See the unique view of the famous Tre Cime from the summit of Strudelkopf. Monte Specie is the perfect choice for an easy half-day summit hike. It offers great rewards and requires little effort.
Total round-trip distance
9.25 kilometres / 5.75 miles
Elevation gain
320 meters / 1050 feet
Time required
3-3.5 hours
Overview of the hike
The hike to Monte Specie traverses the Plätzwiese, a high-alpine plateau in the Fannes-Sennes-Braies Nature Park in the northern Dolomites. If you stay in any town in the Puster Valley, you will have excellent access to this hike. The hike follows mostly a wide gravel road before turning into a wide trail that leads to a broad summit. You get fantastic views of Monte Piana, the Cadini di Misurina mountain group, and Tre Cime from there.
TIP: Plan your entire trip with my comprehensive Italian Dolomites Guide.
The map & elevation profile of the hike
Important info about the Monte Specie hike
The Monte Specie hike is accessible during the summer and autumn, when the bus runs to the Plätzwiese high alpine plateau from early June until early November. The hike can be pretty muddy in the early season.
When to go: June to early November
Trail difficulty: Easy
Trail numbers: 40A, 34
Type of hike: Out and back
Highest point: 2318 meters / 7604 feet
Parking:
top 46.65672, 12.1752; bottom 46.67763, 12.14916
Trailhead:
46.65637, 12.1761
Nearest towns: Monguelfo, Dobiacco, San Candido
Getting there
The trailhead can be reached by car or bus, but some restrictions must be considered. The road leading to Plätzwiese’s high-alpine plateau is narrow and winding. There is a toll booth at the bottom of the road, and the parking lot at the top is limited. It’s better to leave the car in the bottom parking lot in Ponticello (or at your hotel) and take the bus to Plätzwiese.
TIP: Many hotels include a South Tyrol travel card in their stays, providing free travel on public transport across South Tyrol.
By bus
Bus no. 443 runs between Dobiacco and Plätzwiese (usually every 3 hours). You can check the schedule on the Suedtirolmobil.info site by typing in Plätzwiese (Prato Piazza) as your destination.
By car
The parking at the top is limited to 100 cars; you must pay a toll to access it (currently 10 euros/vehicle). The road is closed to private vehicles between 10 AM and 3 PM.
Overnight stay & dining possibilities
There are three huts along the route: Rifugio Prato Piazza (around 10 minutes into the hike), Rifugio Vallandro (around 45 minutes into the hike), and Malga Prato Piazza (2.5 hours into the hike). The first two offer overnight accommodation, while the last offers only dining options. If you want a meal with great views, I recommend having lunch at Rifugio Vallandro.
TIP: If you stay overnight on Plätzwiese, consider tackling the summit of Dürrenstein the next day.
Where to stay nearby
If you would like to hike to Monte Specie, I recommend staying in one of the towns in Puster Valley, such as Valdaora, San Candido, or Dobiacco. Puster Valley lies in the North of the Dolomites and has excellent access to the Fanes-Sennes-Braies and Tre Cime Nature Park trails, as well as to via ferratas.
Best Value
This apartment complex is part of the beautiful historic Hotel Groste in Valdaora. Apartment Guests can use the hotel’s Wellness facilities.
Top Rated
Hotel Simpaty is in a great, central, yet quiet location in Dobiacco. The facilities are modern and new.
