segment begins at the Jochgrimm, at an altitude of 1,989 meters above sea-level. It will take you directly at the top of the beautiful Weisshorn (tip: enjoy the sunrise). After the descent halfway around the Weisshorn and then downhill via the alpine meadows and larch meadows towards Aldein. The highlight, as far as natural beauty is concerned, is after you've overcome 400 meters of altitude-differential: The tillered meadows larch meadows and pastures are home to many rare species of orchids, alpine anemones, and paradise lilies. The route continues on pleasant paths along past several pleasant rest-and-refreshment stops and on to the village of Aldein, at 1,200 meters above sea-level on the Regglberg.

This hike offers an excellent opportunity to explore and admire the unique beauty of this alpine landscape.