The Puez-Odle Altopiano is a spectacular hike from start to finish. With jaw-dropping views of the Dolomites, fields of wildflowers, and endless alpine views, this is our favorite hike in the Dolomites.
The Puez-Odle hike is a 10.6 mile hike along some of the highest mountain peaks in the Dolomites. The hike involves 850 meters of climbing (a chairlift shaves 700m off the first ascent) and 1,500 meters of descent. The length of the hike and the amount of climbing were just enough to make it challenging, and the views are what really kept it interesting.
We were lucky enough to have blue skies for most of the hike, allowing us to have views out to the other mountains in the surrounding area.
Puez-Odle Altopiano Hiking Stats
Distance: 17 km (10.6 miles) point-to-point
Total Ascent: 850 meters (2,800 feet)
Total Descent: 1,500 meters (4,900 feet)
Time: 6 to 9 hours
Difficulty: Moderate to strenuous
When to go: This hike is best during the summer months, when the wildflowers are in bloom.
Bring: Hiking shoes, water, snacks or lunch, a jacket (it is chilly at the higher elevations), and of course, your camera.
Elevation profile
Please practice the seven principles of Leave No Trace: plan ahead, stay on the trail, pack out what you bring to the hiking trail, properly dispose of waste, leave areas as you found them, be considerate of other hikers, and do not approach or feed wildlife.
Hiking the Puez-Odle Altopiano
Step-By-Step Trail Guide
Selva di Val Gardena
The hike starts in the town of Selva di Val Gardena, in the Upper Val Gardena area of the Dolomites. For us, this was an hour and a half drive from our hotel. Winding roads and numerous passes through the mountains made the drive incredibly scenic.
Here is a map of the Dolomites, with the location of Selva di Val Gardena, the chairlift that takes you to the start of the hike, and the location of Rifugio Puez, a restaurant/hotel located along the hike.
Selva di Val Gardena
Dantercepies Gondola
To get to the start of the Puez-Odle hike, park in Selva di Val Gardena and walk to the Dantercepies gondola. There is a parking lot next to the gondola. This gondola takes you up into the mountains, shaving off a portion of your climb. This saves a lot of time and energy and provides awesome views on your way to the top.
Note: The Dantercepies gondola does not operate all year. In the summer, it runs from mid-June through early October. Get exact dates here.
From the gondola, follow the wide trail east towards Rifugio Jimmy. Enjoy those views along the way!
Rifugio Jimmy to Rifugio Puez
Once at Rifugio Jimmy, the real hiking begins. From here, take the no. 2 trail up and into the rocky mountains. As we climbed higher and higher, we had the best view of the Dolomites so far.
View from the Puez-Odle Altopiano trail
It did not take long until we summited the mountain. The views on the other side were totally different! Good-bye lush green landscape…hello rocky formations.
We ate a picnic lunch, enjoying our new view over Lago di Crespeina, before setting off again. Tyler and Kara did great hiking on these trails. The trails are very difficult in some sections, with lots of scree that made the descents very slippery.
View from the Puez-Odle Altopiano trail
Finally, we made it to the second peak. It is so beautiful here!! Once on the second peak, you can look out across the Vallunga, the gorgeous U-shaped valley shown in the photo above. Just look at this place…it’s amazing!
Another view from the Puez-Odle Altopiano trail. After Rifugio Puez, the trail makes a massive descent and you will walk through the valley below.
Rifugio Puez
The hike took us to Rifugio Puez, a restaurant/hotel offering tired hikers a place to eat or even stay the night. There are Rifugios located all through the Dolomites and a lot of them can only be accessed by hiking.
We stopped for about a half hour at Rifugio Puez. They served apfelstrudel (apple pie) here, which really wasn’t very good, even as hungry as we were. But it filled us up and gave us the energy we needed to finish the hike. We still had a long ways to go.
Making the Descent back to Selva di Val Gardena
It is a 650 meter descent into the valley. Going down is a lot easier on the lungs but it is hard on the legs. From Rifugio Puez we took trail #14 down into the valley.
Cascate della Vallunga
Finally, when we entered the valley, it was nice to be walking on level ground again. You are still gradually walking downhill, but it’s a lot easier now that the terrain is more level. This part of the hike is the most monotonous, and it will take an hour and a half to two hours to walk through the valley, but the scenery and herds of cattle help keep things interesting.
Final walk through the valley | Puez-Odle Altopiano hike
The walk through the valley ends at a road named Streda Val, at a parking lot that is called Parcheggio Vallunga Parkplatz Langental – Wolkenstein. Rather than walking down Streda Val, stay on the footpath, pass Baita Ciampac Hutte (we had dinner here on a separate trip to the Dolomites and it is wonderful…if they are open, you could sit outside and have a snack), and walk back into town.
The Puez-Odle Altopiano hike took us just over 6 hours, including our stops for lunch and apfelstrudel. Tyler and Kara (ages 11 and 9 at the time) were amazing, never complaining and never even seeming to get tired. It’s a great hike for active, adventurous kids, but those younger than 9 may have a hard time.
More Great Hikes in the Dolomites
We have a guide to the Best Hikes in the Dolomites, but here are a few more great hikes to consider.
The Cinque Torri is a wonderfully short, easy hike that circles around giant pillars of rock and includes a visit to a WWI open air museum. This hike can easily be combined with Rifugios Averau and Nuvolau for BIG views of the Dolomites (and a great meal with a view).
Tre Cime di Lavaredo is one of the most popular hikes in the Dolomites. Add on the Cadini di Misurina viewpoint for one epic day in the Dolomites.
The Croda da Lago Circuit is a longer hike but it tends to be a less busy trail. Plus, you get beautiful views of Lago Federa, the Mondeval meadow, and Forcella Ambrizzola.
Hiking from Lagazuoi to Falzerego Pass is another easy hike to consider. The ride on the cable car to Lagazuoi eliminates the first big climb.
Lago di Sorapis is a lovely aquamarine lake. Most people hike it out-and-back, but if you don’t mind a little extra climbing, follow our guide for great views of the Dolomites and a very quiet hiking trail.
For links to all of our articles about the Dolomites, take a look at our Dolomites Travel Guide.
If you have any questions about hiking the Puez-Odle Altopiano, let us know in the comment section below.
More Information about Italy
VENICE: Learn more about what to do in Venice in our Venice Bucket List. To help you plan your time, we have a detailed one day Venice itinerary and a 2 day Venice itinerary.
PHOTOGRAPHING ITALY: For some of the best views in Italy, here are 20 gorgeous views and exactly where to photograph them.
MILAN & LAKE COMO: Learn how to visit Milan on a day trip or while traveling between the Cinque Terre, Florence and Venice. Lake Como and Bellagio are two more beautiful places in Italy that are great day trip destinations.
ROME: For a list of the top experiences in Rome, read our article Best Things to Do in Rome. Learn how to put these together in our 2 Day Rome Itinerary. And don’t miss our guides to the Best Views of Rome, best Rooftop Bars in Rome, and our Rome Restaurant Guide.
MORE GREAT HIKES IN EUROPE: From thrilling trails in the Alps to easy walks along the coast, read our article 20 Best Hikes in Europe for some beautiful hiking trails to put on your travel wish list.
We have TONS more information about Italy in our Italy Travel Guide, including Rome, Florence, Venice, Tuscany, the Dolomites, the Amalfi Coast, the Cinque Terre, and Puglia.
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