Fanes Canyons and Waterfalls

A hike along the water that will take you as close as possible to the Fanes Waterfalls (passing under the waterfalls) a few kilometres north of Cortina d'Ampezzo.

Please note: read the warnings in the practical information section.

Via Ferrata enthusiasts can take cable passages close to the waterfalls (bring the appropriate equipment).

Details

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  • Walking
    Activity: Walking
  • ↔
    Distance: 9.09 km
  • ◔
    Average duration: 3h 55 
  • ▲
    Difficulty: Difficult

  • ⚐
    Back to start: Yes
  • ↗
    Ascent: + 469 m
  • ↘
    Descent: - 469 m

  • ▲
    Highest point: 1,741 m
  • ▼
    Lowest point: 1,355 m

Photos

Description of the walk

(S/E) From the car park, take the track that descends into the forest towards Pian de Loa.

(1) At a small chalet, leave the track at a bend and take a wide path that descends to the right. The path rejoins the track a little further down.
Cross the stream via a wooden bridge and look for signs indicating that you are in Pian de Loa. Continue straight ahead on the track towards Val di Fanes. You will pass another chalet and a fountain with drinking water. A few metres further down, you will come to another intersection.

(2) Continue left towards Val di Fanes until you reach a paved road.

(3) Then continue right towards Valle di Fanes on trail no. 10. Cross the river via a bridge and rejoin a forest track. The track runs alongside the river on flat ground, then moves away from it as it climbs into the forest.

At a place called "Da Ra Fontanes in su 1452m", continue along the track (trail no. 10) towards Cascate di Fanes. You will then arrive at a picnic area called "Cascate di Fanes".

Head towards Cascata Belvedere on the right to get a closer look at the first waterfall. The passage is wired but not difficult. Then retrace your steps to the directional signs.

(4) Leave the track that climbs to the left and continue on trail no. 10, which climbs opposite towards Valle di Fanes. The trail climbs steeply and joins an intersection at a place called Bus de l'Orso.

(5) Leave trail no. 10 and take the trail that descends to the right towards "Sent. Del Canyons e delle cascate". Cross a small bridge over the stream bed, then the trail climbs and joins a metal staircase. The trail then becomes very steep and winds its way up along the river in tight hairpin bends. Further up, a wooden bridge allows you to cross the stream again in front of a beautiful waterfall and an intersection.

(6) Continue to the right, along the stream towards Sent. Del Canyons e delle cascate. At one point, you will come across a path coming from the left. Leave it and continue straight ahead, going up the stream to a new waterfall and then a second one. Continue along the path to reach a new intersection at a place called Sbarco de Fanes.

(7) Take the path on the right towards Sent. Del Canyons e delle cascate for a few metres to admire the waterfall and pass underneath it. The passage is wired but not difficult.

Retrace your steps to Sbarco de Fanes.

Then take the unmarked path on the right to reach the forest track.

(8) At the track (at the new place called Sbarco de Fanes), take the track on the left which descends towards Sent. Del Canyons e delle cascate on trail no. 10.

(9) At Pian Dai Sente, leave the wide track and take the path on the left that descends towards Ponte Outo - Flames on trail no. 10 (not the one for bikes that goes to the right, but the one on the left).

(5) You will then reach Bus de l'Orso, which you passed earlier. Return to the car park by following the same route you took on the way there, following the track.

(3) Don't forget to turn left after reaching the small tarmac road. Take the same route back to the starting point (S/E).

Waypoints

  1. S/E : km 0 - alt. 1,441 m - Parking
  2. 1 : km 0.28 - alt. 1,431 m - Wooden cabin
  3. 2 : km 1.21 - alt. 1,359 m - Intersection
  4. 3 : km 1.38 - alt. 1,355 m - Intersection with a tarmac road
  5. 4 : km 2.93 - alt. 1,483 m - Picnic area
  6. 5 : km 3.05 - alt. 1,516 m - Orso bus
  7. 6 : km 3.45 - alt. 1,631 m - After the bridge
  8. 7 : km 4.49 - alt. 1,722 m - Last waterfall
  9. 8 : km 4.61 - alt. 1,735 m - Intersection of the trail with the track
  10. 9 : km 5.19 - alt. 1,686 m - Crossing between the footpath and mountain bike trail
  11. S/E : km 9.09 - alt. 1,441 m - Parking

Notes

There is a drinking water fountain between (1) and (2).
Swimming is possible, especially at the start of the hike.
Please note: the trail is very steep and vertiginous between (5) and (6), which is why the hike has been
classified as difficult.

It is possible to bring equipment for short Via Ferrata routes around the waterfalls.
Dogs are allowed on a leash.

Reviews and comments

4.9 / 5
Based on 9 reviews

Reliability of the description
5 / 5
Ease of following the route
4.8 / 5
Route interest
5 / 5
BellMans
BellMans

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Sep 01, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

Simply magnificent! An absolute must-do.

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veauflo
veauflo

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Jul 21, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

Very nice hike, not too crowded with quiet, well-marked trails. An easy return after the climb on the way there.
Please note: parking costs €8 (free after 3.30pm).

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User 22853693

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Jul 21, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

A magnificent walk to be done in the direction indicated.

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User 22853693

A very beautiful hike, best done in the direction indicated to make the most of the views.
The signposting could be improved, but luckily the app's beep got us back on track.

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FIFICB
FIFICB

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Aug 16, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

A very beautiful walk, ideal in summer. The waterfalls are stunning, and I would add that there are red and white markings along the route. Very well explained and easy to follow. The section between 5 and 6 is lovely, with magnificent scenery on the climb between the waterfalls and the canyon.
Just be careful on the first waterfall, holding onto the cable if you're prone to vertigo and facing the wall. My daughter did it and she's prone to vertigo. It's really worth doing the whole thing.

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Bibi et Gre
Bibi et Gre

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Jul 09, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

A beautiful, pleasant hike in the woods with impressive views of waterfalls. We took an extra detour on the way back at point No. 2 to walk along the left bank and see the waterfall on the other side. There are via ferrata routes, so if you can, take some equipment to climb down to the foot of the waterfall and climb back up using the cables.

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MARIONAT13
MARIONAT13

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Sep 05, 2023
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : Yes

Magnificent hike. Several beautiful waterfalls and a lovely little via ferrata.

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Bastien
Bastien

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Jul 13, 2023
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

A beautiful hike along a rushing stream. The passage behind the waterfall is truly impressive!
If you still have energy left, don't hesitate to walk along the left bank of the torrent (turn right at point no. 2) to see the waterfall in its entirety, as it is one of the highest in the Dolomites.

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sandrinederin
sandrinederin

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Jul 19, 2021
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : Yes

Getting up very early to be alone in the world. We started at 6:30 a.m. A lovely discovery. The first part on the main paths is nothing special, but the rest, which requires a little effort, is absolutely beautiful! A series of waterfalls, each more beautiful than the last. Small via Ferrara routes that can be done without equipment as they are easy. Milky blue pools of cool water. Small, idyllic paths. A dream! Thank you for sharing.

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gabe
gabe

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Sep 22, 2020
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

This hike is well worth it for lovers of water, waterfalls and forests.
I took a much nicer alternative route, but it requires sure footing and a sense of adventure:
- just after point no. 1, take the path on the right towards "Sent dei canyon - E delle cascate";
- follow the trail that climbs up to a viewpoint overlooking the first waterfall, which plunges into the bottom of a deep canyon (on the other side of the picnic area (point no. 3));
- from the viewpoint, descend the narrow, steep steps to the bottom of the canyon and the foot of this large waterfall;
- Cross the small iron bridge and climb up the short via ferrata (use a harness, lanyards and helmet).
- Once at the top, turn right to see the start of the Giovani Barbara via ferrata, which passes under the waterfall, but turn back just before it.
From here, check the map to continue the Visorando route from point 4.
However, at point 7, instead of turning back, after passing under the waterfall, continue along the steps and iron bars and take the path. It's impossible to go wrong, as it's a steep climb and there's only one path. Continue the hike by following the route, always going upstream.
When you reach "Sbarco de fanes 1746", descend via the forest track that leads to point 2, to finally return to the car park.

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