Braies, Italy

Pragser Wildsee, also known as Lago di Braies, lies in a mostly German-speaking area of northern Italy close to the border with Austria. This glacial blue lake is surrounded by towering mountains and thick evergreen forests, which can be experienced on the 2.2-mile loop trail or Alta Via 1 trail....

Starting at the Hotel Lago Di Braies, you have the option to loop around the lake to hiker's left or right. To the left is the local dock, while to the right is a chapel and barn. Either way, you will end up where you started no longer than an hour and a half later. Once you are done with the loo...

Only an hour and a half from Bolzano, or an hour from Cortina d'Ampezzo, (my home base while in the Dolomites), Lago Di Braies is a must do half day trip. This popular destination is known for it's beautiful blue water and towering surrounding peaks and it does not disappoint. Most only see the p...

The Alta Via 1 is the definite trail through the Italian Dolomites, showcasing some of the most scenic terrain in all of the Alps. It begins at Lago di Braies and ends in the town Belluno, covering 150 kilometers and over 26,000' of elevation gain.Unlike backpacking or fastpacking in the United S...

You start this easy hike from just before the toll road station on the road up from Misurina to Rifugio Auronzo. As you are looking towards the peaks and the trail starts on the right side of the road. The first part of the route takes you through some forest and across a couple of streams before...

The famous Italy Dolomites are littered with numerous great hikes to showcase them, however, this trail is the cream of the crop. It will not disappoint. You have the option of hiking up to Rifugio Auronzo from Misurina, which is detailed out here. The other option that makes it easier if you're ...

The Dolomites in this area are absolutely stunning, and you can pair these massive mountains well in pictures with small towns like Auronzo, Reane, and Misurina. It may be a bit cold, but going in October or later will allow you to see the mountains with some snow sprinkled among the peaks. If y...

The hike to Lake Sorapis and Rifugio Vandelli is a nice day hike for all abilities of hiker. The trail starts from the roadside, on the road that leads from Cortina d'Ampezzo to Misurina. You'll see a gravel area at the side of the road where you can park - but get there early in the high season ...

Lago Limides is a small alpine lake on the Falzarego Pass in the Italian Dolomites, not far from Cortina d'Ampezzo.For this hike, we parked at the Falzarego Lagazuoi cable car station, and followed the trail on the opposite side of the road. The trail is a narrow dirt trail, but it's easy to foll...

Brass Tax Hiking tracks: 437, 434, 435 Distance: 7.8 miles  / 12.5 km  - 759 meter elevation change. Time: 7+ hours Difficulty: Moderate/difficult Stay: Rifugio Palmieri Things to Note: Trails in the Dolomites are defined by numbers. You will also notice in your planning that there are also tra...

If you want to add a via ferrata on to your itinerary for the Dolomites, then the Pisciadù Via Ferrata (also known as Brigata Tridentina Klettersteig) is one of the best. A Dolomites classic! This VF is easily accessible from the village of Colfosco, on the Passo Gardena mountain pass, with a sma...

If you're planning a trip to the Dolomites, you simply must plan a hut-to-hut hike.Last year I did a number of multi-day hikes from hut to hut, and this one definitely has to be one of the most dramatic.I've already shared the first day of the adventure in this post, so today I'm going to share t...

Seceda is one of the most famous (and most photographed) spots in all of the Italian Dolomites. This summer I decided to finally visit it to see if it was really worth the hype, and to see if there was a way to escape the worst of the crowds.Most tourists visit Seceda from Ortisei, taking the cab...

The hike from Passo San Pellegrino to Rifugio Mulaz is stage seven of the incredible Alta Via 2 multi-day hut-to-hut trek in the Dolomites, which starts in Brixen/Bressanone and ends in Croce d’Aune north of Venice. This challenging but stunning hike is full of incredible scenery, where lush gree...

Austria’s Zillertal Valley is a spectacular region of the Alps offering a plethora of hiking options. Locals as well as tourism hosts overwhelmingly recommended Olpererhütte! From Mayrhofen, a public transit bus delivers hikers directly to the trailhead. Mayrhofen is a great village to use as hom...

One of the most scenic lakes in the Dolomites, this spot can be found right along the road as you drive by from Lake Garda toward Lago Di Brais.  One of the richest and deepest blues in a glacial lake in the Dolomites. Definitely worth your time to stretch your legs and hike around this amazing s...