Col dala Pieres Peak Hike in Val Gardena, Dolomites, Italy

The day hike to the Rifugio Stevia mountain hut and the Col dala Pieres (also written Col dla Pieres and Col dala Piëres) summit (2747 m) is one of the finest hiking tours in the Dolomites.

While most people visiting Val Gardena make a beeline for the Seceda Ridgeline, only a few know about this exciting, albeit challenging alternative in Puez-Odle Nature Park.

This hike delivers mesmerizing views of Sassolungo/Langkofel, Sella Group, and the famous Odle/Geisler peaks from an entirely fresh perspective.

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Col dala Pieres Hiking Map

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Essential Trail Info

Trailhead | The hike begins at the Col Raiser gondola mountain station. If you’re traveling by car, drive to the Col Raiser valley station in Santa Cristina, Val Gardena. There’s a large paid parking lot at the valley station with 217 spaces. 

How to Get to Col Raiser by bus | From other destinations in Val Gardena, take bus 350 or bus 471 to the Dosses stop in Santa Cristina. Check out this Val Gardena bus schedule for transit times. When the Col Raiser gondola is operating, there’s a free shuttle which runs between Dosses and the valley station. The shuttle runs from from 8:30 am to 12 pm.

Hiking Season | Late June – Late October, depending on snow conditions. Time your visit with the Col Raiser gondola summer operating times. Without the gondola ascent and descent, this hike would be impossibly long (at least 11 hours).

Difficulty | This is a challenging hike due to the rugged terrain and exposure. A head for heights is absolutely essential. If this hike sounds a bit too difficult, I recommend hiking the Steviola Plateau trail instead.

Trail Variations | If the ascent to Col dala Pieres via Forcella Piza is already quite challenging, I recommend returning to Rifugio Firenze along the same trail.

Where to Eat | Rifugio Firenze

Responsible Hiking | This hike is located in Puez-Odle Nature Park, a protected UNESCO World Heritage Site. Flying drones, camping, lighting fires, picking flowers is strictly prohibited.

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Col dala Pieres Trail Description

Col Raiser Mountain Station to Rifugio Firenze (25 minutes)

Purchase a round-trip gondola ticket. If you’re an Alpine Club Member, show your card, and you’ll receive a very small discount. 

Starting at the Col Raiser gondola top station, follow trail 4 and hike 25 minutes to Rifugio Firenze/Regensburger Hütte (2037 m), a lovely mountain refuge at the base of Mount Stevia.

This gravel path is ever-so-slightly downhill.

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Rifugio Firenze to Forcella Piza/Pizascharte (1 hour)

At Rifugio Firenze, the signpost indicates 2 hours to Rifugio Stevia and 2:30 hours to Col dala Pieres. 

Walk across the outdoor terrace of Rifugio Firenze and descend trail 1, a wide gravel track.

Keep your eyes out for trail 17B, a narrow path that veers left into the forest.

Ascend trail 17B all the way to Forcella Piza (Pizascharte, Furcela Piza), the saddle between Muntejela (2643 m) and Mont De Stevia (2555 m).

The ascent to Forcella Piza takes an hour. 17B initially leads gently uphill through the forest. When you clear the tree line, the path continues to ascend towards a rock wall (Muntejela and Mont De Stevia).

The final stretch to the mountain pass traverses a scree slope, which is heavily bolstered with timber reinforcements.

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Forcella Piza to Rifugio Stevia (20 minutes)

When you get to the Piza saddle, you can head left right away to start the ascent to the Col dala Pieres summit. Alternatively, you can turn right in order to detour to Rifugio Stevia (Stevia Hütte / Ütia de Stevia).

Even though you’ll have to backtrack to this very point to continue the hike, I recommend hiking to Rifugio Stevia for lunch, or just a drink.

It takes about 20 minutes to walk down to the mountain refuge. The views of Sassolungo (Langkofel), the Sella Group, and Cir Peaks are just fabulous.

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Rifugio Stevia to Col dala Pieres (1:30 hours)

From the hut, return to the Piza saddle and continue northeast to Col dala Pieres (2747 m), signed 1 hour.

Initially, trail 17 follows the contours of the ridge on a level path.

Though the terrain gets rockier, the ascent to the summit is moderate.

In every direction, peaks and ridges create a multi-layered mountainscape. The jagged Odle (Geisler) peaks are ever conspicuous.

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Col dala Pieres to Forcella Forces de Sieles (45 minutes)

From the summit of Col dala Pieres, the trail continues north along the mountain ridge.

This level trail will eventually dip over the ridge in the direction of Forcella Forces de Sieles (2505 m).

This section is very steep and exposed. Sections of the route are secured with fixed cables.

This is the hardest part of the hike and it requires surefootedness and comfort scrambling down crumbling limestone-Dolomite terrain.

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Forcella Forces de Sieles to Rifugio Firenze (1 hour)

Descend the crumbling Forces de Sieles gully, merging with the Piz Duleda trail.

When you get to level ground, continue along trail 2 in the direction of the Geisler peaks. The long stretch across Plan dla Roa and down Val dla Roa to Rifugio Firenze is spellbinding. The Odle (Geisler) peaks steal the show with their brilliant dagger-like formation.

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Rifugio Firenze to Col Raiser Mountain Station (20 minutes)

Take the exact route back to the Col Raiser gondola.

Be mindful of the time, as the Col Raiser operating hours vary throughout the season. The last descent is typically between 4:15 pm and 4:45 pm.

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Where to Stay in Val Gardena

Selva

Budget | Hotel Garni Morene is a clean and comfortable family-run guesthouse, set in an idyllic location outside the town center of Selva. Stay here for the unbeatable price, mountain views, and hospitality. Breakfast included.

Budget | Garni Sunela B&B is an immaculate bed and breakfast with spacious rooms, a spa, bar, parking garage, and a phenomenal breakfast, including fresh eggs from the resident chickens. Check-in is only until 7 pm.

Midrange | Garni Hotel Bel Vert is a B&B in Selva, located on the Biancavieve Slope, outside the town center. Rooms are beautiful and spacious. There’s even a small spa. 3 nights minimum stay.

Midrange-Luxury | Hotel Freina is a welcoming family-run hotel in Selva with an excellent on-site restaurant (serving vegan, vegetarian, gluten-free options), wonderful spa, and free garage parking. 

Luxury | Linder Cycling Hotel stands out with its bold architecture, stylish urban accents, and laid-back atmosphere. Beyond the captivating design, Linder Cycling Hotel boasts excellent facilities, including a rooftop terrace, indoor pool, bar and the à la carte Luis Eatery restaurant.

Luxury | Hotel Tyrol is a traditional alpine hotel centrally located in Selva. The hotel’s restaurant offers creative interpretations of Ladin tradition with a Tuscan twist. Stay here for the cozy ambience, the wellness area (saunas, indoor and outdoor heated pool, indoor and outdoor whirlpool, salt cave with chromotherapy), and comfortable rooms. Outdoor parking is free and garage parking is an extra charge. 

Midrange – Luxury |  Hotel Rodella  occupies an idyllic location on a hill overlooking Selva di Val Gardena and surrounded by meadows. The hotel’s elevation affords unbeatable views of Val Gardena and the surrounding mountains. We loved watching the sunset from the hotel: it feels like you have VIP tickets to the Sella and Langkofel burning Dolomites show. Hotel Rodella is also a convenient 10-minute walk to the Col Raiser Gondola valleys station, which makes Puez-Odle Nature Park destinations like Rifugio Firenze, Seceda, Col dala Pieres extremely accessible. Rooms are bright and comfortable. And, the newly-renovated wellness area is stunning.

5-star Luxury | Hotel Granbaita Dolomites is an ode to alpine elegance. This stately hotel pampers guests with its lavish rooms, extensive spa area (7 saunas, indoor-outdoor pool, fitness room, spa), and decadent tasting menus. Book half board. 

Look for accommodation in Selva di Val Gardena.

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Santa Cristina

Budget | Hotel Garni Ruscel is a great-value bed and breakfast in Santa Cristina. 4 nights minimum stay in high season. 

Budget | Bed & Breakfast Kaserer is a charming B&B with clean, traditional rooms and excellent hospitality. 3 nights minimum stay. 

Budget | Garni Le Chalet is a traditional guesthouse in Santa Cristina. Stay here for the cozy atmosphere and affordable room rate. Breakfast is included.

Budget | Smart Hotel Saslong is a no-frills hotel in Santa Cristina featuring modern, minimalist interiors decorated in local wood. Guests have access to a self-service bar, free parking (indoor and outdoor), and on-site restaurant serving local cuisine. This is a perfect place to stay if you’re traveling with friends. Book breakfast!

Midrange | Charme Hotel Uridl is a family-run hotel set in a mountain chalet dating back to the 17th century. Stay here for the cozy and quaint atmosphere and delicious breakfast buffets and dinners.

Top Choice – Luxury | Dorfhotel Beludei is the finest hotel in Santa Cristina and one of the best hotels in the Dolomites. With inspiring mountain views, hiking trails right on the doorstep, and a chef that puts ingenious and creative riffs on regional cuisine, this darling hotel is quite the Dolomites dream. Breakfast, an afternoon snack, and dinner are included in the rate. Read our Dorfhotel Beludei hotel review.

Luxury | Hotel Touring Dolomites is an excellent, family-run hotel with a new spa, rooftop pool, modern rooms, and a fine dining restaurant (half board available). 3-5 nights minimum stay.

Look for accommodation in Santa Cristina.

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Val Gardena Guides

Itinerary:

• Val Gardena Summer Itinerary

Travel Guides:

• Best Hotels in Val Gardena
• Oritisei Travel Guide

Hiking Trails:

• Best Hikes in Val Gardena
• Steviola Plateau Hike
• Resciesa to Seceda
• Seceda Ridgeline Hike
• Monte Pic
• Lake Pisciadù Hike
• Piz Duleda
• Vallunga Valley and Val de Chedul
• Sassolungo Circuit Trail

Via Ferratas:

• Via Ferrata Oskar Schuster (Grade B/C)
• Gran Cir (Grade A)

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