San Cassiano to rifugio Fanes
Hiking trail
· Dolomites
An easy valley walk leads to a moderate climb into the Conturines range. At the top, open fields provide expansive views as you head north surrounded by impressive peaks to the neighboring huts of Fanes and Lavarella.
moderate
Distance 13.9 km
4:45 h
697 m
188 m
2,171 m
1,516 m
The main route to the Fanes and Lavarella huts is easy and popular, often on wide jeep track. It's a pleasant day with great views.
The only restaurants enroute are the Capanna Alpina, which you’ll pass very early on, and the Gran Fanes.
It is pretty easy to get to Fanes early, if you would like some time to relax or explore around there. For a longer day, the high detour to Forcella da Lech is thrilling and beautiful, and adds about 2 hrs.
Difficulty
moderate
Technique
Stamina
Highest point
2,171 m
Lowest point
1,516 m
Best time of year
Jan
Feb
Mar
Apr
May
Jun
Jul
Aug
Sep
Oct
Nov
Dec
Track types
Asphalt
0.5 km
Dirt road
5.4 km
Nature trail
7.8 km
Path
0.2 km
Road
0 km
Rest stops
Capanna AlpinaLavarellahütte
Mountain Hut Fanes
Tips and hints
If it rains... There is no risk in hiking the main route in rainy weather. Skip the detour, which is pretty high and exposed, and stick to the main route instead. If you need to skip as much of the hike as possible, you can go by bus to taxi to rifugio Pederu, where it is about a 2 hr hike up to Fanes and Lavarella. There is also a shuttle from Pederu to Fanes. It can be arranged and paid locally. Just ask at Pederu for details. The departure from Pederu is 14:30 in the afternoon.
Start
San Cassiano (1,533 m)
Coordinates:
DD
46.571818, 11.930509
DMS
46°34'18.5"N 11°55'49.8"E
UTM
32T 724562 5161756
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///strictest.voice.sternest
Destination
Fanes and Lavarella huts
Turn-by-turn directions
- From San Cassiano, walk along the gravel path that follows the road gently uphill to Falzarego, reaching Amentarola in about 30 minutes. Continuing up the road, the trail leads to the Sciare riverbed. Cross the river and the main road to the Sass Diacia campground. Trail 11 runs through the campground to the Capanna Alpina buvette and parking area. You can enjoy views of Lagazuoi and Cimes de Fanes ahead of you, with the Conturines peak farther north to your left.
- You’ll pass the large parking lot at the Capanna Alpina, and now you’re ready to start... the really nice part of your hike begins. Keep left on trail 11 (unless you’re doing the longer day), heading uphill now toward Col de Locia, through woods and meadow in a very pretty valley.
- It’s a good climb - take your time. The trail eases at the top, now on a wide gravel path through a high valley. The massive Conturines is on your right, the contorted folds and layers of Sass dal Bec on your left.
- You’ll reach the Locia pass and the trail flattens into an easy stroll. You’ll enjoy open views with high peaks in every direction. Soon you’ll reach Malga Gran Fanes, a welcoming summer dairy farm that serves refreshments and simple meals.
- Leaving the hut, you’ll ignore trail 10 heading down to the right, and keep left, uphill again on the wide white crushed gravel road common in this area, uphill until you reach the open grassy Passo di Limo.. You’ll pass the shimmering waters of Lago di Limo on your right, a small lake with a few benches and picnic areas around it.
- From here, it’s an easy downhill hike. You can stick to the road, but there is also a small trail that cuts off about half-way down and is quite nice, leading directly to the Fanes hut. The neighboring Lavarella hut is just 20 minutes away, across the meadow.
- Fanes and Lavarella are popular mountain biking destination, and you’ll likely see many day trippers - hikers and bikers alike - if you arrive early. It gets wonderfully peaceful in the evenings.
- Longer day: Since the main route from San Cassiano is pretty short, you may enjoy a detour into the high mountains. Just after Capanna Alpina, you can keep right on trail 20 to Scotoni hut, and then just a little further, to the Lagacio lakelet just above the hut. This is about an hour from Capanna Alpina.
- The ascent on trail 20B from the lake is very steep. Take your time, and be careful not to accidentally knock rocks down the trail onto people below you. Before reaching the Locia pass, turn left to head up on trail 20b. The trail gets rockier and rockier as you switchback up to a narrow notch in the ridge above, the Forcella da Lech pass.
- From here the trail drops down, meeting up with the main trail after the Locia pass. This detour should add about 2 hrs.
Note
all notes on protected areas
Coordinates
DD
46.571818, 11.930509
DMS
46°34'18.5"N 11°55'49.8"E
UTM
32T 724562 5161756
w3w
///strictest.voice.sternest
Arrival by train, car, foot or bike
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Difficulty
moderate
Distance
13.9 km
Duration
4:45 h
Ascent
697 m
Descent
188 m
Highest point
2,171 m
Lowest point
1,516 m
Statistics
2D
3D
Maps and trails
- 3 Waypoints
- 3 Waypoints
Distance
km
Duration
: h
Ascent
m
Descent
m
Highest point
m
Lowest point
m
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