Mt. Sassongher-Gardenaccia Plateau Loop

Dogs Leashed

Features Geological Significance · Lake · Views · Wildflowers

This loop combines two amazing places that you can see nearby Colfosco - Mt. Sassongher and the Gardenaccia Plateau.

The Sassongher mountain (2,665 m a.s.l.) is a wonderful panoramic mountain with a view of the Sella Group to the north. The ascent is also very interesting: grassy slopes are followed by gravel ones and very light ferrata parts near the top for which you don't need any special equipment.

From the summit, the path continues to a lunar landscape, which turns out to be an impressive karst plateau with many rare plant species flowering in summer, to Rifugio Puez, where you can enjoy a good meal.

The descent goes near the often dry Lech de Ciampëi back to Colfosco.

This is not a difficult route for experienced runners, but I recommend starting early in the morning (no later than 8 a.m.) as the route is longer. You can park your car in Colfosco if you are not staying in this town.

The route first takes you to grassy slopes above the town where you can find some cows and even a flock of sheep. You can take a short lift, but I think it is not really worth it. Soon you get to gravel and rocky slopes and at an T-intersection turn left. At the next intersection, continue right to Mt. Sassongher (not left to Rifugio Puez). At this point you can already admire the view of the Sella Group with Piz Boè in the background (Rifugio Capanna Piz Fassa is visible if you have good eyes). After a while you get to an intersection - turn right to climb Mt. Sassongher. You need good balance. If the weather does not allow it or you do not feel like climbing, you can turn left and continue to the Gardenacia Plateau.

Once you have climbed Mt. Sasongher, you can see the whole Alta Badia region. If the weather is good, you can see for example: Cima Nove (another amazing route - ferrata Kreuzkofel) to the north-east and then clockwise: the Sella alpenstock, Piz dles Cunturines, Punta Sud di Fanes, Setsas and Col di Lana, Marmolada and the Sella Group.

After the descent of the Sassongher mountain, you continue right to the Gardenacia Plateau at the same intersection you were at before the last climb. For the next 2 hours or so, keep left at all intersections. You'll cross the amazing Gardenacia Plateau, where you can admire beautiful flowering plants, connect to the trail 2 (AV2) and turn right to Rifugio Puez, where you can have a snack. To the west you can see the whole Langental valley.

After that you start your return to Colfosco. At the same intersection where you arrived after crossing the Gardenacia Plateau, you turn right until the next intersection where you turn left and start the descent to Lech de Ciampëi, which you pass and end up at the same intersection where you turned to Mt. Sassongher. This time you turn right and then at the next intersection right again to descend to Colfosco.

For example Gentianella anisodonta, Gentiana verna, Leontopodium alpinum, Scabiosa lucida, Aconitum napellus, Dryas octopetala, Silene vulgaris, Thymus serphyllum, Potentilla nitida, Papaver alpinum susbp. rhaeticum, Saxifraga squarrosa, Campanula caespitosa, Sedum atratum, and Soldanella alpina

At 2,665 meters, Mt. Sassongher marks the southeastern edge of the Puez Group in the Puez-Odle Natural Park. Famous for its breathtaking views, the trek to its summit is very popular among runners. From the top you can enjoy a panoramic view of the entire Alta Badia region. For centuries, the slopes of Mt. Sassongher have been a route for hunters and farmers on their way to the neighboring Dolomite valleys. In 1900 Joseph Kostner, a mountain guide from Corvara, was the first to climb the south face of the mountain.