Selva dayhike Stevia and Regensburger huts
The Stevia ridge just north of Selva/Wolkenstein provides some stunning views of steep cliffs and the surrounding mountains, with particularly nice views of the huge Sella massif. This hike is consistently steep, particularly on the descent from the Piza pass, where a wooden staircase and a fixed cable aid the rocky descent through a narrow defile. And the route up has a couple of stretches with steep dropoffs just off the trail. The trail is good and well-maintained, but because of these conditions, it’s not a good destination for bad weather or people who struggle with uneven footing or heights.
This is a rugged hike into high country that rewards you with beautiful views the whole way. You can buy lunch at Stevia or Regensburger huts. There is a lot to explore in the valley above Regensburger if you feel like going further.
Rest stops
Stevia hutRegensburger - Firenze hut
Piera Longia
Tips and hints
If it rains... This isn’t a good rainy day walk, although if you take care, the direct hike up trail 17 to Stevia hut, returning on the same route, should pose no problems. 17b from Piza pass to down to Regensburger would be particularly slippery and tricky in bad weather.
A better option in this region would be the direct walk up trail 3 to Regensburger hut the same route you'd descend on, perhaps continuing above there on the meadow loop of trail 2-3, 2b and 13. This gives you plenty of fine views of the nearby Odle group without ever venturing into high, rocky, exposed trails. You could take the slight detour over to Piera Longia, although they only have outdoor seating, so it’s less fun in the rain. This is a fine option in good weather too, a little less adventurous than Stevia, but much less exposed, a little easy, and still very, very pretty.
Start
Destination
Turn-by-turn directions
Walk through the village, uphill on trail 3 toward Lech da Schutz and Juac.
Shortly after leaving town, you’ll pass a turnoff for trail 17a, which leads to Stevia hut on an even steeper route. This is a fine option, but for a less exposed route, stay on trail 3 another 20 minutes until you reach the hut at Juac.
At Juac, turn right on trail 17, heading up through the woods and eventually up through rocky meadows on a long, steady ascent to the pass of San Silvester, where you meet trail 17a.
After crossing the pass, the trail drops for a few minutes, and traverses a very steep hillside before a short final ascent brings you up to a sheep pasture and Stevia hut.
Great job... that’s quite the morning hike! Your reward now, is that Stevia hut is a perfect stop for lunch. The views down into the Langenthal and across to the Sella are incredibly striking. The hut is small and friendly. The apple strudel here is superb.
If you want to cut your day short, the easiest route back would be to backtrack from here on trail 17 to 3 and back to Selva.
If you’d like to continue on a longer loop, however, there are a lot of great views further on. Trail 17 leads up past the hut to another narrow pass, Furc della Piza. Head off that way.
At Piza, trail 17b turns down to the left, winding steeply and carefully down a rocky chasm. Note, there could be snow near the north-facing, upper stretches here early in the season - it doesn’t see much direct sun. There is a wooden staircase for much of the upper part and cables to hold onto at various points. Take your time, and please be careful not to knock rocks onto people below you! The trail leads ever downward, with impressive dolomitic cliffs towering above, leading eventually to meadows and light woods, and back down to trail 3 just below Regensburger hut
The short ascent from here to Regensburger is certainly optional, but worthwhile if you would like to visit this large, popular hut for refreshments. It’s a great area with lots of beautiful scenery in every direction. If you didn’t go to Stevia or didn’t stop there, Regensburger is a great place to stop for lunch or refreshments before starting back down. This is also called rifugio Firenze... built by the Regensburg alpine club in 1888, then transferred to Florence after WWI in 1921 and renamed.
Even more hiking: For those with even more energy, trail 13 beckons, and the Puez-Odle mountains backing the valley sure are pretty. Piera Longia is a tiny restaurant about an hour further on, a gorgeous little spot. Always a favorite.
But in reality, getting to Regensburger is plenty for a day, and a very good one at that. To descend from Regensburger hut, follow the easy, wide trail 3 downhill directly back to Selva, no real difficulties, only about an hour downhill, past Juac and right back to town.
Questions and answers
Would you like to the ask the author a question?
Rating
Help others by being the first to add a review.
Photos from others