My wife and I are going to visit the Dolomites in the Valgardena area for 3 nights at the end of May this year. We had previously visited and stayed in Bolzano taking the lift to Alpe di Siusi and Soprebolzano. This time we'd like to stay in the Valgardena area (probably Ortesei) and do some walks. We're not hikers. We will have a car.
Any suggestions on some easy walks in the area or accessible via the funivia?
Any suggestions on lakes to visit while there or other out of the way places to see?
Is it really necessary to get/bring hiking boots as we like walks but not strenuous hikes?
Thanks,
Craig
Posted by
Bay Area, California
1695 posts
It's hard to tell whether you need hiking boots or not. It really depends on your physical strength and fitness. Do you have high top sports shoes that somewhat can be a substitute? On muddy or dirt paths, it's easy to twist your ankles. There are nice hikes all over in Val Gardena, but there is no objective definition of what's "easy". Seceda is very nice, but the path is not paved.
Posted by
Charleston & Birmingham
4816 posts
I wear hiking boots for easy walks in my nearby state park because the ankle support is really stabilizing.
Posted by
11913 posts
We had no problems while wearing our regular sneakers.
Posted by
West Coast
446 posts
It’s been a while since I was there but I remember the trails, especially the kind you’re probably talking about, being well maintained and not having areas that might be sketchy for regular sneakers. And as I think about this, I wore zip up Sketchers that had no business being used for the longer hikes I did and they were fine. If the weather is good, your ankles are good, and you’re on easy trails you should be fine.
If you have concerns, you could look at trail running shoes. They are basically sneakers but have treads that are appropriate for dirt and rocks.
Posted by
Boise, ID, USA
2375 posts
You would enjoy a copy of "Walking in Italy's Val Gardena" by Laurel Barton (who posts on this forum) and her husband, Ric. She says, "This is for people who like to walk, who like to be in nature, and who enjoy Italy but may not have the stamina for hiking all day. It is for seniors, people with children, and and anyone who wants to experience the mountains but not climb them."
I highly recommend the book. I had good walking shoes, no hiking boots, when I stayed in Ortisei.
Posted by
OP
New York
2 posts
Thank you to all for the responses! I'll check out the book on Val Gardena, sounds like it will give an idea of where to go.
Posted by
Michigan
87 posts
Hey Craig.
Our multi-generational family (teens to my parents in their 70s) stayed in Ortesei last summer and are excited to go again in just a few months. We did easy day hikes (disclaimer: more refuge visiting and dining than hiking). :). We did not need or use hiking shoes but this year we will bring them so we can go a bit further. I'm going to bring or purchase poles as well. It would have been nice to feel a bit more sturdy on the trails. But definitely not a necessity.
We loved. Ortesei for so many reasons. One is that you are just a walk from both the lift to Seceda and Alpe di Siusi. (And I think there's a funicular to another peak but we only hiked Seceda & Alpe). Once we got there we left the car parked so we didn't explore any of the surrounding area by car.
Happy travels!