When I search for new hikes in the Dolomites, one of the most important criteria is the views-to-effort ratio. Generally speaking, the more effort you put into the hike, the better the views you will get. However, the Col De La Puina hike offers fantastic vistas without straining your legs. Quick and painless is what I like to call these types of hikes.
Total round-trip distance
7 kilometres / 4.4 miles
Elevation gain
540 meters / 1770 feet
Time required
2.5-3 hours
Overview of the Col De La Puina hike
Col De La Puina is a ridgeline located just north of Mount Pelmo, one of the highest peaks in the Dolomites. To the east, the ridgeline overlooks the Fiorentina Valley, and to the north, the Zoldo Valley.
The best part of the Col de la Puina hike is the early views of Mount Pelmo. The higher you climb, the better the views get. Once you reach the summit, you will be in awe of the towering mountain right in front of you.
Last but not least, if you happen to be there at sunset and the visibility is good, you will see the summit of Mount Antelao, the second-highest peak in the Dolomites, bathing in the last rays of sunshine.
TIP: Col De La Puina features on my 7-10 day autumn road trip across the Dolomites. Make sure to check it out.
The map & elevation profile of the hike
Important info about the hike to Col De La Puina
The route to Col De La Puina is passable from June to October. Being surrounded by valleys filled with larch trees—the only coniferous tree that changes colours and then loses its needles during the autumn season—this day hike comes to life in the second part of October, making it one of my favourite autumn hikes in the Dolomites.
When to go: June to October
Trail difficulty: moderate
Trail number: 467
Type of hike: out and back
Highest point: 2203 m / 7227 ft
Parking/trailhead: Parcheggio Rifugio Città di Fiume
map required: Tobacco no. 15
Nearest towns: Pescul, Selva Di Cadore, Mareson-Pecol, Alleghe
Getting there
The trailhead for the Col De La Puina hike is accessible by car or, during the summer season, by bus.
By bus
Bus no. 10, operated by the Dolomiti Bus company, runs between Pescul and the villages in Val di Zoldo. It starts up in mid-June and continues to operate through the summer. Your exit stop will be Passo Staulanza, from where you can reach Rifugio Citta Di Fiume by hiking along path no. 472. You will arrive at the hut in approximately 45 minutes. It’s a slightly longer approach to the refuge than from the parking lot, but with less elevation gain. You can check the bus schedule here.
By car
The trailhead to Col De La Puina is a 10-minute drive from Selva Di Cadore or a 6-minute drive from Pescul on road 251. Both villages are located in the Fiorentina Valley. If you are coming from Mareson—Pecol in Val di Zoldo, the drive takes 13 minutes and passes over the Staulanza mountain pass.
Trail description
Stage 1: From the parking lot to Rifugio Citta Di Fiume – 30-45 mins
The hike is deceptively easy until the Citta di Fiume refuge, but it gets steeper and more strenuous once you step off the official trail. From the parking lot, trail number 467 follows a gravel road to the Citta Di Fiume hut. You will primarily hike within the tree line, with a few glimpses of the Fiorentina valley.
A couple of hundred meters before reaching the hut, the trail opens onto a grassy slope and the incredible Monte Pelmo. If you hike with a dog like me, keep it on the leash, particularly along this section, as cows and deer roam the nearby fields.
Stage 2: From rifugio Citta Di Fiume to the Col De La Puina ridgeline – 45-60 mins
Once you reach the refuge, continue up path no. 467 for 10-15 minutes until you see a path veering off from the gravel road onto an unmarked trail. I will admit it is not easy to choose the correct trail, as there are many cow-made trails.
The key point is that, as soon as you veer off the path, you should follow a broad ridgeline. As you climb higher, the ridgeline gets narrower. It would help if you reviewed my map beforehand.
The last 100 meters before the summit are pretty steep. Since this is an unofficial trail, there are no red-painted markings to guide you, unlike those that are always present on official hiking paths in the Dolomites.
Stage 3: Col De La Puina to the parking lot – 60-90 mins
Since this is an out-and-back trail, you will follow the same path to return to your car.
Overnight stay & dining possibilities on the Col De La Puina hike
Rifugio Citta Di Fiume is the only hut along the hike to Col De La Puina, and it offers overnight stays. The hut is usually open between the third week of June and the third week of September. You could also take advantage of their restaurant and try a few local dishes or have a cold beer after the hike. The massive walls of Monte Pelmo dwarf the refuge, and the hut was built at its foot.
I once spent a night here while traversing Alta Via 1, and I remember the hut’s great atmosphere and kind staff. The Italian Alpine Club owns the hut and offers members discounts. For more information about the ins and outs of staying in mountain huts in the Dolomites, head to my other article.
Where to stay nearby
Val Fiorentina and Val Di Zoldo are well-known ski areas in the Dolomites. There are plenty of accommodation options in the area. My recommendation is to stay in Alleghe, a beautiful historic town built on the shore of a turquoise alpine lake with Monte Civetta in the background.
Val Fiorentina
Enjoy the quiet forest location of Hotel Ca’del Bosco in Selva Di Cadore or the mountain views and spa in Hotel Orso Grigio in Pescul.
Alleghe
Take a breath of fresh air from the balcony of Villa Edelweiss overlooking the turquoise lake Alleghe.
Other activities nearby
Via ferrata
Travel resources for the Dolomites
What to bring and wear on a hike
Salewa Wildfire Edge Approach Shoes
My go-to pair of hiking shoes for easier trails or via ferrata, where I don’t need extra ankle support. They provide excellent grip on the rock and are very durable.
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Black Diamond Trekking Poles
I never leave on a trail without a pair of my trusted Black Diamond Carbon Z Poles. At 300 grams a pair, they are hard to compete with.
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HydraPak Hydration Bladder
There is no better way to stay hydrated on the trails than to have constant and direct access to your water without taking your backpack off. Thanks to its slim design, the hose coming out of the side of the bladder, and a magnet clip that makes the hose attachment easy, I find the HydraPak the best water bladder on the market.
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Osprey 30+ Liter Backpack
30-40 litre backpack will be more than enough to pack everything you need for a day trip in the Dolomites, with plenty of room for water and snacks and you can also use it on multiday hut-to-hut treks. I am a big fan of Osprey backpacks and currently own the Eja 38-litre. Osprey has plenty of options in this storage volume range.
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Merino Wool Socks
Merino wool fibres and their unique properties make them resistant to odours. Unlike cotton socks, merino wool socks also prevent blisters.
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Hi Marta, beautiful photos! Curious if you did this one for sunset or sunrise? The light on the larches looks stunning.
Hi Josh. Thank you for your lovely comment. I did it for sunset and walked back down in the dark.
Hello,
Your website is beautiful and informative.
I am going to be in the Dolmites AUg 21-23, and am looking for a moderate hike that we can come at 10 AM and still park and not have to deal with huge amounts of crowds.
Was thinking of possibly Lake Coldai _ have you hiked to the top of mount coldai as well?
Or maybe COl de la Puina.
Which would you recommend as more relaxed atmosphere in mid- AUg?
We are a family with mostly older teens who have experience hiking.
thank you
Hi Sara. Thanks for your great feedback. I would recommend staying in Val Di Fassa. There is a huge parking lot at the bottom of the Col Rodella chairlift which you can take up. from the top station you can do Sassolungo Circuit or hike to Rifugio Alpe Di Tires then down to Campitello Di Fassa via Rifugio Micheluzzi. Visit the article i linked to about val di fassa to see the hikes. If you don’t have fear of heights you could also try Piz Boe summit. Easier hikes like Monte Castellaz or Col De La Puina can be reached from Val Di Fassa by 30-60 minute drive. I hope that helps.