Seceda Ridgeline: To Hike or Not to Hike

Sierd van der Bij
Sierd van der Bij
21 May 2024 9 min read
Seceda Ridgeline: To Hike or Not to Hike
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Seceda. The Dolomites' absolute best view, right? We must be careful of what we say because we probably state the same in our blog posts about Cadini di Misurina, Lago di Braies and Lagazuoi. It is extremely hard to select a winner when it comes to the perfect Dolomites vibes. You can spend an entire Summer exploring all the goodness this UNESCO World Heritage Area has to offer. We know, that even if you only have a week, you’ll probably go to Seceda. Let us help you get there.

To hike or not to hike to the Seceda ridgeline. That is the ultimate question. There is an easy way up to one of the most beautiful ridgelines in the world and, then, there is a harder way to get there. You can even turn it into an overnight trek. Let’s get to it!

What and Where is Seceda?

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.

What and Where is Seceda?

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Is Seceda Worth It?

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 :)

Is Seceda Worth It?

When to Visit Seceda?

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.

When to Visit Seceda?

How Do I Best Get to the Seceda Viewpoint?

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.

How Do I Best Get to the Seceda Viewpoint?

For Daytrippers: Seceda Ridgeline Hike

Assuming you want to do a bit more than taking the cable car and walking out and back for a few minutes to just take that iconic photo, we have designed this little 4 hour loop which will all you take a few breaks. You take the cable car up to Seceda, hike towards the viewpoint and take all the mandatory photos. Here, you move away from potentially other people and keep hike towards Rifugio Pieralongia. A good stop for any kind of Strudel.

You then keep hiking towards the Odle view point. Hopefully, you haven’t eaten too much at Pieralongia because there is another possibility for a fuel break. Rifugio Firenze, in German the Regenburger Hütte, is one of the classic overnight huts in this part of the Dolomites. Via Col Raiser you hike back to Seceda. If you want to have another look at the view, you can. You then take the cable car back down to Ortisei.

For Overnighters: Seceda Mini-Hut-to-Hut Trek

If you want to make more of your trip to Seceda and turn it into a mini hut-to-hut trek which includes a night at the famous Rifugio Puez, then we have you covered. This trek starts at Sëlva, a small village just down the road from Ortisei. It is the highest village in Val Gardena and it has a lot of Ladin speakers. This is the old Rhaeto-Romanic language that dominates in this side of South-Tyrol. On this mini hut-to-hut trek you get a glimpse of the legendary Alta Via 2 hiking route.
Day
1

Sëlva - Rifugio Puez

Duration: 04:30 h
Distance: 8.8 km
Ascent: 890 m
Welcome to Sëlva (Wolkenstein), one of the favourite villages of Val Gardena. In winter, here you have a direct access to the famous Sellaronda ski circuit. In Summer, it gives you access to the imposing Group de Puez, which gave name to Ütia (Rifugio in Ladin) Puez. This first day of your Seceda Trek is all about gaining altitude. You hike through Val Vallunga up the plateau and find the most classic rifugio at 2,475 metres. Rifugio Puez was built in 1889 by the Alpenverein. After the First World War, the hut was taken over by the Italian CAI. It is a popular stop on the Alta Via 2 and, perhaps a good thing is that it can only be reached by foot. If you’ve never stayed in a mountain hut before, then this will be a day and night to remember.

Rifugio Puez

Info
Rifugio Puez
Day
2

Rifugio Puez - Rifugio Firenze - Seceda

Duration: 05:50 h
Distance: 11.3 km
Ascent: 650 m
Descent: 640 m
Good morning! After a scrumptious breakfast, it is time to start moving. Don’t hang around too long at Puez so that you will still have enough time to take a break at Rifugio Firenze, another classic mountain hut in this part of the Dolomites. Also, you don’t want to be late at Seceda. If you miss the cable cars, it will still be an extra few hours to get down to Ortisei. No stress, you have the entire day to cover about 6 hours of hiking. If you do stop at Firenze (Regensburger Hütte), you must try their goulasch with polenta. Or anything, really. It is another 4 km hike to get to the ultimate goal of your journey: Seceda. Photo time! Well done. After this, you can take the cable car down. Feeling strong? It’s a 2.5 hour hike down to Ortisei. From here, you can then take the bus back to Sëlva.

Not sure yet or want to discuss your plans for the Seceda with one of our trekking experts? Get in touch today and turn your dreams into memories!

Where Can I Book the Seceda?

At Bookatrekking.com you can book the self-guided Seceda and many other treks. We take care of all the details for you, including arranging accommodations and providing you with relevant information well in advance of your trek. Find our offers here. Our easy-to-use platform allows you to browse and compare different trekking options and to find the perfect fit for your interests, abilities, and budget.

If you have any questions about a specific trek or need help choosing the right one for you, our team of trekking experts is here to assist you. Simply reach out to us and we will be happy to provide you with personalized recommendations and advice to help you plan the trekking adventure of a lifetime.

Is the Seceda not your cup of tea and are you looking for other epic adventures? Check out one of our following blog posts:

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