CIRCULAR WALK: SASSO PIATTO AND SASSOLUNGO

 High-level hikes

This is a long walk and is usually divided into two distinct walks (the Sasso Piatto circular walk and the Sassolungo circular walk - to easen the path you can take the Sassolungo cabin lift up to the Sassolungo saddle to walk downhill to Vicenza refuge where you go on on the left or on the right depending on the tour). By using the lift, as there are no great climbs involved, they can, in fact, be combined to make a really exciting day’s hiking.You must, however, be certain of good weather before setting off. The starting point is the Sela Rodela (Rodella Pass), which can be reached via the Col Rodella cable car in Campitello and then a 15-minute walk (add to total time) down the north face of the Col Rodella mountain. Otherwise you can take the car to the Passo Sella Dolomiti Mountain Resort refuge (2,180 m), and then walk along the dirt road marked path no. 557 southwards to the Sela Rodela (Rodela Pass) (40 mins to add to total time). Set off on path no. 557 and 557/4 which is mainly flat.You will come to the Friedrich August refuge at 2,298 m, the Sandro Pertini refuge at 2,300 m, and then the Sasso Piatto refuge at 2,300 m (2 hrs). Next you go downhill to the fork where path no. 527 begins.Take the right-hand path to stay at the same altitude as far as the Piz da Uridl and then go down into the western catchment basin of the Sassolungo.There is now a climb towards to Vicenza refuge (2,253 m) (1 hour 30; 3 hrs 30), but half way up you cross to the other side of the gully and take path no. 526. You will come to an area of crumbly red rock and then you reach the grassy saddle of Piz Ciaulonch. Go on through the labyrinth of rocks and then you will reach a small pond.Go up the slope and you will suddenly sight the Comici refuge at 2,154 m (1 hour 30; 5 hrs). The next path is no. 526, a wide easy track which will take you through the meadows and past the woods and finally through the Città dei Sassi (City of Stones).You will come out at the Passo Sella Dolomiti Mountain resort refuge at 2,180 m (1 hour; 6 hrs). If you took the cable car to reach Col Rodella you can complete the circle by taking the path which leaves the main road 200 m uphill from the Passo Sella Dolomiti Mountain Resort refuge and in about 1 hour you will get to the cable car station.