On the Seceda via Pieralonga and the Firenze Refuge

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This hike in the Puez Odle Nature Park is truly enchanting. The wave-shaped summit of Seceda is known throughout the world and its viewpoint will delight your eyes. The rest of the hike offers different views of Val Gardena and the famous pink colour of its mountains.

Details

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  • Walking
    Activity: Walking
  • ↔
    Distance: 9.87 km
  • ◔
    Average duration: 4h 15 
  • ▲
    Difficulty: Moderate
  • ⚐
    Back to start: Yes
  • ↗
    Ascent: + 505 m
  • ↘
    Descent: - 504 m
  • ▲
    Highest point: 2,506 m
  • ▼
    Lowest point: 2,039 m
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Photos

Towards the Firenze refuge
The pink mountains
Seceda summit

Description of the walk

To get to the start of the hike, you will need to take the funicular from Ortisei.

(S/E) When you arrive at the top station of the cable car, turn left immediately behind the station. The path leads you to a viewpoint.

(1) Continue along the path along the cliff to rejoin path no. 2B towards Pieralongia. Follow it to the start of the via ferrata.

(2) Then take the path that descends to the right, still following trail no. 2B. At the intersection, continue left towards Pieralongia (trail no. 2B).

Do the same at the next intersection, where you continue straight ahead on trail no. 2B. After a few hundred metres, you will arrive at the foot of Pieralongia, two pointed rocks whose peaks point in opposite directions.

Continue on trail no. 2B and do the same at the next two intersections, following the direction "Klettersteig Sas-Rigais". The trail will then lead you to an impressive dolomitic cirque.

(3) An intersection with signposts covered in barbed wire will then point you towards the Firenze Refuge (Rif. Firenze) on the right. Follow this direction. Also turn right at the next signpost towards the refuge via trail no. 13. The trail then runs along the right-hand side of a grassy plain with a bench. Continue on trail no. 13 to the Firenze refuge.

(4) At the refuge, continue right on trail number 2 or 4 (they are the same for a few hundred metres) until you reach an intersection.

(5) Then turn right to follow trail 2, which climbs into the forest. The trail continues through the forest, sometimes covered, sometimes in clearings, before joining trail 4A.

(6) Then follow trail 4A to the right towards Utia Hutte Batia. At the next intersection, continue on trail 4A, which climbs to the right towards the Via Ferrata Klettersteig.

(7) At the signpost, leave trail A4 for trail 1 towards Seceda.

A few hundred metres further up, don't miss the lake hidden above the path (turn around often so you don't miss it, as it can only be seen by looking back). You will then come to a wooden house and another signpost.

(8) Continue towards Seceda on the right, following trail no. 1 to reach the Hotel Troier.

(9) Continue on trail 1 towards Seceda.
You will then reach the original trail and continue left on trail no. 1. Do the same at the next intersection, continuing left until you reach the funicular station (S/E).

Waypoints

  1. S/E : km 0 - alt. 2,455 m - Seceda funicular station
  2. 1 : km 0.38 - alt. 2,505 m - Viewpoint on Seceda
  3. 2 : km 1.22 - alt. 2,430 m - Intersection with the trail for the Via Ferrata
  4. 3 : km 4.07 - alt. 2,280 m - Dolomite cirque
  5. 4 : km 5.98 - alt. 2,039 m - Firenze Refuge
  6. 5 : km 6.24 - alt. 2,048 m - Separation of trails 2 and 4
  7. 6 : km 7.14 - alt. 2,117 m - Intersection with trail 4A
  8. 7 : km 7.7 - alt. 2,187 m - Intersection with trail no. 1
  9. 8 : km 8.18 - alt. 2,226 m - Crossroads with a small chalet
  10. 9 : km 8.47 - alt. 2,273 m - Hotel Troier
  11. S/E : km 9.87 - alt. 2,456 m - Seceda funicular station

Notes

The price of the cable car from Ortisei is €32 return for adults / €16 for children (2019 prices).
The first cable car leaves at 8:30 a.m. and the last descent is at 5:30 p.m. (in summer).

You can eat or have a drink during your hike at the various mountain huts you will come across along the way.

There is a drinking fountain at the Firenze Refuge.

Reviews and comments

4.7 / 5
Based on 9 reviews
Reliability of the description
4.8 / 5
Ease of following the route
4.8 / 5
Route interest
4.6 / 5
jean.francis.clair
jean.francis.clair

Overall rating : 4 / 5

Date of your route : Sep 09, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : Yes

The Dolomites are magnificent and awe-inspiring. But of course, the crowds are as big as its reputation... This throng of hikers requires careful personal planning (early mornings to find a parking space, booking a paid shuttle service, etc.)

Thanks for your work

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philippeseince
philippeseince

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Aug 18, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : Yes

A beautiful route offering 360° views of the surrounding mountains.

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benom74
benom74

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Aug 04, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : Yes

Apart from the crowds and the exorbitant parking and cable car prices, this hike offers a wonderfully diverse, enchanting and spectacular landscape. You'll want to take photos at every turn. A must-see!

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User 8711014

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

Date of your route : Jul 18, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★☆☆ Average
Very busy route : Yes

This hike is beautiful, but it's not the most beautiful I've ever done. The scenery is superb, but it's very crowded and the trails aren't really hiking trails. They're more like roads and paved paths.
Unlike in the French Alps, access to the mountains is very expensive. To reduce costs, we took the cable car at Col Raiser, which cost us £32 per person, plus £8 for parking, for a total of £104 for three people. We're not used to paying such a high price for a hike at home. It wasn't good value for money. As access is made easier by the cable car, there are crowds of opportunistic tourists who only come to see the view from the cable car. We even witnessed a parade of Instagrammers taking photos for their social media accounts.

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benom74
benom74

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Jul 14, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : Yes

an exceptional hike, one of the most beautiful ever, but it comes at a price: parking and ski lifts (it cost us €150 for three people!) and it's very crowded up there.
Otherwise, you can't go wrong, the guidebook is perfect. Thank you

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Daniel Gruat
Daniel Gruat

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Jul 09, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : Yes

A must! Right from the start, you're riding the wave. It's beautiful, quite long, with a very long descent to the Firenze refuge. I've never seen so many flowers, with gentians and edelweiss in abundance. The climb back up is quite steep and there are lots of people with dogs or mountain bikes. A great hiking experience!

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J.Grandco
J.Grandco

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Jul 18, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : Yes

We did a variation of this route starting from the Kaiser Pass (€30 return, €20 one way).
This allows you to join the route at point 6, and therefore start with the climb. As Gabe said in the reviews, this is the least interesting part of the route, but it seemed much easier to us when we started with it.
We reached Seceda after 1 hour and 15 minutes, then descended for about 2 hours and 15 minutes. 11 km, 530 m elevation gain.
Don't hesitate to take the small path behind the cross (above point 1) as there are fewer people for photos and the view of the cliff is incredible.
Parking at the Col Kaiser lift (€6 for 6 hours), plenty of space at 8:30 a.m., full at 2:30 p.m.

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Ninit
Ninit

Are dogs permitted on the funicular railway?

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Arbogast Weibel
Arbogast Weibel

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

Date of your route : Jun 27, 2023
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : Yes

Reaching the refuge by car in July and August, I'm not sure, but as the funicular and car park are expensive, we followed the advice, so you can enjoy the day, especially when the weather is clear.

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gabe
gabe

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Nov 24, 2020
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : Yes

A very beautiful route. The scenery is breathtaking!
Parked in the covered car park at the cable car station (€8 for the day), then took the cable car up (€34/person).
The route up to point 6 is great, but after that it joins a very steep 4x4 track that's not very interesting!
Although the section between points 4 and 5 is interesting and offers different views and topologies, I would recommend one of these two alternatives:
1. turn back at the bench on the grassy plain (point 3) and take the reverse route;
2. Or do the hike in the opposite direction to that indicated in Visorando.
It is possible to avoid the funicular by arriving from below; find out how to reach the Firenze refuge.
One last tip: remember to turn around often to enjoy different and always breathtaking views!

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