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Are you planning a trip to the Italian Dolomites? Here’s the ultimate guide to hiking the Seceda Ridgeline – the most dramatic peaks in the region!
Nestled among the rugged peaks of the Dolomites, the Seceda Ridgeline captivates those willing to hike up the steep trail. This hike offers one of the most beautiful views in Val Gardena, Italy. This was one of my favorite hikes during our trip to the Dolomites mountain range. My favorite part is that the peaks look a little unassuming during the hike, so only those who make it all the way enjoy these dramatic cliff views.
In this guide, I will share practical tips, and answer questions you may have about how to hike the Seceda Ridgeline. In addition, I will share some important information on the hiking location and the best time to visit Seceda. While you may not be able to hike up here all year round, the Seceda Ridgeline is also a popular ski spot. I’ll show you how to get to the starting point by car and public transportation and what you should bring on the hike. I will also present some different options for hiking up since you can take various cable cars to shorten the hike. Lastly, I’ll discuss where to stay nearby.
Before visiting the Dolomites I wasn’t sure that I would even hike up here. However, I am so happy that I did because it ended up being one of my hiking highlights in Italy! I hope you decide to hike up here as well because I am sure you will love the Seceda Ridgeline.
If you are planning a trip to Northern Italy, then make sure to check out the post below.
Read more: One Week in Northern Italy
FAQs about the Seceda Ridgeline
How long does it take to hike Seceda?
The hike duration to Seceda Ridgeline can vary based on the chosen trail and your hiking pace. On average, the hike can take approximately 2 to 3 hours to reach the summit from the base. However, it’s advisable to factor in extra time for breaks, taking in the scenery, and enjoying the overall experience. I recommend taking a cable car half of the way up, then it’s a 1-hour hike to reach the top.
Can you hike Seceda without the cable car?
Yes, it is possible to hike to Seceda Ridgeline without taking the cable car. There are several hiking trails leading to Seceda, allowing you to access the ridge on foot. If you happen to visit outside of the summer season, this will likely be your only way to reach the top as many cable cars will be closed. Keep in mind that these trails vary in difficulty, so it’s recommended to choose a route that matches your hiking skills and fitness level.
How long is the cable car ride to Seceda?
The cable car ride to Seceda typically takes around 15 to 20 minutes, providing a scenic ascent to the ridge. However, this will depend on the cable car you choose, as there are two different options here. There is a cable car going all the way up to the Seceda Ridgeline and will take around 20 minutes in total. The shorter one is around 10 minutes and from there, you hike up to the peaks. The cable car is not only a convenient way to reach the starting point of your hike but also offers breathtaking views of the surrounding Dolomite landscape. Be sure to check the current schedule and any operational considerations before planning your visit.
This post is all about the ultimate guide to hiking the Seceda Ridgeline in 2024
Visiting the Seceda Ridgeline – Important Information
Location: Val Gardena, Puez Odle Nature Park, Italy.
Elevation: 2,500 meters.
Allowed: Dogs (on a leash), cycling (on designated routes).
Not Allowed: Campfires, picking plants, hunting
Grey Areas: When it comes to drones, there is conflicting information online, overall you will see many people using their drones in the Dolomites. However, it appears to not be allowed without the necessary permissions. Please make sure to read up on the local drone laws here.
Camping is also a grey area as generally camping in tents is forbidden in the Dolomites, however, there are certain places where wild camping is allowed. In general, campers are to stay in official campsites or stay in huts at the top of mountains. I recommend staying at huts so you can enjoy amenities like a toilet and fresh water. Make sure to research camp spots well before attempting to camp in a place that is not allowed within the Dolomites National Park.
How to get to Seceda Ridgeline
Arriving by car:
Since there are several ways to reach the Seceda Ridgeline I will explain both options below.
Ortisei Sankt Ulrich:
From Orteisei you can take a cable car all of the way up to the Seceda Ridgeline. To do this you can take the Ortisei – Furnes cable car and then switch to the Furnes – Seceda cable car. The cable car station is called “Funivie Seceda Spa” and you can find a parking garage in the facility. If you want to make sure you reach the right parking lot, then put “Parkgarage Seceda – Parcheggio coperto Seceda” into your navigation system.
Parking here costs 1.90€ per hour and the maximum rate per day will be 13€. The return ticket for the cable car is 39.50€ for adults and 21€ for children under 16 years. It is free to bring children under the age of 8 with you in the cable car. You can also purchase a one-way ticket that costs 30€ and then hike back down. Click here for more information from the official site.
Important Note:
The parking lot gets filled up quickly so I recommend that you arrive before 9 AM to secure a spot. If all parking spots are filled up here, then you can search for another parking lot in Ortisei and then walk over to the cable car station.
While many people take the cable car from here up to Seceda Ridgeline, you can also hike up from this side of the mountain. If you would like to hike the whole way up, then you can also park here for the day and take the Str. Val d’Anna trail. You can find the exact route in the map embedded below. If you choose to take this route, expect a hike of around 3.5 hours to reach the top.
Col Raiser:
Another way to reach the Seceda peaks is by taking the Col Raiser route. The cable car station is called “Umlaufbahn Col Raiser” and there is a parking lot in the facility. To reach the parking lot simply put “Parcheggio Col Raiser” into your navigation system. It will cost around 5-7€ euros to park here for the day as prices tend to change slightly depending on the season.
The cable car will take you to Almhotel Col Raiser and a return ticket costs 28€ for adults and 17€ for children between 6-13 years old. It is free to bring children under 6 years with you. Keep in mind that this option brings you just over halfway of the hike up and allows you to shave a lot of the elevation from your hike. If you would like to hike down the whole way, then an uphill ticket will cost 19€. Click here for more information from the official site.
Important Note:
Just like Ortisei, the cable car station at Col Raiser fills up quickly and therefore it is recommended to arrive here before 9 AM.
You can also hike the whole way up to Seceda Ridgeline from the Col Raiser station. It will take you around 2.5 – 3 hours to reach the top based on your fitness level and the trail you choose. We personally took the cable car to the Almhotel Col Raiser since we wanted to hike, but our legs were tired from previous hikes in the Dolomites. I recommend this option because then you have enough time to combine a hike to Seceda with other attractions nearby like Seiser Alm.
Which route to pick?
When considering which route you should pick there are several things to take into consideration. If you are not a fan of hiking and would like a way to reach the top of the Seceda Ridgeline with a cable car then I recommend coming from Ortisei. If you are looking for a medium-challenging hike then definitely take the Col Raiser route. It will be a challenging hike if you start from the bottom and you should expect to spend a full day here.
If you would like to hike up, but skip the forest parts and only hike with beautiful views over Val Gardena, then take the Col Raiser cable car and hike the rest of the way up. There is another small cable car on the trail that goes to the top of the Seceda Ridgeline but it is not always open. If the trail gets too difficult, you can consider taking the cable car up again.
When it comes to the best views, then the Col Raiser is a clear winner. On the trail on this side of the mountain, you will be rewarded with stunning views of the Val Gardena region and general alpine landscapes in Italy. In addition, there are many huts on the route so you can always stop to enjoy a drink with a view. Lastly, my favorite part of this route is that the peaks look unassuming on the hike up, and it is only when you reach the top that you realize how dramatic and impressive they are.
Due to these reasons, the full hiking guide below will focus on the Col Raiser trail. However, in the embedded map you can find the hiking route from Ortisei so you also have that option if you would like.
Arriving by public transportation:
Col Raiser:
The directions to Col Raiser will be given from Bolzano since this is the largest city in the region. If you are coming from other cities in Italy such as Trento then you can take a regional train to Bolzano. From Bolzano, you can find bus number 350 departing from the station called “Bolzano, Autostazione” right next to the central train station in the direction of Val Gardena. The bus departs at the 28th minute of every hour from 7:28 until 19:28.
The journey will take just over one hour and 20 minutes and you need to get off at the “St. Christina, Dosses” stop. From here, you can walk 15 minutes to the Col Raiser cable car station. Alternatively, you can also take the regional bus number 358 driving to Col Raiser every 20 minutes.
Ortisei:
You can take the same bus number 350 from Bolzano to Ortisei. The journey will take around 1 hour and you will need to get off at “Ortisei, Piazza S. Antonio“. From here it’s just a quick 7-minute walk to the cable car station.
When to visit Seceda Ridgeline
It is technically possible to hike up to Seceda Ridgeline from late May until early November. Considering the peaks are at an altitude of 2,500 meters, visiting early or late in the season means you may have some snow on the trail. If you wish to avoid this and aim for the best weather to be able to enjoy the views, then I recommend visiting in the peak summer months.
Summer:
The best time to hike up to the Seceda Ridgeline would be from late June until early October. We hiked up at the beginning of June and while the trail was clear of snow and green, many of the mountain huts were still closed. While it didn’t bother us, you may want to take this into consideration. Mountain huts in the Dolomites are usually open from late June until late September and make for wonderful stops and stays on hikes.
In addition, you may want to take into consideration the opening dates of the cable cars. The Col Raiser cable car operates from the 26th of May until the 2nd of November. This may change depending on the year so click here for official updates. Similarly, the cable car from Ortisei is typically open from the 27th of May until the 5th of November. You can find their official updates here.
Best Time of Day:
The best time of day to visit the Seceda Ridgeline is around midday, as this is when the sky is typically the clearest. On most mornings in the Dolomites, you will experience some fog, but it often clears up by the late morning hours. Therefore, I recommend starting the hike at around 9 AM at the latest so that you can be at the top of Seceda Ridgeline by midday. Make sure to take some time to enjoy the Seceda panoramic views all around you. If you start your hike in the morning, you can still have time to explore another area in the Dolomites in the afternoon. I would recommend visiting Sieser Alm since it’s so close.
What to wear on the hike to Seceda Ridgeline
The hike to the Seceda Rideline is quite steep, so below is a list of items to make sure to bring with you on the hike.
Clothing Essentials:
Hiking pants: Ideally bring hiking pants that can be made into long shorts, in case it gets warm.
Short-sleeved Dri-fit shirt: The weather in the Dolomites changes a lot, so make sure to wear several layers starting with a short-sleeved shirt and then pairing it with a longer sleeve on top.
Rain Jacket: Even if the weather report says it will be sunny, make sure to bring a rain jacket just in case! If you have rain pants, then it could be a great idea to bring them as well.
Hiking shoes: Proper hiking shoes are a must when hiking in the Dolomites. Although the trail up to the Seceda Ridgeline is fairly large, you will be walking close to the edge at the top so you want to make sure you have a good grip on your shoes.
General Essentials:
Hiking poles: While these are not a must, they are highly recommended. If you do not have a high fitness level, I urge you to bring hiking poles to help you on the trail. Otherwise, these could be a great idea for all hikers. Not only can they give you a little support on the ascent, but they come in extra handy during the descent for stabilization and to reduce the stress put on your knees.
Water: Make sure to bring enough water! This hike is steep and the only way to refill your bottles is by buying water in the huts (if they are open). Aim to bring at least 3-4 liters of water per person.
Food: While there are several mountain huts on the trail, if you are looking to stay within budget then make sure to bring enough food with you. In addition, the mountain huts in Italy do not always have enough options to cater to various dietary restrictions. If you are vegan or gluten-free then I recommend bringing your own food just in case. Also, if you are planning to rely on food at the huts, then make sure to check that they are open in advance.
Towel: A dri-fit towel is an essential that I always carry with me, even when there is no swimming involved in a hike. It can always come in handy if you want to sit down on wet or muddy grass.
Rain cover for your bag: If it starts to rain, there aren’t a lot of places to hide on the trail and find cover. Therefore, I highly recommend bringing a rain cover for your bag to protect your valuables. Bringing a rain cover for my bag has saved my camera from being ruined several times!
Hiking Details (Col Raiser Trail)
Before going into the detailed hiking trail to reach the Seceda Ridgeline, I have listed some general statistics regarding the hike. In addition, you can find an interactive map with different interest points and the marked trail for your use on the hike. Please note that this map does not work offline, so you can only access it while you have service.
Distance: ~ 8 km if using the cable car / ~ 20 km if hiking from the bottom.
Difficulty: Medium / Challenging depending on fitness level.
Time needed: 3 – 4 hours if using the cable car / 6 – 9 hours if going from the bottom.
Elevation gain: ~ 376 meters if using the cable car / ~ 974 meters from the bottom.
Type of trail: Out-and-back (same trail).
Hiking Details to Seceda Ridgeline
(step-by-step directions)
Col Raiser Cable Car Station to Almhotel Col Raiser
Cable Car Option:
If you decide to take the cable car halfway up, then all you need to do is buy your tickets upon your arrival and hop into one of the gondolas. While you could buy a single ticket going in one direction, the price difference between a single trip and a round trip is not big so I would recommend getting a round trip. The route that the gondola covers is mostly a forest trail. That means that you will go down a longer route without much reward when you can spend those hours finding more amazing gems in the Dolomites. My recommendation would be to combine a hike to the Seceda Ridgeline with a visit to Seiser Alm which is the mountain valley on the other side of Ortisei.
The best views in this section are definitely to be found along the gondola ride as it gains height, and at the top of the Almhotel Col Raiser. In general, the views along this hike are incredibly underrated. In addition to the famous peaks, you will be surrounded by picturesque valley views along the whole hike!
Hiking Option:
If you would like to hike up and down the whole trail up to Seceda Ridgeline then I still recommend starting at the Col Raiser Cable Car station. From here there are two route options. The fastest route and the one I would recommend is called “Str. Raiser” and it will take you roughly an hour and a half to reach the Almhotel Col Raiser. This section is 3.5 kilometers long and has an elevation gain of 564 meters. The reason I recommend this route is because you reach the same ‘starting point’ as the hikers taking the cable car. The views from the hotel platform are absolutely gorgeous and therefore I think you should take this route.
The other route includes a short walk crossing the town of Santa Christina Valgardena. Then the route starts at the intersection by Via Plesdinaz. There is a bus stop here called “Cristauta” so you can take a bus directly to the start of the trail if you wish. This route takes around 2 hours and is around 6.3 kilometers long, with an elevation gain of 610 meters. If you choose to take this route, you can either take a right at Baita Gamsblut Hütte to reach the Almhotel Col Raiser or continue straight. If you choose to continue straight, you will join the other hikers from Alhotel Col Raiser later on, by Baita Cuca Cuca Hütte.
Almhotel Col Raiser to Seceda Ridgeline
The route from the Almhotel Col Raiser is fairly simple as there are lots of signs pointing you in the direction of the Seceda Ridgeline. In addition, you can see the peaks in the distance during the whole hike, so you can always ensure you are headed in that direction. One important note is that the peaks look completely different from the trail than at the top. The mountain range you see right behind the Almhotel Col Raiser is the Seceda peaks, they just look very different from this angle. This is one of my favorite things about this hike because you won’t be able to enjoy the famous view unless you hike all the way up. I think it makes the hike all the more worth it!
Overall, this section of the hike takes around one hour and 15 minutes to reach the Seceda Ridgeline. The total distance is 4 kilometers and you will have to climb up an elevation gain of 376 meters. Make sure to stop along the way to enjoy the surrounding views because they are truly breathtaking! There are numerous photo spots at the top that you can find marked in the embedded map above. When you are ready to head back, simply take the same trail to the cable car or all of the way down to the station.
Where to eat:
On the way down, I highly recommend stopping at one of the mountain huts for a drink or something to eat. The mountain hut culture in the Alps is one of my favorite things about hiking in the region. Personally, I recommend stopping at Baita Sofie Hütte. Not only are the reviews great, but they also have lounger chairs across the grass overlooking Val Gardena. This has to be one of the best places to get a drink with a view in the Dolomites!
Where to stay while hiking to Seceda Ridgeline
If you are planning to stay several days in the Dolomites UNESCO National Park, then you will typically have a 1 – 2 hour drive to the various hiking locations. I would honestly recommend staying in the area where you expect to be hiking and exploring the most. If you want to stay in one of the most picturesque villages in the Dolomites, then I recommend staying in Santa Maddalena. This a breathtaking place in the Dolomites with views of the Odle Group. Additionally, it’s the same mountain range as the peaks you find at Seceda, so you will be able to see them from below, and then from up close!
Best mid-range hotel: Taubers Unterwirt Aktiv & Vitalhotel
Best luxury hotel: Forestis Dolomites
Even though Santa Maddalena lies on the other side of these peaks, to reach the starting point of the hike you have to drive around them. Therefore, it takes around 50 minutes to drive to the Col Raiser station but this is not considered a long drive in the Dolomites.
I hope that this guide has helped plan your trip to the Dolomites, and convinced you to add the Seceda Ridgeline hike to your itinerary. It’s honestly one of the most beautiful views in Italy so I really hope that you love it as much as I do. If you have any questions regarding the hike then feel free to let me know below!
