Cortina - Canazei

Difficulty
Difficult
Elevation gain
3708 m
Start
Cortina d'Ampezzo
Arrival
Cortina d'Ampezzo

One of the most challenging routes through the famous passes that have often hosted the Dolomite stage of the Giro d’Italia. Your efforts will be rewarded with breathtaking panoramas of enchanting beauty and highly evocative views of some of the most famous peaks of the Dolomites. You will also pass through various mountain villages, with their own peculiar characteristics, which are fun to discover.

From the Cortina d’Ampezzo bus station, take the SR 48 towards Falzarego Pass. Once at Pocol, pass Hotel Villa Argentina and turn left towards Giau Pass

After a challenging 15-km hairpin climb, you will reach the pass (2,236 m), where you can enjoy the spectacular view over the Dolomites and admire a large and enchanting pasture in bloom.

 

Begin the steep descent to Caprile, through the village of Selva di Cadore, Caprile and Sottoguda, an ancient village at the foot of the Marmolada in the municipality of Rocca Pietore and winner of the prestigious award for “One of Italy's most Beautiful Villages” in 2016. It is characterised by numerous “tabièi”, wooden barns common in the Dolomite area and typical of Ladin culture, and famous for working wrought iron. 

 

Climb up towards Malga Ciapela, the valley station for the cable car up to the Marmolada, the highest peak in the Dolomites at 3,343 m and historic site of the Great War. Continue towards Canazei through the challenging bends of Fedaia Pass (2,057 m), remembering the achievements of the great champions of modern cycling. Skirt Lake Fedaia and continue towards Canazei, cradle of ancient Ladin culture, which is clearly visible in the town's typical architecture. 

 

From Canazei, continue up the tortuous Pordoi Pass (2,239 m), located between the Sella and Marmolada Groups, and descend towards Arabba, the main tourist hub in the Fodom Valley. The pass is very famous among amateur cyclists not only for its beautiful landscape but also because it has been climbed as part of the Giro d’Italia since the 1940s and has often been the Cima Coppi (highest point of the Giro). Continue towards Falzarego Pass via Andraz castle, a fortification dating back to the 11th century where a narrow road winds its way through the “tabià”, the wooden barns typical of these valleys, and other characteristics dwellings. The town of Castello is home to the famous 17th-century church of SS. Trinità and a medieval castle.

 

From here, begin the final climb to Falzarego Pass (2,109 m) located between Lagazuoi and Col Gallina. Falzarego, with its endless curves and steep climbs set against breathtaking scenery, is one of the historic passes in the Dolomites stages of the Giro d’Italia, made famous by the achievements of the strongest climbers of all time.

 

Having admired the panorama, continue with a pleasant descent into Cortina d’Ampezzo where you can admire the Tofana, the Cinque Torri and finally the Ampezzo Valley from above. 

Downloads

Rest points

passo Giau, passo Fedaia, passo Pordoi, rifugio Col Gallina loc. passo Falzarego, Hotel Argentina e Piccolo Pocol loc. Pocol.

Variations

at the end of the decent from passo Giau, at Colle Santa Lucia, turn right for the direct return up to the Falzarego mountain pass.

Info

Length
120,70 km