Hike beneath the limestone towers of the Dolomites
Stand on the dramatic 2,500-metre knife-edge ridge of Seceda as sheer vertical limestone cliffs plunge into lush emerald pastures below.
At a glance
Mid-June to mid-October when mountain huts (rifugi) are open and alpine wild orchids bloom across high pastures
Early morning before thermal clouds form or late afternoon to witness the pink Enrosadira sunset glow
3 to 5 hours for the panoramic Seceda ridge walk and visiting traditional mountain huts
Alpine crest trail hike · Mountain cableway ascent & limestone viewpoint
Moderate
Drop-in possible
Why the Dolomites are Europe's most dramatic mountain architecture
Inscribed on UNESCO's World Heritage list in 2009, the Dolomites in northeastern Italy are globally unique in their geological drama. Formed over 250 million years ago from fossilized coral reefs submerged in the ancient Tethys Sea, tectonic collisions thrust these mineral-rich magnesium-limestone blocks thousands of metres into the sky. Unlike rolling rounded mountains, the Dolomites rise in sheer, pale monoliths, pinnacles, and vertical rock towers straight out of manicured green meadows.
The undisputed icon of this landscape is the Seceda ridgeline in the Puez-Odle Nature Park. Standing at the crest at 2,519 metres elevation, the ground slopes gently away in soft pastureland on one side, while the other side plunges into an abyss of razor-sharp, diagonal limestone teeth known as the Odle (Geisler) group.
At dusk, an extraordinary optical phenomenon occurs: as the sun sinks below the horizon, the pale magnesium rock catches the fading light and blazes in vivid shades of ochre, magenta, and rose-pink—a spectacle celebrated in Ladin folklore as the 'Enrosadira' (alpenglow).
Riding to the clouds and hiking the high alpine pastures
Cable car ascent from Ortisei
Glide smoothly from the wooded valley floor aboard the Ortisei-Furnes-Seceda cableway, climbing 1,300 vertical metres in fifteen minutes.
The Seceda knife-edge panorama
Step off the upper lift platform onto the summit ridge, taking in the iconic postcard view of tilted grassy slopes dropping into limestone spires.
Hike along Trail 1 to Pieralongia
Follow the undulating gravel path past curious mountain goats and twin standing stones to the tiny rustic dairy hut at Pieralongia.
Rifugio lunch beneath the Odle spires
Settle onto the sunny wooden deck of Rifugio Firenze for a bowl of piping hot beetroot canederli and a slice of house-baked apple strudel.
Plan your experience
When to go
The summer hiking season extends from mid-June to mid-October when the lifts operate and alpine wildflowers are in bloom. September is considered the golden month: crisp mountain air, crystal-clear visibility, and golden larches.
Getting there
From Bolzano, regular regional buses run along the valley into Ortisei (St. Ulrich) in roughly 50 minutes. The Seceda cable car station is a brief 5-minute walk from the town centre via pedestrian escalators.
Booking & permits
No advance trail permits are required. Cable car tickets can be purchased on the day at the lift station. If planning multiple cable car journeys across Val Gardena, the Val Gardena Card offers unlimited lift rides over three or six consecutive days.
What to bring
- Sturdy hiking boots or trail shoes with reliable traction on loose gravel and rock
- Windbreaker and insulating warm fleece layer (alpine temperatures at 2,500 m can be brisk even in July)
- Trekking poles to assist with stability on descending paths
- Sun protection: high-SPF sunscreen, sunglasses, and a sun hat
Before you go
- Check daily lift operating status and weather forecasts on valgardena.it before heading up the mountain
- Carry cash for refreshments at smaller traditional mountain huts that may not accept card payments
- Stop in the bilingual South Tyrolean village of Ortisei afterwards to admire traditional woodcarving workshops and enjoy an Italian espresso
Official information
Always verify permits, seasonal weather conditions and access directly with public authorities:
Official UNESCO foundation preserving the geological heritage, biodiversity, and landscape integrity of the Dolomites.
Official regional destination portal providing daily lift status, trail maps, and mountain hut opening dates.
Ways to experience it
Ride the cable car to Seceda and hike along marked Trail 1 and 2 at your own pace, stopping at rustic huts along the high pastures.
Join a certified South Tyrolean mountain guide for an educational traverse explaining alpine geology, flora, and Ladin cultural traditions.
Certified providers & operators
Seceda Mountain Cableways (Funivie Seceda SpA)
Official passenger lift operations connecting Ortisei to Seceda summit
Licensed alpine lift operator since 1960.
Catores Mountain Guides Val Gardena
Certified alpine hiking, via ferrata, and climbing expeditions
Historic local mountain guide association based in Ortisei.