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

While most people visiting Val Gardena make a beeline for the Seceda Ridgeline, only a few know about this exciting 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.

Rifugio Stevia and Col dala Pieres Day Hike

Trailhead: Col Raiser Gondola Mountain Station
Distance: 13.7 km circuit
Time Needed: 6 -7 hours
Elevation Gain/Loss: 1220 meters ascending/descending
Difficulty: Difficult
Trails: 4, 3, 17b, 17, 2, 2-3, 4
Route: Col Raiser Top Station (2106 m) – Rifugio Firenze (2037 m) – Forcella Piza (2489 m) – Rifugio Stevia (2312 m) – Forcella Piza (2489 m) – Col dala Pieres (2747 m) – Forcella Forces de Sieles (2505 m) – Rifugio Firenze (2037 m) – Col Raiser Top Station (2106 m).
Where to Stay in Santa Cristina: Garni Le Chalet (budget), Smart Hotel Saslong (budget), Charme Hotel Uridl (midrange), Dorfhotel Beludei (luxury)
Where to Stay in Selva di Val Gardena: Hotel Garni Morene (budget), Hotel Rodella (midrange-luxury), Linder Cycling Hotel (luxury)

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Col dala Pieres Hiking Map

When to Hike to Rifugio Stevia and Col dala Pieres

Early June to mid-October. Time your visit with the Col Raiser gondola summer operating times. The Col Raiser gondola is generally open from late May until mid-October.

Without the gondola ascent and descent, this hike would be impossibly long (at least 11 hours).

Getting to the Rifugio Stevia Trailhead: Col Raiser Gondola

Car

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

Bus

If you’re traveling by transit, you can reach 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.

Col Raiser Gondola Prices

Purchase a round-trip ticket.

A round-trip ticket costs 23 EUR for adults and 15 EUR for kids (ages 6-13). If you’re an Alpine Club Member, show your card, and you’ll receive a 1 EUR discount.

Check current pricing.

Rifugio Stevia and Col dala Pieres Trail Description

Col Raiser Top Station to Rifugio Firenze/Regensburger Hütte (25 minutes)

Regensburger Hütte (Rifugio Firenze), Val Gardena, Dolomites — Regensburger Hütte / Rifugio Firenze

Starting at the Col Raiser gondola top station, you’ll hike 25 minutes to Regensburger Hütte, a lovely mountain refuge in Puez-Odle Nature Park. This easy path is ever-so-slightly downhill.

Rifugio Firenze to Forcella Piza/Pizascharte (1 hour)

Walking to 17B from Rifugio Firenze, Val Gardena, Dolomites

At Rifugio Firenze, the signpost indicates 2 hours to Rifugio Stevia and 2.5 hours to Col dala Pieres.

Walk across the outdoor terrace of Rifugio Firenze and follow the wide gravel path downhill. As you slowly descend along trail 3, enjoy the views of Langkofel.

Rifugio Stevia Day Hike, Val Gardena, Dolomites, Italy — Trail 3 leading from Rifugio Firenze

Keep your eyes out for 17B, a narrow trail that cuts left into the forest. You’ll take 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 treeline, 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 secured by wooden logs made into steps.

Trail 17B to Forcella Piza (Pizascharte, Furcela Piza), Val Gardena Dolomites — Trail 17B to Forcella Piza

Forcella Piza to Rifugio Stevia (20 minutes)

kaiserschmarrn at Rifugio Stevia, Val Gardena, Dolomites, Italy

View of Sassolungo / Langkofel from Rifugio Stevia

When you get to the Piza saddle, you can head left directly to the Col dala Pieres summit, or right to Rifugio Stevia (Stevia Hütte / Ütia de Stevia).

Even though you’ll have to backtrack to this very point to continue the hike, we recommend detouring 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.

Trail to Rifugo Stevia, Val Gardena, Italian Dolomites — Trail to Rifugo Stevia

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

Trail 17 to Col dala Pieres, Val Gardena, Dolomites, Italy

From the hut, head back the way you came and continue along Trail 17. At the Piza saddle, the sign indicates 1 hour to Col dala Pieres (2747 m). Following the ridgeline, the ascent to Col dala Pieres is very moderate. In every direction, peaks and ridgelines create a multi-layered masterpiece.

Hike to Col dala Pieres and Rifugio Stevia in Val Gardena, Italian Dolomites — Cir Peaks and Sella Group

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

Approaching Forcella Forces de Sieles, Val Gardena — Approaching Forcella Forces de Sieles

From the summit of Col dala Pieres, the trail continues along the mountain ridge, gifting you glorious views of the spikey Odle (Geisler) peaks. The level trail will eventually dip over the ridge at the saddle Forcella Forces de Sieles (2505 m). This section is quite steep.

Forcella Forces de Sieles to Rifugio Firenze (1 hour)

Geisler / Odle Peaks, Puez - Odle Nature Park, Val Gardena — View of Geiser (Odle) Peaks along Trail 2

In dry conditions, the descent from Forcella Forces de Sieles isn’t overly difficult. There are some ropes to aid your passage through tricky areas. But, as long as you have sturdy boots and hiking poles, it’s NBD. If you don’t have alpine hiking experience, forget what I said. Depending on your experience, this can be difficult.

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

Val Gardena Day Hike - Col Raiser to Col dala Pieres Circuit

Trail 2, Val Gardena Dolomites, Odle / Geisler Peaks

Rifugio Firenze to Col Raiser Top Station (20 minutes)

Take the exact route that you took coming here. The Col Raiser chairlift closes at 5:30 p.m., so unless you want to descend another 900 meters, try to catch it.

Read Next: Best Day Hikes in the Dolomites

Where to Stay in Val Gardena

Selva di Val Gardena

Hotel Rodella Bedroom, Dolomites in September — Hotel Rodella

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

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.

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.

Santa Cristina

Dorfhotel Beludei - Best hotels in Val Gardena — Dorfhotel Beludei

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.

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.

Look for accommodation in Santa Cristina.

Dolomites Hiking Essentials

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Rifugio Stevia and Col dala Pieres Day Hike, Val Gardena, South Tyrol, Dolomites, Italy

Rifugio Stevia and Col dala Pieres Day Hike, Val Gardena, Italian Dolomites

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There are 2 comments on this post

Feng
Apr 11, 2022 Reply

Thanks for the detailed information for this hike. I am interested but concerned about the operating schedule of the Col Raiser gondola, which is between 8:30AM and 5PM. The hike takes 6-7 hours to finish, and the gondola opens for only 8.5 hours, which does not leaves much room for error. Is it possible to drive from Ortisei to Col Raiser Top Station, and park the car there, then start the hike? This way I don't have to worry about gondola closed (after 5PM) and not able to get down, if I spent too much time on the hike.
- moonhoneytravel
  Apr 11, 2022 Reply
  
  Hi,
  There's no way to drive to the top station. I recommend arriving at the valley station 8:30 am to start the hike as early as possible. The actual hiking time without breaks is probably about 5:30 hours. There is sufficient time to tackle this hike within the operating times of the Col Raiser Gondola. But, you can skip the detour to Rifugio Stevia if you're anxious about the time.
  All the best,
  Sabrina