Pelmo Tour Day 1, Dolomites
Pecol, Alleghe or Rif. Staulanza to Rif. Venezia: scree, cliffs and vast views
Spectacular scree slopes feature on the Pelmo Tour
This fantastic 13km (8.1mi) circuit hike around 1368m Monte Pelmo is the ideal walk to combine with the Monte Civetta circuit. Although they are side by side, separated only by a wide pass, they are completely different so it is worth doing both circuits if you are in the area.
Pelmo boasts spectacular vast scree slopes, a tiny aided section where you get up close and personal with the magnificent cliff faces, and you’ll even see dinosaur footprints! The alpine meadow approaches are filled with wildflowers, and as you climb you have marvellous views because Pelmo is set slightly apart from the surrounding mountains.
Many people will complete this circuit in a single day, especially if starting from Rifugio Staulanza, but slower hikers will definitely stop for the night at Rif. Venezia on the eastern flanks of Pelmo. The distances are short but elevation gain and loss are significant (950m/3117ft if starting from Rif. Staulaza, 3,650m/12,000ft if starting in Pecol), and the scree is loose and steep in places.
See Planning and Tips on logistics and how to get there and for tips on how to combine this hike with the Civetta Hike via Path 564 or Road 251.
Here is the hike map.
We start from Pecol, intending to hike to Rif. Staulanza, but a friendly B&B host drops us off there instead. You can also catch a Dolomiti bus. Walking from Pecol adds 5.8km and 350m elevation to your first day. If you catch the lifts from Alleghe, you’ll walk around 4km in the alpine meadows, plus a further 5km to get to Rif. Staulanza, so we suggest slower hikers stay there overnight.
Starting from Rif Staulanza makes for the shortest, most direct circuit. Longer circuits would start from Rif. Pala Favera and Rif Monte Pelmo or Pecol. These ski destinations are very busy in winter, but are often much easier to book in the summer hiking season.
The climb through alpine wildflower meadows and forest is a complete delight, with views appearing early. As well as distant mountains vistas, you’ll glimpse villages nestled in the valleys below.
Dianthus in the early morning light
Armeria alpina
Views northwest to Spiz de Mondeval and La Rocheta.
Fabulous boulderfields, with numerous interesting plants tucked amongst them.
Yellow oxeye Daisy (Buphthalmum salicifolium)
Another view, another pause to drink it all in.
Lunch amongst the wildflowers and yet more views…
… into sun-dappled valleys. The scale of these mountains is difficult to grasp until you see the tiny toy house for scale.
Still climbing. Wildflower enthusiasts will love the gradually changing palette of species as you gain altitude.
Onto the scree.
Ascending on the right hand side of the pass, but there is another track closer to the looming cliffs on the left hand side. You’ll join that track soon.
There’s that LHS track and the beginning of Pelmo’s magnificent crowning cliffs. For scale, you can see two tiny black dots at the very bottom right. Those dots are a pair of hikers.
And here are hikers descending the track you have just climbed. The scree is quite loose and the track is steep, so take your time. You are nearly at the top, and then it’s all downhill through more scree to Rif. Venezia
Paederota bonarota grows only in the Alps on dolomite. Here it is clinging to a crack in the rock.
Nearly at the top! Disconcerting arrows point the way but, don’t worry, there is a path!
One last steep aided section along fabulous cliffs.
Geoff at the top of the pass, Forc. val de Arcia. It is not as exposed as it looks!
But even here you’ll find little alpine plants determined to hold on:
Dolomites cinquefoil, Potentilla nitida
Down at last!
With a line of hot, sweaty hikers coming up the opposite way. The blindingly white scree is scorching on warm sunny days: bring sunglasses and a hat.
At last we arrive at Rif. Venezia for a delicious and well-deserved dinner. It has been a grand day, with terrain and views surprisingly different to those next door at Civetta. And of course every Rifugio has its own ambience and style. Tomorrow will be an easy saunter back to Pecol in the valley or, for those continuing on to Civetta, a walk through alpine meadows to another Rifugio.
