Dolomites hike • Sassolungo Val Gardena

We didn’t set out to do this hike but so happy we ended up here! After a car accident blocked the road to our intended destination, we chose whatever was closest and ended up at Sassolungo, with these impressive spiky peaks in the Val Gardena region of the Dolomites.

This was a wild experience, starting with the coffin-like two person cable car that took us to the saddle between the peaks. Then we descended about 600m on lots of switchbacks with loose rock to the base of the peaks. Then we slowly worked our way back around the peaks to our starting point at the pass, going up and down many times on lots of different terrain. It was a tough hike (especially for my dad), but gorgeous and varied. So glad we did it!

See more of our Dolomites family hikes here.

Location

This trail is located in the northern part of the Dolomites, about a 15 min drive from Selva di Val Gardena, 35 mins from Corvara, or 1hr30 from Cortina d’Ampezzo.

Here is a summer map of the Val Gardena region, with the Sassolungo in the upper left. Click on the map for a larger version.

Trail Overview

From the Sasso pass, ride a cable car up to the Rifugio Toni Demetz hut at 2700m. The trail starts with a 600m descent on rocky switchbacks, about 2 km to another hut, Rifugio Vicenza. After reaching the base of the peaks, you wind around the peaks back to your starting point. The whole trail is about 8.5 km, estimated time 3hr30. We took well over 5 hours, mostly because of my 70yr old dad who did a great job but just needed to go more slowly. With kids, I’d plan for at least 4hr30.

Trail conditions

This is a red/white alpine trail, no special equipment needed. This trail has lots of ups and downs with very rocky sections, some parts with loose rock, some parts where you have to climb over big rocks in the path. Definitely bring your walking sticks. I saw lots of kids on this trail, some as little as five. But I’d probably recommend this for slightly older kids, about 7 or 8, with hiking experience.

Getting There

By car: Drive to the famous Sella pass (GPS: 46°30’32.1″N 11°45’26.3″E), where you’ll find lots of parking, a restaurant, playground and the valley station for the cable car. Purchase a one-way ticket for the Forcella Sassolungo gondola. It runs from mid June to early October, form 8:15 to 17:00, one way ticket EUR 14/adult. I think there was a reduction for children, but I don’t see it listed on the website. This lift is included in the Gardena card and Dolomiti Super Summer card.

By bus: I’m not an expert on the bus system here. But I think bus 471 connects the Val Gardena area with the Sella pass and other. You can see that schedule here. At Passo Sella, there was this sign showing the timetable for buses leaving the pass back to the towns in the Val Gardena region. More bus schedules here.

Getting on the cable car

This tiny cable car just barely fits two adults. It’s a tight squeeze and it’s a bit tricky to get on. The cable car does not slow down through the loading station. So the lift operators will stagger the two passengers on a starting line. As the cable car swings around, the first person gets a running start, grabs the outside handle and jumps into the car. Then the second person starts running and jumps in after them. The lift operators may shove you in or lift you up as needed. Then they lock the door behind you.

If you are confused or too slow or not paying attention, you might miss the car and then they will yell at you and you’ll have try again, like my poor dad. Good luck!

We were all in a panic after the crazy entry, but couldn’t talk to each other, separated in different cars. It was a long slow ride to the top, in the rain in our case.

Exiting the car is also tricky. It doesn’t slow down, so when you enter the top station, the lift operators quickly unbolt the door, then grab you as you jump out the back of the car and pull you to the side. We watched lots of people get off and everyone was laughing as they spilled out.

Start of trail

The cable car drops you off at the Toni Demetz hut, which has a cafe with outdoor seating.

Here’s the view back down the mountain on this side.

The trail up here is very rocky and sometimes hard to see the path, but pretty well marked throughout. There were some snow patches even in late July.

It’s rather steep here, on lots of switchbacks, lots of loose rock. You will want your hiking sticks.

Then it flattens out a bit, we all cheered!

Looking back up what we came down.

Taking a break at second hut

Arriving at Langkofel hut (aka Rifugio Vicenza), which has a cafe and overnight bunks. I would have loved to try their polenta and other hearty offerings but we brought a picnic.

We ate our picnic below the hut where the green starts again.

Keep hiking down following trail 526 to Sella Joch/Passo Sella.

Walking around the mountain

The trail flattens out a bit and winds left around the mountain.

Walking around and a bit uphill.

More uphill, a little slippery on the rocks here.

Looking back on the trail, toward the Seiser Alm region of the Dolomites. We’ll have to explore that part on another trip.

You turn the corner and start walking under big rock walls.

Lots of shale and loose rock here. Pick your steps carefully.

Now in the shadows for the rest of the hike. Remember to bring a jacket.

The trail continued across this snow patch, but we opted to hike below it. It looks too slippery and dangerous.

The trail got really rocky near the end and we had a bit of trouble finding the path.

There were a few paths forking in different directions. If you see any signs, make sure to continue following #526 to Sella Joch.

Very pretty views east to the Val Gardena region.

End of the story

Well, about here everything started to fall apart for our crew and I stopped taking pictures. It was getting late about 17:00 and we didn’t know when chair lift closed to take us back to our car (we weren’t parked at the pass, long story – you will park at the pass, so this won’t be a problem for you). So my husband and kids ran ahead to try to catch the last chair. My dad and I kept our slow pace way behind them.

Forty mins later, my husband sent a text that he had missed the last chair and now was running to catch the last bus. He had left the kids waiting for me at the deserted chair lift, so he could run faster. My kids are old enough and sensible enough to wait on their own, but I didn’t know how far it was until we reached them and it was taking forever. I started to panic a bit.

My dad and I lost the trail in some boulders and had backtrack and go “off piste” searching for an easier trail, which thankfully we found. Every corner we turned, I thought we’d see my kids but the trail just stretched out longer and longer ahead of us. My phone wouldn’t show our location on the map, so I didn’t know exactly where we were.

About 1 hour later, I finally saw the chair lift and could see my kids jumping up and down waving at us. I was so happy! But we had taken a lower trail, way below the top of the chair lift. I had my dad continue on the lower trail, about 80% sure it would lead back to our starting point, hoping he wouldn’t get lost. Then I ran up straight up the hill like mountain goat for about 10 mins, sweating like a pig, until I could hug my boys tight and congratulate them for waiting so patiently.

My boy and I made our way down the easy upper trail to the pass, happily meeting my husband coming toward us on the trail. We had a happy reunion and continued down to the car. But now we had to find my dad. I was pretty sure his trail would lead to the parking lot at the pass, but he was nowhere to be seen. So I headed down the lower trail, shouting his name.

Eventually I could hear him in the distance but the trail was curving through boulders and I couldn’t see him. His voice seemed to be coming from different directions. I finally realized there were multiple trails and I had passed him, so I tried other trails and kept calling out until I found him. Hooray! Everyone was safe. It was so late, no one left on the trail and we were exhausted.

Here’s a last look at Sassolungo on the far right, as we drove home. What a day!

See more of our Dolomites family hikes.

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