A walk to the Forcella Zumeles gully

Difficulty
Medium-easy
Time
2 h 30' (circa)
Start
Rifugio Son Forca
Arrival
Ristorante Rio Gere

From the car park, take the chair lift that runs from Rio Gere to the Son Forca mountain lodge, a distinctive and cosy structure at a height of 2,215 metres, just above the like-named pass, at the foot of the spur running down from Cima di Mezzo, one of the peaks of mount Cristallo. Its large panoramic terrace provides fine views of the mountains Sorapis, Croda da Lago and Tofane, and a close-up prospect of mount Cristallino d'Ampezzo.

From the mountain lodge, take the rough track that runs alongside it and carry on until you reach track n° 205, which brings you to the splendid gully Forcella Zumeles in about half an hour. On the way you will see, on your right, the famous steep Staunies couloir, and mount Cristallo in all its beauty. When you reach the gully, you will discover one of the finest viewpoints framing the entire Ampezzo valley, and you can admire the Larieto larch forest, the largest in Europe and one of the finest in the Dolomites, from above. In autumn you will see it in its orange, yellow and red livery, while in spring, the larch trees take on a light green hue. From the Forcella Zumeles gully, you can also see the Padeon valley, running down to Ospitale.

After enjoying the view, turn back on track n° 205 until you reach the intersection with track n° 203. Follow the latter until the intersection with track n° 206 which runs under the chair lift and looks onto the rock formation Perosego Federa, a distinctive stack which to a degree recalls the mountains of Colorado or Arizona in the United States. Continue on track n° 206 which runs through a lovely forest and pastures where you will see cattle grazing, taking you to the traditional mountain farm El Brite de Larieto. In the local dialect, “brite” means malga (alpine farm), while “larieto” refers to the larch forest surrounding the malga. Along the road you will see cattle and horses grazing, or cows in their sheds. The malga and its large open-air terrace offer the perfect location for tasting genuine traditional recipes and snacks: butter, cheese, yoghurt, ice-cream, bread, meat and cured meat products are all made locally.


From Brite de Larieto, it is a short walk on track n° 211 back to the Rio Gere car park.


By bus: From the Cortina bus station, take the bus operated by Dolomiti Bus towards Passo Tre Croci - Misurina and get off at the Rio Gere car park, near the Faloria and Cristallo chair lifts.

By car: From the centre of Cortina, take the road towards Passo Tre Croci - Misurina and follow it until you reach the Rio Gere car park, near the Faloria and Cristallo chair lifts.

Rest points

Rifugio Son Forca, Brite de Larieto, Ristorante Rio Gere

Variations

After having seen the Forcella Zumeles gully, you can return to the chair lift and take it back down.

Info

Length
4,3 km
Altitude
2.215 m
Positive elevation gain
156 m
Negative elevation gain
156 m