Looking at a fall stay in the Dolomites for the hiking. Wonder when stores and services start to shut down? On our calendar late Sept early Oct would work best. I figure weatherwise we'd still be good (sunny side of the Alps and all that).
Looking at having a base Cortina, Ortisei? and going out from there so no route or hut-to-hut.
I ask this from our experience hiking in the Czech Republic one October. Great hiking weather but smaller towns were pretty much shut down.
We were in Ortisei last October and the weather was so beautiful and sunny, albeit very cold. We enjoyed hiking for a couple of hours each day. From Ortisei you can take the lift up to Seceda (this lift closes mid October for the season, so be sure to check the dates). You can also walk across the street and take a different lift to Alpe di Siuisi, which is still my favorite Alpine hiking to date.
We have been in Val Gardena in late September/ early October a few times. I have noticed things winding down in October. Some hotels and restaurants shut down for the season.....but there are still plenty of options. This year we were there until Oct 12, the hiking was spectacular as usual. Val Gardena was by far the least touristed place we visited. We have had similar experiences in Cortina. Here is a link showing the opening/closing dates of the lifts.
https://www.valgardena.it/en/summer-holidays-dolomites/lifts/
Thanks, good news about the lifts which really expand hiking possibilities. Having a backerei en route or atop is welcome but not essential.
The huts and trails were already shut down by early October this year due to snowfall. You can still take the gondolas up and hike around below the snowline though! I've hiked the Dolomites for years and my favorite hiking is around Ortisei. You can take the Mont Seuc gondola up to the Seiser Alm. When I'm not staying in huts, I take the gondola up, spend the night at a hotel on the Seiser Alm (I highly recommend Brunelle) and hike around, then hike back and ride the gondola back down when you're done. Just stunning hiking! The other gondola is up to Seceda - one of the most stunning peaks anywhere. Again tons of hiking from the top of the gondola with spectacular views all around.
