Croda da Lago and Rocchette

Itineraries

Volpèra caves

This unique area created in the post-glacial age by a huge collapse of Cyclopean boulders, from the erosion of the rocky block of Crepa di Pocol following the thawing of the valley floor glacier. In the last millennia, the moraine has been covered by a mixed forest of conifers and beech trees, with little intervention by man it has developed abundant moss and lichens and is populated by several species of woodpeckers and birds of prey. The caves are actually passages under the boulders piled up and are not due to Karst phenomena.

Length: 3.800 m.
Vertical gain: 250 m.
Time required: 2,5 ore

Val Formìn - Croda da Lago

Formìn Valley is covered by a century-old larch and stone-pine forest, rich in spring waters and wildlife. Its upper part opens onto the limestone slabs of Lastoi di Formìn, unique in the Ampezzo Dolomites for their expansive and flat features and ideal habitat of the white ptarmigan (Lagopus mutus). Walking south over the panoramic col of Forcella Ambrizzola, you reach Lago di Federa and the previous itinerary to return to the valley.

Length: 12.800 m.
Vertical gain: 800 m.
Time required: 5 ore

Length: 9.900 m.
Vertical gain: 650 m.
Time required: 4 ore

Lago d'Ajal - Ciou del Conte

The trail through the beautiful forest of Peronàte leads to Lago d'Ajal, an amazing lake with clear waters, formed through damming by a small moraine bar where Ranunculus trichophyllus is found. Farther on, along the Costeana stream, there are hydroelectric plants, as the Ciòu del Conte dam. To avoid the last stretch, return to Lago d'Ajal on the same path.

Length: 3.800 m.
Vertical gain: 150 m.
Time required: 2 ore

Lake of Fedèra - Ambrizzola

This fascinating natural lake is the largest in the Ampezzo Dolomites; it is characterized by lack of tributary river and is fed by underground springs. Its waters are clear and of excellent quality as the presence of delicate and selective rare aquatic species, testifies. Among them are Potamogeton alpinus e il Ranunculus trichophyllus. The larch and stone-pine forest of Val Negra, hardly ever exploited, is among the oldest in the Dolomites as recent dendrochronological research have shown that some trees are aged over 500 years.

Length: 4.500 m.
Vertical gain: 350 m.
Time required: 2 ore

Lago d'Ajal

Lago d'Ajal is an enchanting natural lake with clear waters formed through damming by a small moraine bar, where Ranunculus trichophyllus is found. Ajal and Fedéra forests, though apparently uniform, are dotted with springs and wet areas and gorges with deep rock crevices, like the Cuaire , just above the lake. These scarcely visible areas create extremely varied habitats favourable to biodiversity.

Length: 1.500 m.
Vertical gain: 120 m.
Time required: 1 ore

Lago di Pianòzes - Socol

Lago di Pianozes is a small lake exclusively devoted to tourism, partly natural and partly created by a barrage. The excellent quality of its waters and shores is testified by the presence of Persicaria amphibia, a rare semi-aquatic plant whose distribution in Ampezzo is limited to this lake. The spruce forests at the foot of the slopes on the orographic right of Costeana and Boite streams are among the most fertile and impressive in Cortina. Managed at low impact, they are inhabited by the capercaille (Tetrao urogallus) and the goshawk (Accipiter gentilis)

Length: 5.000 m.
Vertical gain: 100 m.
Time required: 2 ore

Val d'Ortié - Fedèra

This valley, almost entirely wooded, rises from the beech forests of the valley floor to the upper limit of the woods for one thousand metres of vertical gain. It is crossed by a pristine torrent that flows through deep, spectacular gorges and waterfalls. The valley, among the wildest and least affected by man in Cortina, is rich in flora and fauna, mainly on the peat bogs of its lower part. A veritable oasis of wilderness in the Ampezzo Dolomites

Length: 15.200 m.
Vertical gain: 1.000 m.
Time required: 5,5 ore

Length: 14.200 m.
Vertical gain: 980 m.
Time required: 3 ore

The Boite riverbank – San Vito border

Beyond Socol bridge, the Boite river flows freely and copiously for a few kilometres as far as San Vito, self-regenerating and creating interesting river bank environments and willow woods. The foot of the orographic right slope is covered with a thick mixed forest - with residual yew trees (Taxus baccata) - which hides rocky ravines where eagle owl (Bubo bubo) nests, and well-preserved peat bog rich in rare species; among which are Drosera rotundifolia and Epipactis palustris.

Length: 3.000 m.
Vertical gain: 120 m.
Time required: 1,5 ore

Flora and Vegetation

Fauna and Habitat

Itineraries