San Martino di Castrozza in summer
The Dolomites on foot, “step” by “step”
In summer, San Martino di Castrozza takes on a different pace: the air becomes light, the trails wind their way through woods and pastures, and the Pale di San Martino provide the perfect backdrop for a holiday filled with nature, tranquillity and wonder.
Here are a few ideas for exploring the area… just as we do.
The Pale Plateau
The Pale di San Martino Plateau is a vast Dolomite landscape that resembles a lunar landscape, so much so that it inspired Dino Buzzati to write The Desert of the Tartars.
Despite its barren appearance, it is rich in alpine flora and scenic trails. Easily accessible via the Colverde cable car and the Rosetta cable car, it allows you to ascend 1,200 metres from the centre of San Martino di Castrozza in no time.
From the plateau, the view stretches across peaks such as the Marmolada, Antelao and Civetta, offering a unique experience combining nature, geology and the history of mountaineering. To round off the excursion, the mountain huts offer refreshments featuring traditional mountain cuisine.
Mountain huts in the Pale
Before setting out on the trails of the Pale di San Martino, it is worth consulting the mountain guides, the “Aquile” of San Martino di Castrozza and Primiero, who are based at the Tourist Board.
The routes, maintained by CAI volunteers and the Paneveggio-Pale di San Martino Nature Park, are always well signposted.
The mountain huts in the area are must-visit destinations for experienced hikers, but with a bit of training and the guidance of the guides, they are accessible to many enthusiasts.
From San Martino, you can reach the Pedrotti alla Rosetta, the Velo della Madonna and the Pradidali, whilst the Mulaz is located along the trails leading from Passo Rolle or Val Venegia.
The Treviso mountain hut, in Val Canali, is the easiest to reach.
Val Venegia
The Val Venegia, situated in the Paneveggio-Pale di San Martino Nature Park, is a valley closed to traffic with access points at Passo Rolle and Pian dei Casoni, which can also be reached by bus and shuttle.
Famous for its alpine pastures, it is home to cows that produce milk of the highest quality, from which the prized Botìro of Primiero is made.
Along the valley, two mountain huts offer tastings of local specialities. A wide dirt track, also suitable for trekking pushchairs, winds its way through green meadows, the Travignolo stream and picturesque woods, with views of the majestic Pale di San Martino: Cimon della Pala, Vezzana and Mulaz.
Val Venegia is an oasis of peace offering animmersive experience in the unspoilt nature of the Dolomites.
The Colbricon Ponds
The Colbricon Lakes, with their clear, cold waters, lie in a natural basin between the peaks of Cavallazza and Colbricon, once the scene of the Great War and today places of peace and beauty.
Next to the lakes, a small mountain hut with a veranda offers refreshments to visitors. Frequented since prehistoric times, they were a seasonal destination for Mesolithic hunters from the Adige and Brenta valleys. Their historical significance came to light in 1971, when Gianluigi Secco, known as ‘Giangi’, found a chipped flint, evidence of ancient human presence.
This discovery led to new studies and a rewriting of the area’s history. Some of the artefacts are on display at the Bar Centrale in San Martino di Castrozza, where Giangi loves to recount his discovery.
Segantini Hut
Baita Segantini is one of those places that stays with you: a natural balcony between the Lagorai and the Pale di San Martino, with Cimon della Pala seeming ever so close.
It is linked to the dream of Alfredo Paluselli (1936) and is nestled within the Paneveggio–Pale di San Martino Nature Park, a true paradise of biodiversity. If you’re lucky, at dawn or dusk you might spot deer and roe deer.
E-bike
Cycling on an e-bike is a unique experience, especially amidst the spectacular landscapes of the Primiero Valley.
This is a view shared by former mountain bike world champion Massimo Debertolis, who was born and raised in this area, where the opportunities for cycling are endless.
These range from the simplest routes, such as the Family Green Way Primiero loop, to the more challenging trails that wind through woods and along dirt tracks at the foot of the Pale di San Martino.
Among the most popular destinations are Malga Crel, Baita Segantini, Val Venegia, Val Canali and Caltena.
The routes are well signposted and our Roberta and Manuela can provide you with maps, information on partner rental shops and suggestions on the best itineraries.
Thanks to the Colverde and Tognola ski lifts, it is possible to take your bike up to higher altitudes, before tackling more technical descents, suitable for cyclists with some experience.
Easy walks and laid-back days
You don’t need to be a mountaineer to fall in love with these mountains. Sometimes all it takes is a short walk, a leisurely stroll to a mountain hut, or a meadow where you can stop and watch the clouds.
And if you’re travelling with children, the mountains are even more beautiful when they become a place for play, discovery and freedom: we’re happy to suggest the most suitable routes, with timings and stops that are ‘family-friendly’.
If you’d like, we’ll help you choose the right hike: based on how many days you have, your fitness level and what you really want to experience.
You can also message us on WhatsApp: we’ll be happy to recommend trails, mountain huts and tailor-made ideas… and then we’ll be waiting for you here at the Hotel Panorama for your summer in the Dolomites.