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Suggestions for a Walking trail on Alpe di Suisse when coming by gondola from Ortisei

Posted by on

We are a family with teenagers planning on visiting the Alpe di Suisse in July.
Does anyone have a suggestion for a pleasant not difficult trail ( around 2 hours give or take) that starts from the cable car station on the Alpe di Suisse from Ortisei and ends there as well? I seem to have difficulty finding information about trails in that area...
Is it worth do drive to Suisse and arrive through Compatch instead?
Thank you for your help

Posted by
1207 posts

I don't have Rick's Italy book at hand at the moment, but I seem to recall that he gives clear instructions about how to take a gondola from Ortisei up to an easy-ish 2-3 hour (fairly level) hiking loop in the Alpe di Suisse that brings you back around to the gondola. He also describes the hike, with shorter and longer options in the loop.

Posted by
11363 posts

Rick's book describes such a hike from Compatsch, but if you want to do one out of Ortisei, here are some options.

Once on top at Mont Sëuc, you can enjoy a pre-hike coffee and use the WC at the Restaurant Mont Sëuc.

When you are ready to go, head down the road to the left as you face the mountains, marked as Trail #9. This is an easy descent, and you will usually encounter a horse-drawn carriage or two. Cowbells sound in the distance and the mountain views are spectacular, with views across most of the Alpe di Siusi from the Sassolungo and Sassopiatto to the Sciliar and Punta Santner. Little farms dot the meadow and if you are here in June or July, no doubt you will encounter some agricultural work in progress as families work to put up hay for the winter.

At the junction near Sporthotel Sonne, turn right on Trail #6 (#9 leads you to a break at Sonne, should you desire). Following #6, you will see signs to Hotel Icaro our recommended stop. You should reach Hotel Icaro in about an hour. Hotel Icaro offers a priceless view of the Sciliar and Punta Santner, far across the meadow, which you will also see as you descend at Compatsch.

Once refreshed (the strudel is fabulous, by the way), You have three choices:

  1. Return the way you came and descend at Ortisei

  2. Take Trail 6A back to Mont Sëuc for a true loop

  3. For a longer adventure, return to Trail #6. Shortly this trail intersects with #6B and #3. Take Trail #3 to your right until the intersection by Hotel Steger-Dellai and the junction of Trail #30 signed as the “Hans und Paula Steger Weg/Sentiero Hans & Paula Steger,” about 40 minutes past Hotel Icaro. Trail #30 leads through a nice meadow with some information stations about flora, fauna, and geology. In another 20 minutes you will reach Compatsch. We like to stop for lunch at the Nordic Café, which offers a busy terrace with terrific views.

From Compatsch your return to Ortisei involves a descent in the blue gondolas of the Cabinovia Alpe di Siusi/Seiseralm. This gondola is not included in the Val Gardena card, but is included in the Combi Card and the Seiseralm Gold Card.
At the base station, there is a large bus piazza. The #4 bus goes directly to Ortisei and runs at the time of this writing (check locally for changes) at 8:10, 9:25, 10:40, 14:15, 15:25 and 16:40. If one of those times does not fit your plan, walk down to the main road below the base station and turn right to the bus stop Bivio Cabinovia Siusi, where the #170 stops hourly at :49. Both buses are covered by the Val Gardena Mobility Card given to you by your lodging host.

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