Alta Via 2

Understand

Where the Alta Via 1 is a scenic promenade through the eastern Dolomites, the Alta Via 2 is an altogether more serious undertaking. The terrain is consistently steep, rocky, and exposed; several sections include short via ferrata passages with fixed iron cables and ladders; and the route crosses the Marmolada — the only glaciated summit in the Dolomites — on its most direct line. The trail is waymarked with red-and-white paint splashes, cairns, and occasional dark blue triangles bearing the number "2", but navigation demands more attention than on the AV1. The route threads through some of the finest and most varied scenery in the Alps: the dramatic spires of the Odle (Geislerspitzen) above Bressanone; the vast limestone plateau of the Puez group; the Sella massif and the satellite summit of Piz Boè; the glaciated south face of the Marmolada (3,343 m, the highest peak in the Dolomites); the pale towers of the Pale di San Martino; and the remote, rarely visited ridges of the Vette Feltrine above Feltre. The trail's nickname, the "Way of Legends," refers to the Ladin myths and folklore that animate the mountains of this region — the Fanes kingdom, the realm of the Rë del Ciaval, and the legends of the Vette Feltrine that frame the final days. The AV2 crosses three provinces: Bolzano (South Tyrol), Trento, and Belluno. Like the AV1, the northern stages are bilingual in Italian and German, with Ladin spoken in pockets of Val Badia and Val Gardena. The standard Cicerone guidebook (Alta Via 2 — Trekking in the Dolomites, by Gillian Price) covers the route in 13 stages, and most hikers take 12–15 days to complete the full distance. The AV2 is not suitable for inexperienced hikers. You must be comfortable on steep, exposed mountain terrain, have no significant fear of heights, and be capable of sustained daily effort across rough limestone ground. Via ferrata equipment (harness, helmet, twin-armed lanyards) is strongly recommended for the section around Rifugio Pisciadù and the Marmolada crossing; for those without this gear, bypass routes exist for both sections.

Prepare

No permits are required. Rifugio bookings are essential — July and August huts fill rapidly. Aim to book at least 3–6 months in advance. The AV2 is less booked-out than the AV1 but has fewer alternative huts at each stage, so flexibility is more limited. Many huts can be reserved online; some still require email or phone. Deposits of around €40 per person per night are standard. Equipment requirements are more demanding than for the AV1. You will need:

Sturdy hiking boots with ankle support and good grip on wet limestone Trekking poles (strongly recommended throughout) Full waterproofs and warm layers — much of the route sits above 2,000 m Via ferrata equipment: helmet, harness, and twin-armed lanyards — mandatory for the Pisciadu section (Stage 4), and strongly advised for Marmolada (Stage 5–6) and several other exposed passages For the Marmolada glacier crossing: crampons and an ice axe — or take the bypass route via bus and Rifugio Fuciade Sleeping bag liner (required at all huts) Cash in euros — some remote huts do not accept cards Keep your pack between 8–12 kg. Luggage transfer is essentially impossible on this route; almost all huts are inaccessible by road. Recommended maps are Tabacco 1:25,000 sheets 030 (Bressanone/Brixen area), 05 (Val Gardena), 07 (Alta Badia–Arabba–Marmolada), 022 (Pale di San Martino), and 023 (Vette Feltrine–Feltre). The Cicerone guidebook includes GPX downloads. Members of the Club Alpino Italiano (CAI) or affiliated Alpine clubs receive discounts at many huts along the route. Membership costs around €45–50/year and can pay for itself quickly across the huts of the AV2. The AV2 is not suitable for prams, wheelchairs, or young children.

Eat As on the AV1, rifugios offer half-board (dinner and breakfast) as the standard overnight option. Dinner is typically multi-course: soup, a pasta or polenta dish, a meat or vegetable main, and dessert — often apple strudel in the Tyrolean north, or polenta with local cheeses and cured meats further south. Breakfasts vary from full buffets at the larger huts to simple bread and jam at smaller ones. Lunches are not included in half-board rates but passing hikers can usually buy hot food, sand

Get in

The northern trailhead is Bressanone (Brixen), a historic medieval town in the Isarco Valley, South Tyrol.

By plane The nearest airports are Innsbruck (INN, ~60 km), Verona (VRN, ~190 km), and Venice Marco Polo (VCE, ~250 km). All are connected to Bressanone by train.

By train Bressanone is on the main Brennero/Munich–Bolzano–Verona rail line, with frequent services from both Innsbruck and Verona. The journey from Innsbruck takes under an hour; from Venice, around 3 hours. Most hikers start from the top of the Plose cable car above Bressanone (bus 321 from the main bus station to the lower gondola station; one-way ticket ~€19, or free with a BrixenCard from participating hotels). The cable car eliminates ~1,500 m of initial ascent and is the standard start for the route. Alternatively, a full day's walk from Bressanone station via Sant'Andrea (path 4) reaches Rifugio Plose directly. The southern terminus is at Croce d'Aune, above Feltre, from where local buses connect to Feltre town (about 30 minutes). Feltre is connected by train to Belluno, Treviso, and Venice. A taxi from Croce d'Aune to Feltre costs around €30–40 (split between a group). Walking from Croce d'Aune to Feltre on roads takes about 1.5–2 hours. Useful exit points mid-route: Passo Gardena (buses to Val Gardena/Corvara), Passo Pordoi (cable car and buses to Canazei/Arabba), Malga Ciapela (buses from the Marmolada area), and Passo San Pellegrino (buses to San Martino di Castrozza or Val di Fassa).

Walk

The AV2 is walked north to south in 13 stages. The first three stages (Bressanone to Rifugio Puez) are the gentlest introduction; the route grows progressively more demanding from Stage 4 onward, with the most technical sections around Pisciadù (Stage 4), the Marmolada (Stage 5–6), and Passo delle Farangole in the Pale di San Martino (Stage 8). The final stages through the Vette Feltrine are remote and quiet, with long sections between huts.

From the top of the Plose cable car (1,993 m), the route climbs steadily east through Puez-Odle Nature Park on paths 7 and 4, crossing open alpine meadows with views south over Bressanone and north toward the Brenner. The stage finishes at Rifugio Plose (2,447 m). Most people take the cable car; the full walk from town adds another 5–6 hours. The ascent is sustained but on clear, well-graded paths.

1 Rifugio Plose (at 2,447 m, on the Plose plateau above Bressanone). Comfortable hut with dormitory and private rooms. Good views over the Isarco valley. Accessible also by a longer walk from Bressanone (no cable car needed). Open mid-June to early October. half-board approx. €65–75/person.

A descent from the Plose plateau, crossing the Rodella Pass, followed by a sustained climb to the base of the great Sass de Putia (Peitlerkofel, 2,875 m). The ascent to Forcella della Putia is steep and rocky — the crux of this stage — before the path descends to Rifugio Genova (2,306 m) in the Funes Valley. Strong hikers can extend the day with a side trip to the summit of Sass de Putia (add ~3 hr round trip).

2 Rifugio Genova (Schlüterhütte) (at 2,306 m, near Passo di Poma between Val di Funes and Val Badia). Historic hut built in 1898, with dorms and private rooms, coin-operated showers, a sun terrace, and excellent traditional food. A warm and welcoming stop. Open mid-June to mid-October. half-board approx. €70–80/person.

A long but rewarding stage traversing the Odle group on paths 3 and 2, crossing the remarkable Forcella de Sieles before emerging onto the high, open Puez plateau — a moonlike expanse of limestone pavement at around 2,500 m with vast views in all directions. The Puez plateau is one of the most extraordinary landscap

Stay safe

The AV2 is a serio