Route: Alpe de Siusi
Area: Val Gardena, Dolomites, Italy
Date of walk: 19th June 2018
Walkers: Andrew and Gilly
Distance: 11.2 miles
Ascent: 500 feet
Weather: Sunny
The Alpe de Siusi is a huge area of rolling meadows ranging from 5,000-6,000 feet above sea level, and is the largest cultivated plateau in Central Europe. The area is famed for its incredible display of wild flowers which thrive in the pasture, fed by the natural springs and streams which drain off the surrounding mountains. We’d timed our visit in order to appreciate the display at its peak – if we’d left it much later the meadows would have been harvested for haymaking for the village of Siusi, lower down the valley
We drove to the village of Ortisei and after parking near the top station bought two one-way tickets for the chair lift, which took us up to 6,000 feet. From here we followed a series of easy undulating paths through idyllic countryside, and a long gentle descent through the meadows brought us down to the low-lying area of Saltria
Just beyond Saltria we took the Florian chair lift which whisked us up the mountain side and saved us having to make a long climb in very hot weather. The views from the top of the lift were superb and far ranging. (Note that route shown on the Maps Page includes the Florian lift section, and that I’ve adjusted the mileage and ascent to account for this)
We climbed up a short distance to reach the Berghaus Zallinger, marking the high point of the walk at 6,740 feet and then began the long but easy descent, initially through pastures bedecked with wild flowers. Our original plan had been to descend to St Christina and take the bus back to Ortisei, but we noticed a path which was waymarked to Ortisei and decided to follow that instead. The narrow path took us down through woodland beside a cascading stream, before eventually emerging onto a track and then a quiet tarmac road which took us back to the start
Click on the icon below for the route map
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We leave our base in Corvara at the same time as son James, who is setting off on a long bike ride
An hour or so later, having taken the cable railway station in Ortesei, we arrive at the top station, 6,500 feet above sea level. Our route will take us along the base of Sassolungo in the distance
We descend along an easy track
Views across the vast rolling meadows of Alpe de Siusi...
...the meadows continue to be used for haymaking for the village of Siusi, 3,000 feet below
A pastoral paradise, with very few other walkers
The vast rock slab of Sassopiatto to the right of Sassolungo
Looking across to Sciliar and Punta
Old barn and wooden drinking trough
A Haflinger horse - the breed is renowned for its ability to ride in the mountains and around 200 of them graze on the meadows
Sassolungo and Sassopiatto...
A lovely view across Alpe de Siusi from a vantage point
We descend to the low lying area of Saltria, where there are several hotels, and some development being carried out - hopefully this won't spoil the area
Throughout the walk we were surrounded by wild flowers - there are around 800 different species growing here...
Wooden barns and huts along the way...
Our intended route is along the base of Sassolungo and Sassopiatto, and we decide to take advantage of a leg up...
...thanks to the Florian chair lift, which spares us a one mile climb between the trees
Up we go
View from the top station, looking in our direction of travel
Our route will take us along the base of Sassolungo and Sassopiatto...
We pass by more wooden huts and chalets
Looking back along the heavenly path
Sassopiatto
Wild flowers growing in abundance on both sides of the path
Sassolungo
Looking back to the start of the walk, top right of picture
All good things must come to an end, and we start to descend into woodland
A last view of Sassopiatto before we enter the forest
There follows a lengthy descent, initially along a narrow track beside a stream
We then join a track, which in turn joins a road lower down
Our destination, Ortesei, below
We follow a pleasant and quiet road back into the village
Back in Ortesei, and the end of another fabulous walk
