Pralongia walk - Alta Badia walks - walks from Corvara

Route: Pralongia

Area: Alta Badia, Dolomites, Italy

Date of walk: 17th June 2018

Walkers: Andrew and Gilly

Distance: 4.8 miles

Ascent: 600 feet

Weather: Sunshine and blue skies

One of the great advantages of walking in a skiing area is the existence of a network of chair lifts and cable cars, which means that a walk can be started at high altitude with a minimum of effort. For today’s walk we took advantage of the Pralongia chairlift, situated at Planac above Corvara. There is a road leading to Planac, but we decided instead to walk there from our hotel which took about 15 minutes

The chair lift whisked us up to a height of 6,600 feet and from the station we headed up to the Ütia Pralongià Hut. This brought us to the top of the plateau and from here we followed the waymarked path along the ridge, with fabulous views in all directions. Unlike yesterday’s quite strenuous walk it was easy going all the way, with wide and well maintained tracks and good waymarking

When we arrived at the Ütia Piz Arlara this signified the end of the ridge walk for us, and after slaking our thirst at the excellent hut we started the descent back to Corvara. This was a gentle affair, with more magnificent views along the way, and a sea of wildflowers in the meadows on both sides of the path

Anyone following this fantastic walk would probably return to the foot of the chairlift station, but we made a deviation along an alternative path near the end of the descent, as this took us straight back to our hotel. The maps page reflects the route we walked, but it can easily be adapted to suit individual circumstances

Click on the icon below for the route map

Scroll down – or click on any photo to enlarge it and you can then view as a slideshow

We awake to another glorious morning. This is the view from our room in the Sporthotel Panorama in Corvara, looking towards the mountains where we'd been walking yesterday

Our son James is going on a bike ride today - the high mountain passes in these parts are a magnet for cyclists

Looking back to our hotel, with Sassongher towering over it, as we walk up to the nearby Pralongià chairlift, situated at Planac above Corvara

James overtakes us on his way up to the Passo Campolongo

A short while later, and after an enjoyable ride up the Pralongià chairlift, we set off on today's walk

We follow a wide track uphill to the Ütia Pralongià Hut...

Our path will curve around the grassy ridge below the mountains in the background

Looking further round the ridge, which we will follow until the start of the descent, below the peak of Sassongher

We pass by the Ütia Pralongià Hut

Having gained the ridge, we follow the wonderful undulating path along it, known as the Tru Panoramich

Zooming in on Sassongher

Piz Boè, one of the few Dolomite peaks which is accessible to ordinary walkers

Looking towards the Passo Gardena

One of the many barns we passed as we continued along the ridge

Piz Conturines on our right, at around 10,000 feet

Looking back to the top station of the Pralongià chairlift, top left of picture, where we'd started our walk

Continuing along the easy ridge path

Passo Gardena in the distance

Piz Conturines on our right...

We arrive at a viewpoint where information boards point out the various peaks - this is the snow clad Marmolada group

Sassongher in the middle of the picture

The Sella group, of which Piz Boè on the left is the highest mountain at 10,340 feet

The path curves around the ridge to head towards Sassongher, with Corvara below it

Bench with a view

Passo Gardena again in the distance

The start of the gentle descent from the ridge

The wild flower meadows had been a feature of the walk, but they were spectacular lower down the slopes...

We head towards the recently refurbished mountain hut Piz Arlara

Old wooden barns on the way to the hut

Welcome refreshments at Piz Arlara

Mighty Sassongher

Passo Gardena in the distance as we continue the easy descent

The Sella group

We pass by a series of old barns and sheds

Looking towards Marmolada

Wild flower meadows in all their glory - we'd timed our visit in the hope that we'd see them at their peak, but it's partly a matter of luck and today we'd hit the jackpot...