Dolomites high trail 8

Stage 1: Brixen - Plosehütte

This first stage from Bressanone/Brixen starts by bus or taxi. We drive to the valley station of the Plose cable car. This then takes us up to the Kreuztal hotel settlement at an altitude of 2023 m. On foot, we climb within 1 to 1.5 hours via trail nos. 3 and 7 up to the Plose hut. Alternatively, you can also get directly to the Plosehütte by taxi.

Stage 2: Plosehütte - Schlüterhütte

This stage takes around 4 hours and leads from the Plose Group into the Dolomite area proper. We begin the mountain traverse on trail nos. 3, 4 and 7 down to the Lüsnerscharte. We continue on trail nos. 4 and 6 into the right flank of the Große Pfannspitze. Across meadows we reach the valley station of a drag lift. Soon we turn right from trail no. 6 in the direction of the Brixner Skihütte. Then we climb up into the high valley between Großer Pfannspitze and Großer Gabler. We descend again on trail no. 4. A little below us is the Peitlerknappenhütte, accessible only with a key. Soon we pass the Enzianhütte and reach the Brixner Dolomitenstraße, which lies on the border between the Plose area made of crystalline rock and that of the Peitlerkofel group made of dolomite. We follow the road in the direction of the Würzjoch until the fork of trail no. 4, which we now follow. We are now in the beautiful Puez/Geislergruppe Nature Park. We continue along the Günther Messner trail and trail no. 8A up to the Peitlerscharte at 2357 m altitude. Soon we also reach the Kreuzkofeljoch. Then we head west down to the Schlüterhütte.

Stage 3: Schlüterhütte - Brogleshütte

This stage takes around 3 hours and offers scenic highlights of the trail, we enjoy the view of the imposing north faces of the Geislergruppe. We take the road nos. 33 and 35 down to the Gampenalm. The path becomes a natural road here and we follow down into a valley floor. On the Adolf Munkel trail (no. 35) we reach the Glatschalm inn. We now continue uphill to a resting place under the impressive north walls of the Geislergruppe. Soon afterwards we reach the Gschnagenhardtalm and then the Geisleralm, which is a little lower down. On trail no. 35 we now walk through coniferous forest and past a spring. At a fork, we go straight ahead and soon reach the shoulder of the Weißbrunneck. A little later we cross the meadows of the Broglesalm and reach the Brogleshütte through a gate.

Stage 4: Brogleshütte - Regensburger Hütte

On this stage, which takes around 2.5 hours, is the Panascharte, which can be closed after heavy rainfall. If the gorge is icy, crampons are recommended. However, the route can also be bypassed via an easier route. We take trail no. 6 and reach a valley floor. Across the northern slope of the Seceda we soon reach the Panascharte and climb steeply from the gorge floor to the south. Here we take trail no. 1 and descend to the Troier Alm. Via a beautiful high-level trail, over the Aschgler Alm and the slopes of the Cislesalm, we finally reach the Regensburger Hütte, the destination of this stage.

Stage 5: Regensburger Hütte - Ortisei

On this stage we descend 900 m into the Val Gardena valley in around 2.5 hours. There are great views of imposing mountain peaks along the way. We take trail no. 4 to the Col Raiser alpine inn. On the same path we reach the ditch of the Aschgler Bach stream and the Gamsbluthütte hut. Soon we hike across the meadow bottoms of Runggaldier and after a long stretch in the woods the trail splits. We take the marked route straight ahead, which has no no. Past the Pezzahof and the church of St. Jakob we reach a chapel. We take the Col-de-Flam promenade down and then reach the centre of Ortisei via an asphalt road to the right.

Stage 6: Ortisei - Hotel Ritsch Schwaige

This stage consists mainly of a cable car ride with the Alpe di Siusi cable car. From Ortisei, this takes us up to Mont Seuc. A short descent leads to the Hotel-Restaurant Ritsch Schwaige, which is open all year round except for the month of November. 

Stage 7: Hotel Ritsch Schwaige - Schlernhaus

This section of the tour takes around 3.5 hours and is particularly beautiful and rich in views. On trail no. 6 and 10 we first reach the Alpenhotel Panorama. Via the mountain road we reach the Laurinhütte restaurant a little later. Walk along a wide path until you reach a fork, continue straight ahead and you will soon reach the crossing of trail no. 5, which you follow to the left. Across meadows and past several hay huts we reach the Saltner hut. Continue on trail no. 5 down to the Frötschbach stream. Many hairpin bends take you up to the northern edge of the Schlern plateau and a junction with the Gamssteig trail. Across the Schlern plateau and around the Petz it goes up to the Schlernhaus.

Stage 8: Schlernhaus - Tierser-Alpl-Hütte

From the Schlernhaus we hike to a junction where we take trail no. 3 and 4. The trail crosses the Schlern plateau and then enters a grassy depression. We climb uphill again until we reach the saddle in front of the Roterdspitze. Soon we reach the Maximilian via ferrata. However, we hike into the south side of the Roterdspitze and soon down into the Tschamin valley. We head uphill again to the Tierser-Alpl-Joch with the Tierser-Alpl-Hütte. This 8th stage of the tour takes around 2 hours.

Stage 9: Tierser-Alpl-Hütte - Vajolet Hut

On this stage, which takes around 2 hours, we start by crossing the Rosengarten group. The route enchants with a beautiful and impressive landscape. On trail no. 3a and 554 we go up to the cart area of the "Hühnerstand". Downhill again, we enter the Northern Molignon Pass and continue into the Southern Molignon Pass. Soon we descend through a steep scree gully until we come to a trail split. On trail no. 554 we go straight on until we reach a steep scree gully. Soon we reach the Grasleiten pass and the Grasleiten pass hut. We continue on trail no. 584, down into the hollowed valley floor and on to the Vajolet Hut.

Stage 10: Vajolet Hut - Gartl Hut

On this stage we begin with the traverse of the central peak of the Catinaccio group, which takes us around one hour. The Santnerpass via ferrata is also on this section of the tour. If there are still remnants of snow in the rocky gullies here, it is advised to use crampons and ice axes. In addition, the via ferrata is very busy in the morning in the opposite direction, so it is best to start in the afternoon. It is not advisable to walk the passage in the company of children. In any case, you should find out about the conditions in advance and then decide whether and when to tackle the route. The via ferrata can also be bypassed. Take trail no. 584 back towards the Grasleiten Pass to a junction. We turn left into the steep trail no. 542 and take it uphill into the Gartlucht gorge. Here begins the easy climb (difficulty level no. 1) further up to the Gartlhütte.

Stage 11: Gartlhütte - Rosengartenhütte

This stage takes around 2 hours and leads through the rocky areas of the Rosengarten group via a secured climb from the Santner Pass down to the Rosengarten Hut. Some free climbing passages have difficulty level 1. Until early summer, crampons and ice axes may be used here. We take trail no. 542 up to the Laurinspass. It continues steeply up to the Santner Pass with the Santner Pass Hut. Trail no. 542 first leads up to a scree shoulder and then back down into a saddle. We walk along rocks secured with drat ropes into a scree gully, which is mostly icy. Soon some grade 1 climbing passages begin. We reach the Tschagerjoch and through a rocky gully to the Rosengartenhütte. 

Stage 12: Rosengartenhütte - Paolinahütte

This stage only takes about an hour and is easy to walk. First we take trail no. 549 downhill and then along scree slopes along a mountain edge. We reach the junction of the Hirzelweg and take trail no. 552 up to the Paolina Hut.

Stage 13: Paolina Hut - Rif. Torre di Pisa

On this stage, which takes about 6.5 hours, we move from the Rosengarten group to the Latemar area. We cross the Latemarspitze in the process. This is the longest and, due to the 1,200 metres of altitude difference, also the most demanding section of the High Altitude Trail No. 8. You should be sure-footed and have a head for heights. In addition, some climbing passages of difficulty level 1 are waiting to be conquered. If necessary, the stage can be interrupted at Biv. Rigatti. We first take trail no. 552 down to the Karer Pass. From there we go uphill on a natural road across meadows until we choose trail no. 517 at a fork. We continue hiking uphill to the Vallace Alm (1983 m). Then we continue hiking until we reach a saddle under the rocks. The trail continues uphill to the small Latemarscharte (2526 m). Via trail no. 18 we go up to the south side of the mountain. In a long, strenuous passage we now climb to the highest point of the Eastern Latemarspitze (2791 m). On trail no. 18 we go downhill again into a stratified gully. We climb in a level traverse to below the Rotlahnscharte. Via the cross trail no. 18 and no. 516 we reach below the Erzlahnscharte. We go up again and then down again to the Gamsstallscharte. On trail no. 516 we finally hike to the Forc. Valsorda (2630 m). We continue up to the summit of C. Cavignon (2691 m) and to Rif. Torre di Pisa.

Stage 14: Rif. Torre di Pisa - Ghf. Gurndinalm

On this stage we leave the Dolomites; we now walk on the Eggental mountains, which consist of red Bolzano quartz porphyry. In total we are on the way for about 4 hours. We go downhill on trail no. 516 until we reach a junction where trail no. 516 continues to the left. We reach the pass meadow of the col before M. Agnello. On trail no. 504 we reach the Reiterjoch road near the Eggental alpine pastures. At the Zischgalm guesthouse on the Reiterjochstraße, we take trail no. 505 and reach the Reiterjoch via meadows. Here we reach the left-hand fork of cart path no. 9, along which we pass Jst. Malga Daiano and finally reach the Lavazèjoch road. We go left for a few hundred metres until we reach the houses on Lavazèjoch. From here we get up to the Jochgrimm on foot or by bus. From there we hike along a natural road into the southern flank of the Weißhorn and soon downhill to the Gasthof Gurndinalm. 

Stage 15: Ghf. Gurndinalm - Truden

For this stage we need about 4 hours. From the alpine pasture, we hike along an unmarked natural road to a fork, where we keep left and come to some buildings here. We reach another fork in the path, keep left again and reach the Kugeljoch at an altitude of 1923 m via a cart track. On the "Leitensteig" we reach the northern flank of the Kugelspitze and up into the saddle. Soon we go up to the Leitenspitze at an altitude of 2027 m. At the back of the mountain we descend again into a saddle. And up we go again, to the summit ridge of M. Tolargo. We go into the north side of the ridge and and down until a forest path crosses the route. Turn left along this path until you reach the Bachner locality. Continue on an asphalt road until you reach a group of houses and then the road Kaltenbrunn - Oberradein. On the right hand side is the Schwarzenbach farm. Continue on the same path as the European Long Distance Trail No. 5 (E5) down to Kaltenbrunn. From there we continue on road no. 59 in the direction of Truden, we soon reach a fork and turn left. On footpath no. 7 and E5 we hike up into a ditch between Kalmegg and P 1285. Via a cart track we reach the Kaltenbrunn - Truden road again. We climb up into the Trudner Sattel and into the local area of Truden. 

Stage 16: Truden - Gfrill

In Truden the crossing of the Trudner Horn massif begins. We need about 5 hours for stage 16. From the centre of Truden we take the "main road" uphill towards Kaltenbrunn. We reach a division and turn left onto trail no. 5, which continues uphill. Through a gate we reach a forest road at the entrance to the Trudner Horn Nature Park. At the Pinterschupfe wooden hut we come to a cart track. Continue on trail no. 5 to the Baita del Felice. Now take forest trail no. 9 until you reach a fork and turn right here. Going uphill we reach the Krabesalm. Continue along path no. 9 to Mga. Pausa. On the goods path no. 3 we hike to the Cisa saddle. We continue on trail no. 4 and E5 to the Hornalm. We now walk on track no. 3, 4 and E5 to a fork near the Weißsee lake. On trail no. 2, 4 and E5 we reach a wide forest saddle and soon continue to Gfrill. 

Stage 17: Gfrill - Lago Santo (Rif. Alpino)

On this stage, the long forest ridge of the Salurn mountain is crossed within about 4 hours. From Gfrill, we take the forest road (E5) up to a fork. A wide forest path leads to a shelter and then up to the shoulder of M. dell' Orso and back down to the Pra Erto hermitage. From there, take a cart track and cross it again to reach a forest road. Heading southwest, you enter a depression. Here the road divides. Take a cart track to the left and go uphill. Soon you are on a road on the right, past houses, over several hills and then down, where you meet an asphalt road. The Rif. Alpino is immediately on the right. A little further on to the left and we reach the "Sacred Lake at Cembra", Lago Santo di Cembra.

Stage 18: Lago Santo (Rif. Alpino) - Salurn

On the last stage of the tour we descend into the Adige Valley. Here we pass through lovely orchards and vineyards. We start the stage on trail no. 1, which is right next to the Rif. Alpino. We descend across meadows to a forest road that we cross. We take a footpath to the left and descend against a ditch and soon continue down to the Sauchsattel. Continue on trail no. 1 and 409 through deciduous forest and up to the Sauch hut. East of the hut, cart path no. 1 leads downhill to a fork. Here we turn right, continue downhill to the Maierhoferhof farm and on to the orchards of the Tiefentalerhof farm. Here we continue on the Güterweg Nr. 1 through vineyards and past isolated houses until we reach the wide Alphaltstraße from Salurn to Buchholz. On this road we finally reach the destination of our tour, Salurn.