Seceda Ridgeline: To Hike or Not to Hike

Seceda is a mountain at the foot of the Odle Group in Val Gardena, just above the small town of Ortisei. It is in the middle of the Dolomites, one of the most beautiful specimens of UNESCO World Heritage. Our parents would send postcards with Seceda on it, and we make a dozen of photos and videos and make an Instagram or Tiktok Reel from it. It always features in the Top 3 or Top 5 things to see in the Dolomites lists. You can see why that is. Cool, the social media buzz is not for everyone and fortunately, there is more than “just” a ridgeline.

You can get to Seceda by foot, all the way from the bottom in Ortisei. Or, you can jump on a cable car to Furnes and another one from Furnes to Seceda. The lift will cost you 40 to 50 Euros but they say the experience is priceless. For a truly priceless experience, we can only recommend going by foot. We have designed a mini hut-to-hut-trek which will take you all way to via Rifugio Puez and Rifugio Firenze to one of the most beautiful spots in the Dolomites.

We don’t have to explain to you why people flock to Seceda. Is it worth it? Yes, but there is more to it than meets the eye. Most of you will have landed on this blog post because you want to know how and when to get to Seceda. In winter, however, there are also people on Seceda. Why? It is the base for some of the longest ski slopes in South Tyrol. La Longia, classified as Red, is 10.5 km long and allows you to ski all the way down to Ortisei.

But why is Seceda so popular on social media, especially Instagram? Apparently, in 2017 there was an event in San José in the US presenting some new Apple products. The iconic view of the Seceda ridgeline and Odle was used as a background on the then-new iMac Pro, showcasing its technological features. A few million people were watching the Apple livestream and thus Seceda went around the world. The result? A chain effect. Maybe it also indirectly sparked your interest :)

Seceda is nestled deep in the Dolomite mountains, accessible only from late Spring through early Autumn. The hiking season in the Dolomites typically spans from late May to early October. For those interested in combining their trek with stays in rifugios (mountain huts), it's advisable to aim for mid-June to mid-September. If you prefer avoiding crowds, steer clear of visiting the viewpoint in August.

As for timing, the Dolomites hold a strong allure, and at Bookatrekking.com, we understand the draw. Each year, we assist thousands in securing spots on the bustling Alta Via 1, Alta Via 2, and other Dolomite hikes. Those in the know understand that the early bird gets the worm. To maximize your experience at Seceda, arrive early—the cable car starts running at 08:00. Aim to be there, or better yet, ensure you're already well underway with your hike by then.

This brings us back to the most important question when it comes to seeing Seceda. To hike or not to hike. Although Seceda is 2,519 metres above sea level, there is no need to hike. For some mountaineering purists, it is absolute blasphemy, but it is possible to take a cable car to beauty. Your first mission is to get to Ortisei. This small town just a 45-minute drive from Bolzano/Bozen. You can also use a combination of train and bus.

Not to Hike: The cable car station is located in Ortisei, Urtijëi in the Ladin language. The first cable car takes you to Furnes. Here you change to the one to Seceda. The entire trip up doesn’t take longer than 15 minutes.

To Hike: From Ortisei, you can hike to the view point in about 4.5 hours. It is a steady 1000 meters ascent. Not an easy one. We hate to admit it but it will be more interesting to take the cable car up, then go for a scenic hike visiting some rifugios and hike down. Or, again, take the cable car down.