Alta Via del Camoscio Trek

From Cortina d'Ampezzo, the route climbs almost continuously to Rifugio Son Forca, with 1,000 m of ascent over a relatively short stage. It starts in town and soon leaves the valley floor behind, following a mix of streets, paths and mountain hiking trails. The gain in altitude is steady, so pace yourself from the beginning. As you climb, the surroundings become quieter and more alpine, with the Cristallo area drawing closer near the end.

The route heads north-east out of Cortina d'Ampezzo and climbs towards Rifugio Mietres before continuing onto the Col Tondo, Val Padeon Trail. Higher up, the path passes viewpoints over Cortina d'Ampezzo and the surrounding valley. The final section approaches the Son Forca area, passing a panoramic viewpoint, Son Forca Spring, a rocky cliff viewpoint and a river crossing before reaching the hut. Expect a clear uphill profile throughout, with only very little descent.

You arrive at Rifugio Son Forca, a mountain hut set high above Cortina d'Ampezzo. After the long climb, this is a good place to settle in, recover and prepare for the more technical terrain that follows on the next stage.

Note: It may be possible to shorten the first climb by taking local transport from Cortina d'Ampezzo towards Chiave. DolomitiBus urban line 5 serves the Cortina d'Ampezzo, Majon and Chiave area, but timetables and stops should be checked before departure as services can vary by season.

From Rifugio Son Forca, the route to Rifugio Vandelli is 9.02 km and includes 510 m of descent. This stage is not a simple hut-to-hut traverse, as it first loses height before climbing back into the Sorapis area. The terrain becomes more demanding near the final section, with exposed and technical parts including a steep narrow rocky passage, a metal staircase on the Monte Piana Trail and a path along the cliff.

The route leaves Rifugio Son Forca and descends from the higher slopes towards the Passo Tre Croci side. After the lower section, it joins the trail towards Lago di Sorapis and gradually moves into rougher mountain terrain below Monte Cristallo. The most important features shown on the route are the steep narrow rocky pass, the metal staircase on the Monte Piana Trail and the cliffside path. This section requires care, especially in wet conditions.

You arrive at Rifugio Vandelli, a mountain hut above Lago di Sorapis. After the exposed final approach, this is the place to rest and settle in, with the Sorapis basin close by.

From Rifugio Vandelli to Passo Tre Croci, the route is 6.87 km with 420 m of ascent and 540 m of descent. The distance is short, but the terrain is demanding in places. This stage includes technical and exposed mountain sections shortly after leaving the hut and again around Forcella Marcoira. It is best suited to hikers who are comfortable on rocky paths, narrow passages and secured sections where sure-footedness matters.

From Rifugio Vandelli, the path soon reaches viewpoints over Lago di Sorapis before continuing into rougher ground. The route climbs towards Forcella Marcoira, where the main ascent of the stage is concentrated. Around this section, the trail includes steep rocky terrain and exposed passages. After the pass, the route begins to descend, with a viewpoint over Monte Cristallo and Lago di Sorapis marked further along the way.

The stage finishes at Passo Tre Croci. From here, the walking route ends at the pass, where transport back towards Cortina d'Ampezzo can be arranged depending on the season and timetable.