Alta Via 2

The wilder high route across the Dolomites from Bressanone to Feltre

Alta Via 2 crosses the Dolomites from Bressanone toward Feltre, linking high rifugi, sharp limestone ridges and the more demanding sections of the southern ranges.

159 km · 11,513 m ascent · 7 stages · 10–13 days · · Italy

The high limestone landscape of Alta Via 2 in the Dolomites

About Alta Via 2

Alta Via 2 starts above Bressanone and heads south across the Dolomites, passing from the Plose and Puez groups through the Sella and Marmolada country toward the Pale di San Martino and Feltre.

The second classic Alta Via is longer and more committing than its better-known neighbour. The route keeps to high ground, with steeper paths, more exposed traverses and sections where a cable or a confident step matters in addition to fitness.

Ten to thirteen days gives most parties enough room to match the rifugi rather than forcing every stage. The route crosses a remarkable sequence of limestone landscapes, so weather, snow and hut availability should shape the plan from the start.

Use the stage line as the spine of the trip, then inspect each pass and descent in 3D. On this route, a small map decision can mean a much bigger day once the rock steepens.

The 7 classic stages

  1. Stage 1: Bressanone to Rifugio Genova

    Bressanone to Rifugio Genova · 22.3 km · 1,611.82 m ascent · 1,713.74 m descent

    Climb out of the Isarco valley toward the Plose and the first high rifugi, where the route becomes unmistakably Dolomite.

  2. Stage 2: Genova to Puez

    Rifugio Genova to Rifugio Puez · 22.3 km · 1,611.82 m ascent · 1,713.74 m descent

    A high traverse through pale plateaux and sharp towers, finishing above the Val Gardena country.

  3. Stage 3: Puez to Pisciadù

    Rifugio Puez to Rifugio Pisciadù · 20.7 km · 1,496.69 m ascent · 1,591.33 m descent

    Move through the Sella approach on rough mountain paths, with the next limestone walls rising around every bend.

  4. Stage 4: Pisciadù to Marmolada

    Rifugio Pisciadù to Marmolada · 22.3 km · 1,611.82 m ascent · 1,713.74 m descent

    The route crosses the Sella and turns toward the Marmolada, one of the defining high sections of the Alta Via.

  5. Stage 5: Marmolada to San Pellegrino

    Marmolada to Passo San Pellegrino · 22.3 km · 1,611.82 m ascent · 1,713.74 m descent

    Descend and climb again through the southern Dolomites, balancing high passes with long open views across the valleys.

  6. Stage 6: San Pellegrino to Mulaz

    Passo San Pellegrino to Rifugio Mulaz · 22.3 km · 1,611.82 m ascent · 1,713.74 m descent

    Enter the Pale di San Martino, where the scale of the rock and the remoteness of the rifugi both increase.

  7. Stage 7: Mulaz to Feltre

    Rifugio Mulaz to Feltre · 27 km · 1,957.21 m ascent · 2,080.97 m descent

    The final stages thread the southern groups and gradually trade high limestone for the wooded foothills above Feltre.

Refuges, gîtes and huts on the circuit

  • km 6.4 — Plosehütte - Rifugio Plose, — (stage 1)
  • km 18.0 — Schlüterhütte - Rifugio Genova, 2,306 m, 90 beds (stage 1)
  • km 29.0 — Utia de Puez, 2,475 m (stage 2)
  • km 37.3 — Utia Pisciadù - Pisciadù Hütte - Rifugio Franco Cavazza al Pisciadù, 2,587 m, 176 beds (stage 2)
  • km 40.2 — Rifugio Boé, 2,871 m, 69 beds (stage 2)
  • km 40.9 — Rifugio Capanna Piz Fassa, 3,152 m (stage 2)
  • km 42.3 — Rifugio Forcella Pordoi, 2,848 m (stage 2)
  • km 42.7 — Rifugio Maria, 2,950 m (stage 2)
  • km 45.4 — Rifugio Sass Becè, 2,423 m (stage 2)
  • km 45.5 — Rifugio Fredarola Harbor, 2,370 m (stage 2)
  • km 47.2 — Rifugio Vièl dal Pan, 2,432 m, 23 beds (stage 2)
  • km 49.4 — Rifugio Luigi Gorza, 2,478 m (stage 2)
  • km 50.4 — Rifugio Marmolada Castiglioni, — (stage 2)
  • km 51.3 — Rifugio Cima Undici, — (stage 2)
  • km 52.8 — Rifugio Capanna al Ghiacciaio, 2,700 m (stage 2)
  • km 62.7 — Rifugio Fuciade, 1,982 m (stage 3)
  • km 65.4 — Rifugio Albergo Miralago, 1,920 m (stage 3)
  • km 65.5 — Chalet Cima Uomo, 2,012 m (stage 3)
  • km 69.7 — Rifugio Laresei, 2,260 m (stage 3)
  • km 71.1 — Malga Vallazza, 1,947 m (stage 3)
  • km 73.2 — Baita El Coston, — (stage 3)
  • km 76.6 — Bivacco dei pastori, — (stage 3)
  • km 76.8 — Casera di Focobon, 1,894 m (stage 3)
  • km 78.1 — Rifugio Giuseppe Volpi di Misurata al Mulaz, 2,570 m (stage 3)
  • km 80.8 — Bivacco Giorgio Brunner, 2,632 m, 9 beds (stage 4)
  • km 84.3 — Rifugio Rosetta "Giovanni Pedrotti", 2,580 m, 70 beds (stage 4)
  • km 88.5 — Rifugio Pradidali, 2,278 m (stage 4)
  • km 94.0 — Rifugio Treviso, 1,631 m (stage 4)
  • km 104.8 — Rifugio Forestale "Val delle Moneghe", 1,265 m (stage 4)
  • km 107.5 — Bivacco Walter Bodo, — (stage 5)
  • km 112.0 — Bivacco Invernale Matteo Fiori, — (stage 5)
  • km 112.0 — Rifugio Bruno Boz, 1,718 m (stage 5)
  • km 112.2 — Bivacco malga Alvis, — (stage 5)
  • km 116.4 — Malga Ramezza Alta, 1,485 m, 8 beds (stage 5)
  • km 123.6 — Rifugio Giorgio Dal Piaz, 1,973 m (stage 5)
  • km 180.6 — Rifugio Contrin, 2,016 m, 112 beds (stage 6)

Cols on the classic line

    Know before you go

    • Plan for a shorter season than a low-level trail: high passes can hold snow into July and storms arrive quickly in the exposed groups.
    • The rifugi are the route's logistics. Confirm opening dates, reserve beds, and carry a valley fallback for each block of stages.
    • Some sections are graded for experienced mountain hikers and use fixed protection. Do not treat the route as ordinary valley walking.
    • There are long stretches without shops. Carry enough food and water for the full stage between huts.
    • Build in a weather day if you are travelling to a fixed finish in Feltre.

    Frequently asked questions

    How long is Alta Via 2?

    The stored route is about 159 km. Most parties allow ten to thirteen days, depending on hut splits, weather and side trips.

    Is Alta Via 2 harder than Alta Via 1?

    It is generally considered the more demanding of the two classic Dolomites Alta Vie, with longer stages, more exposed terrain and more protected sections.

    Where does Alta Via 2 start?

    The route starts above Bressanone in South Tyrol and runs south toward Feltre in the Veneto.

    Do you need a guide for Alta Via 2?

    Strong mountain hikers can walk the standard route independently in good conditions, but a guide is sensible for parties unsure about protected terrain, snow or route finding.

    More multi-day routes

    Sources and provenance

    Stage metrics, tracks, huts and passes come from the Traverse route database. Conditions change: verify refuge opening, pass conditions and transport before you go.

    Page reviewed .