Friuli Dolomites Hiking Traverse

Today, you arrive on your own in Longarone and check in at the base camp hotel. Longarone is a small town in the south-east of the Dolomites, logistically connected to the Venice region. It is one of the convenient gateways to the Dolomites. Little known today, Longarone was one of the towns destroyed by the Vajont dam disaster in 1963 and subsequently rebuilt. Upon arrival in Longarone, the rest of the day is free to rest, take time to study your route on maps, and prepare for the days ahead.

The trip begins with a transfer deep into the mountains along the access road to the Rifugio Pordenone mountain hut. It is in one of the most remote areas of the Friuli Dolomites where you will not even have mobile phone coverage, and it is the ideal starting point for hikes to two of the region’s iconic landmarks – Campanile di Val Montanaia and Monte Ferrara. Given the distances, each of them requires a separate day. We recommend a hike to Campanile di Val Montanaia first. You can hike along this route light, leaving your backpack at the mountain hut. For the most part, the trail passes through a forest belt. As you ascend, the mixed forest quickly gives way to coniferous forests, dominated by larch. When you approach the “Campanile”, you find yourself on a stable scree covered with sparse dwarf pine. Closer to the base of the “Campanile” the rocky terrain gradually gives way to a green expanse in a stunning alpine amphitheater. Campanile di Val Montanaia is a uniquely shaped formation, which stands out sharply against the background of the surrounding landscape. Formed by erosion, this spire rises elegantly to a height of approximately 240 meters. In Italian, it is called “Campanile” (Bell Tower) for its characteristic shape. Another common name for it is "Stone Scream". It was first climbed in 1902, and today it is a true symbol for climbers. The “Campanile” stands in an alpine basin, and next to it there is a shelter – a good place for rest and to observe climbers. If you hear a bell ringing, it is the climbers who have reached the top and are ringing the summit bell.

Today it is time to reach the second landmark of the central Friuli Dolomites: Monte Ferrara. This mountain is 2258 meters high, and it is not the highest one in the area, but it offers a vast and exceptionally picturesque panorama of the Friuli Dolomites. At the same time, it is relatively easily accessible unlike most mountain tops in the Friuli Dolomites. Monte Ferrara is a natural observation deck with a panorama stretching across the Dolomites, Carnic Alps and Julian Alps. On a clear day, even the glaciers on the ridges of the Italian-Austrian border are visible from the summit. You will approach Monte Ferrara on a panoramic trail, where you will almost certainly not meet a single person for the entire day. The first stretch of the hike winds through the forest until a saddle at 1920 meters, beyond which you turn onto a trail to Monte Ferrara that most people do not know about. As you climb up from the saddle, you will emerge from the sparse larch trees into open terrain. The grassy slopes of Monte Ferrara offer an easy climb to the summit, from which you can see the entire chain of peaks of the Spalti di Toro as well as the Campanile di Val Montanaia that you reached the day before.

The route continues along one of the most scenic and little-traveled trails in the region: the Truoi dai Sclops. In the local Forni dialect, its name means "Path of the Gentianellas" and refers to the Gentiana Froelichii (Blue Gentian), an endemic plant found only in the southeastern Alps. This blue flower blooms abundantly along the route. The trail begins in Val Meluzzo, in a wide, flat ravine covered with sparse birch forest and resembling a transitional ecotone between taiga and tundra rather than an alpine forest. As the trail climbs, the landscape becomes more varied, and views of the Pramaggiore ridge and the peaks of Monfalcone di Forni open up. The area through which Truoi dai Sclops passes is an example of the rich geological diversity and biodiversity of the Dolomiti Friulane Nature Park. Truoi dai Sclops runs for a long time at an altitude of 1800 - 1900 meters along the sunny southern slope. The vegetation here is represented by groups of dwarf pine with rare larch trees and a wide variety of flowers including Blue Gentians. You will climb this slope to the pass, cross to the northern side of the ridge and, descending into the larch forest, reach the mountain hut.

Today, you will hike a long section of Alta Via No. 6 of the Dolomites, also known as the "Alta Via of Silence". The name perfectly describes the spirit of this route – this is a hike through remote, quiet and untouched landscapes, where solitude and nature still prevail. Leaving the hut, you leave behind the rugged Dolomitic environment to enter the idyllic yet equally wild southern side of the Carnic Alps. With gentle ups and downs, you cross the gravel slopes of Monte Cridola, immersed in a wild and silent mountain setting, surrounded by forests. As you walk toward Passo della Mauria, you descend to the forest belt and continue your hike in the vibrant atmosphere of a dense coniferous forest, rich in aromas and sounds. The forest trail ends with a climb to Casera Lavazeit where the scenery opens dramatically. You will continue along a natural balcony with views of the Tagliamento Valley and the Carnic Alps. This is a remarkable panoramic trail with wide and endless views. In clear days, you can even spot the impressive Tre Cime di Lavaredo in the distance. This trail runs through high meadows all the way to the mountain hut.

The final hiking day offers a section of the historic Via delle Malghe route, known in the local Fornese dialect as Truoi da las mons – the "Mountain Farm Route”. This scenic trail, over 20 km long, connects several dairy farms scattered along the slopes of Forni di Sopra. It was once used by local shepherds and farmers, who took their herds to the high-altitude pastures during the warmer months. The trail goes around the northern slope of Monte Tiarfin, the dominant mountain of the area. Leaving Casera Tartoi, you will ascend through a rocky area called the Agons di Tiarfin and reach a saddle at 2300 meters. Here, you will be rewarded with a 360-degree panorama with the Belluno Dolomites, Carnic Alps, Austrian glaciers in the north, and the Julian Alps stretching into neighboring Slovenia. The locals call this area “Agons”. This word of Friulian or Latin origin refers to sharp peaks, typical of the Dolomite skyline. From Agons a long descent begins, first steep to Casera Tragonia and then gentle into the valley. Beyond Casera Tragonia descent continues through dense forests until the trail leads you to the town of Forni di Sopra where your trek ends.

It is the final day of the trip, the departure day. If you have time in the morning, it is worth taking a short stroll around Forni di Sopra. The name "Forni di Sopra" refers to the geographical location of the town. "Forni" in Friuli is used to describe a small valley, while "Sopra" refers to its position above the valley below. Forni di Sopra is a quiet and absolutely non-touristy town despite being one of the nearest base camp locations for exploring the Friuli Dolomites.

This shortened version of the tour will only allow you to hike to one of the landmarks of the central Friuli Dolomites – Campanile di Val Montanaia or Monte Ferrara. You will spend one day in the area, but reaching both spots on the same day is too difficult, as they are located in diametrically opposite directions from the mountain hut. With this tour option, on Day 2 you will be in the central Dolomites and hike to Campanile di Val Montanaia or Monte Ferrara on your choice. Then, starting from Day 4, you will continue the trek as described in the main itinerary.