A walk amongst the Olympic pistes

Difficulty
Medium
Time
2 h 30'
Start
Rifugio Pomedes
Arrival
Baita Piè Tofana

From Piè Tofana, take the chair lift up to the mountain lodge Rifugio Duca d'Aosta, and then take the second chair lift up to Rifugio Pomedes, but don’t forget to take a look at the Schuss, part of the Olympia delle Tofane skiing piste, famous because this section is very steep and in an impressive position between two massive rock buttresses. During your journey on the chair lift, you will have a fantastic bird’s eye view of the steep piste, and you will appreciate the spectacular panorama. You will reach the mountain lodge Rifugio Pomedes, at a height of 2,303 metres in a splendidly panoramic position, perched at the foot of the buttresses of Tofana di Mezzo. Its famous terrace provides a unique, breathtaking view over the Ampezzo valley and the mountains that surround it like a crown. From the Rifugio, built in 1955 for the Winter Olympics held in Cortina in 1956, you can see the start line of the Alpine Ski World Cup races held in Cortina, and the famous ski piste Olympia delle Tofane. The building is also a favourite amongst hikers and climbers because it is well-positioned for many climbing routes, some of which are equipped, such as the famous Via Ferrata Punta Anna. 

 

From Rifugio Pomedes, take the steep track n° 421 which, after about half an hour, leads to Rifugio Dibona, a mountain lodge surmounted by the majestic Tofana di Rozes. The Rifugio, originally built during the Great War and later dedicated to famous mountain guide Angelo Dibona, has a large, sunny, panoramic terrace and offers excellent traditional cuisine. From here, carry on downhill along the rough track until you reach the second intersection, taking track n° 405 that brings you back to the starting point at Baita Piè Tofana. This famous, cosy mountain hut was originally a small construction built at the foot of the Tofane peaks to host the timekeepers for the 1956 Winter Olympics, and it now offers food based on selected Italian ingredients.


By car: From the centre of Cortina, take the state road 48 towards Passo Falzarego, and, about 2 km from the town centre, just before the Socrepes car park, take the road on the right that goes uphill towards Piè Tofana. Follow it for a few minutes until you reach the Baita Piè Tofana restaurant at the start of the like-named chair lift.

From the town centre: From the centre of Cortina, walk towards the Ice Stadium, Stadio del Ghiaccio, and carry on until you reach the Freccia nel Cielo cable car. Ride the cable car up to Col Drusciè and then take the rough track downhill: it starts below the tunnel between the Col Drusciè restaurant and the cable car. Follow the track for half an hour until you reach Baita Piè Tofana, at the start of the eponymous chair lift. 

On the way back, when you reach Baita Piè Tofana you can return to Col Drusciè and take the cable car, or walk down on track n° 410 in 2 hours. Follow the route which brings you to the attractive hamlet Cadin, where the forest opens and offers a fine view over Cortina. Continue on the road, that is usually very quiet, until you reach the hamlet Ronco. Here, don’t miss a visit to the Bob Bar, sited on the historic bobsleigh track and famous for its formidable filled rolls and sandwiches. From here you can take the track leading to the new indoor climbing centre, and then over a footbridge back to the station of the Freccia nel Cielo cable car.

 

Rest points

Rifugio Duca D’Aosta, Rifugio Pomedes, Rifugio Dibona, Baita Piè Tofana

Info

Length
7,6 Km
Altitude
2.303 m
Positive elevation gain
78 m
Negative elevation gain
714 m