Sexten is the best destination for winter hiking and snowshoeing in the Dolomites. Not only are there prepared hiking trails, which you can easily follow independently, but also many snowshoe routes.
This proposed Sexten winter itinerary is based on our two winter trips to Sexten in January and February. It combines winter walks along well-groomed trails with guided snowshoe hikes, which are free to join if you stay in a partner hotel of Alpinschule Drei Zinnen, such as Alpenwellnesshotel St. Veit or Berghotel Sexten.
Most winter hiking routes in Sexten steer clear of the 3 Zinnen Dolomites Ski Resort, allowing you to enjoy quiet, unspoiled landscapes without the distraction of ski infrastructure. Piste crossings are rare, making for a tranquil winter hiking experience.
- When to Go: December – March
- Where to Stay: Partner accommodation of Alpinschule Drei Zinnen in Sexten
- What to Bring: reusable water bottle, hiking clothing, beanie, gloves. Snowshoes, hiking poles, and avalanche safety gear are provided by Alpinschule Drei Zinnen
How to Book this Sexten Winter Hiking Trip
Accommodation | Book 5-7 nights in a partner accommodation of Alpinschule Drei Zinnen: Hotel Schönblick (3-star hotel), Hotel Strobl (3-star hotel), Hotel Gruber (3-star hotel), Gasthof Panorama (3-star hotel), Alpenwellnesshotel St. Veit (4-star hotel), Berghotel Sexten (4-star hotel), Hotel Alpenblick (4-star hotel), Hotel Dolomitenhof (4-star hotel), Hotel Monika (5-star hotel), Im Wiesengrund Apartments (self-catering), Rocca Apartments (self-catering), Reidenhof (self-catering), or Ariane’s Guesthouse (self-catering)
Car Travel | It’s essential to rent a car with winter tires. When searching for a rental car on the DiscoverCars.com platform, enter your travel dates and pick-up location first. Once the results appear, select “Winter tires” under “Special offers” in the left column.
Car-Free Travel | A car is not necessary, as it’s possible to reach all destinations by bus. If you stay at Alpenwellnesshotel St. Veit, you can request a transfer to a trailhead if necessary. Alpenwellnesshotel St. Veit also provides a free pick-up and drop-off service from the San Candido train station.
Packing List | We recommend packing microspikes and a reusable water bottle for this trip. Snowshoes, hiking poles, and avalanche safety equipment (if required) are provided directly by Alpinschule Drei Zinnen, ensuring you are properly equipped. If you stay in Alpenwellnesshotel St. Veit, you can rent (for free) hiking poles, hiking backpacks, and snowshoes. You can purchase microspikes from the hotel shop.
Sexten Winter Hiking Itinerary
If you prefer, you can easily swap any hiking day for a day of skiing in 3 Zinnen Dolomites Ski Resort or cross-country skiing.
Good to know | Managed mountain huts often have rest days. Do check their opening hours before setting off. For example, Talschlusshütte and Klammbachalm are closed on Thursdays.
| Day | Activity | Tips |
| Sunday | Arrive in Sexten Fischleintal/Val Fiscalina Winter Hike (prepared winter trail) Each lunch or dessert at Talschlusshütte | Register for tomorrow’s snowshoe hike at your hotel’s reception Depending on how long you’d like to walk, you can start the Val Fiscalina walk in Sexten, Moos, the Rotwand cableway valley station, or even Parkplatz Fischleinbodenhütte. |
| Monday | Guided Snowshoe Hike with Alpinschule Drei Zinnen | |
| Tuesday | Stiergarten – Klammbachalm – Nemes Hut – Signaue hike (prepared winter trail) Eat lunch at Klammbachalm | Drive or take the bus to Signaue and take the Drei Zinnen cableway up to Stiergarten. This 11-km hike is mostly downhill (69 meters up / 718 meters down). Reverse route if you’d rather ascend. Register for tomorrow’s snowshoe hike at your hotel’s reception |
| Wednesday | Guided Snowshoe Hike with Alpinschule Drei Zinnen | |
| Thursday | Innerfeldtal/Val Campo di Dentro hike (prepared winter trail) Eat lunch at Dreischusterhütte | Register for tomorrow’s snowshoe hike at your hotel’s reception. Order a packed lunch for tomorrow’s hike. |
| Friday | Guided Snowshoe Hike to Rifugio Locatelli & Tre Cime di Lavaredo | Pack a lunch for today’s hike |
| Saturday | Depart Sexten |
Guided Snowshoe Hikes in Sexten
When you stay in a partner accommodation of Alpinschule Dreizinnen Sexten, you can join the guided snowshoe hikes that take place on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays, free of charge. You just have to register the day before at your hotel reception.
Why join a group snowshoe hike with a certified guide? The three biggest reasons are safety, navigation, and equipment.
Routes are carefully chosen based on current conditions, weather, and avalanche risk. In winter, conditions can shift quickly, and if you’re unfamiliar with the area, it’s extremely difficult to accurately assess those risks on your own.
Navigation is another major factor. Many winter snowshoe routes aren’t clearly marked, as they don’t always follow established summer hiking paths. A certified guide knows exactly where to go and how to keep the group safe.
Thirdly, when you join a guided group tour, all necessary equipment is provided: snowshoes, hiking poles, and avalanche safety equipment (if required).
Partner Accommodations of the Alpinschule Drei Zinnen for the Winter Season | Hotel Schönblick (3-star hotel), Hotel Strobl (3-star hotel), Hotel Gruber (3-star hotel), Biovita Hotel Alpi (3-star hotel), Panorama (3-star hotel), Hotel Waldheim (3-star hotel), Alpenwellnesshotel St. Veit (4-star hotel), Berghotel Sexten (4-star hotel), Hotel Alpenblick (4-star hotel), Hotel Dolomitenhof (4-star hotel), Hotel Monika (5-star hotel), Im Wiesengrund Apartments (self-catering), Rocca Apartments (self-catering), and Schuischta Mountain Apartments (self-catering), Reidenhof (self-catering), and Ariane’s Guesthouse (self-catering)
Our Experience
During our stay in Alpenwellnesshotel St. Veit, we joined the guided snowshoe winter hike from Kreuzbergpass to Pfandleck.
At the designated time, participants from various partner hotels gathered in the car park near the Kreuzbergpass bus stop to check-in with the Alpinschule Drei Zinnen (Three Peaks Alpine School). One guide distributed the necessary equipment for the excursion–snowshoes and hiking poles–while another guide helped everyone strap on their snowshoes.
Before we started, they provided a short multilingual briefing in German, Italian, and English.
The guides maintained a steady, sustainable pace up to Nemes Hut and continued up to the Pfandleck ridge. On the way back, we stopped at the managed Nemes Hut (cash only) for lunch. I ate a warm and spicy goulash soup, whilst the hut owner played the accordion. It was lovely!
The entire experience was relaxed and worry-free. Given our limited winter snowshoeing experience and basic knowledge of avalanche safety, we wouldn’t have been able to attempt a hike like this independently.
The group was made-up of active individuals, all in excellent shape and happy to be outdoors. During the excursion, I chatted with several hikers who told me they return to Sexten every winter specifically to take part in these guided hikes. Other hikers enjoy alternating ski days with winter hikes.
All in all, I can highly recommend joining the Alpinschule Drei Zinnen on any of their guided snowshoe hikes.
Snowshoeing Tips
- Bring water
- Bring a snack
- Bring cash for mountain huts
- Pack fresh clothing to change into (shirt & sweater) for the descent.
- Pack a lunch, or order a packed lunch from your hotel the night before. While some excursions lead to open mountain huts, others do not. If you join the hike to Rifugio Locatelli / Dreizinnen Hütte on Friday, you will need to bring your own lunch.
Where We Stayed
Alpenwellness Hotel St. Veit
Alpenwellness Hotel St. Veit is a family-owned, third-generation hotel where genuine warmth and thoughtful hospitality come naturally.
This is a hotel for active travelers. With ski-in ski-out access, complimentary hiking gear (snowshoes, backpacks, and snowshoes), and three guided hikes per week, it makes exploring the mountains effortless.
The hotel also stands out for its open-minded and thoughtful approach to food. In a region where mountain cuisine traditionally centers on meat and dairy, it is refreshing to find a historic hotel so committed to accommodating vegetarians and guests with gluten or lactose intolerances. When dietary needs are communicated in advance, the kitchen team ensures that every guest enjoys the same level of care and creativity.
Sustainability is woven into daily life here. Food waste is reduced through fermentation, energy use is lowered with heat recovery systems and solar panels, and many staff members walk or bike to work.
The hotel’s philosophy rests on four pillars: restful sleep, healthy nutrition, exercise in the fresh mountain air, and deeply relaxing moments of well-being. In short, Alpenwellness Hotel St. Veit is a hotel for those who want to live well in the mountains. Everything is done with care, intention, and heart.
Check rates of Alpenwellness Hotel St. Veit.
Learn more: Alpenwellness Hotel St. Veit Review
Dolomites Winter Travel Guides
Sexten:
Dolomites in Winter:
Skiing in the Dolomites:
- Skiing in the Dolomites
- Skiing in Val Gardena
- Skiing in Alta Badia
- Skiing Kronplatz
- Sella Ronda Ski Circuit
- Ski-in Ski-out Hotels Dolomites
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