Best of Alta Via 1: From Lago di Braies to Lagazuoi

You start at the lake and take the trail on the West side of the lake towards Croda del Becco (The Seekofel). The first few kilometers will be shared with some pockets of tourists who are hiking around the lake but as soon as you walk away from it, it will become quiet. You will leave the crowds behind you and start hiking uphill. Follow the waymarkers until you leave the gravel road and find yourself hiking up a rocky and zigzagging trail. From here you can look back to Lago di Braies behind you. You will reach a section which is enforced by a cable. No worries, these chains are not qualified as via ferrata. Just an extra help on this rocky section. You will go up and over and start descending to Rifugio Biella, the Seekofelhütte.

Soon after leaving Rifugio Biella, you pass Rifugio Sennes. A little further on, you'll find a junction with a Christian cross and a wooden bench. After about four kilometers you have a fantastic panoramic view of the Dolomites. A little further on, you can already see the valley where you will find Rifugio Pederü. You follow a relatively easy trail, between the mountains. It leads you to the Fanes plateau, where Rifugio Fanes is located.

On this stage, the real highlights of the trip begin when you reach the Cortina d'Ampezzo Valley, cross one of the most exciting passes of the entire trek, and reach the pinnacle of the journey: the summit of Lagazuoi. The stage begins through idyllic meadows, streams, and rolling stone pastures and gradually becomes rockier and more dramatic. As the day progresses, the trail heads toward the Forcella del Lago pass. From the top of the pass, you are faced with a steep descent that eventually rewards you with a beautiful view of the picturesque Lago di Lagazuoi.

You round off the stage with the ascend to the top of Mount Lagazuoi. At the top, you reach the busy Rifugio Lagazuoi, which offers one of the most stunning panoramas in the entire Dolomites. From here, you will take the cable car down to Passo Falzarego, a thrilling descent with breathtaking views that marks a spectacular end to this unforgettable adventure.