Seceda

Seceda / Secëda

A cable car ride of about 15 minutes from Ortisei takes you to the 2,500-meter summit, where the grassy slope suddenly breaks into the knife-edge ridges of the Odle. It is the most breathtaking viewpoint in the Dolomites.

Seceda (2,519 meters) lies on the north side of the Gardena Valley, within the Puez-Odle Nature Park. The summit is a grassy slope inclined to the south. At its northern edge, the grass suddenly drops into nearly vertical cliffs, and a row of tilted rock blades (the Fermeda towers and Sass Rigais) line up like knife edges. This 'slanted ridge' is one of the most famous photographs of the Dolomites, and it is one of the few breathtaking landscapes you can reach without a long hike. Getting there: from the Furnes-Seceda cable car station in the center of Ortisei (St. Ulrich), take two cable car sections for about 15 minutes to the summit station. The round-trip fare is about €45-50. In summer, it runs roughly 08:30-17:30, and in peak season it is best to buy tickets online. From the exit, walk 10 minutes to the ridge viewpoint. Following the ridge trail east for about 1 hour brings you to the Pieralongia hut, which has an excellent view of the south face of the Odle group. The trail heading west down the slope overlooks the Val di Funes. A classic hiking route down from the summit goes past the Troier hut and Pieralongia to the Col Raiser cable car station (about 2.5 hours, moderate difficulty; huts along the way serve meals). Then take the cable car down to Santa Cristina (S. Cristina), or walk all the way back to Ortisei (about 3.5 hours). The best photography times are the first cable car of the morning, when the ridge is lit from the side and the clouds have not yet dispersed, and after 4 p.m., when the low sun brings out the texture of the rock walls. In summer, clouds and fog often roll in during the afternoon, so check the weather forecast. The summit is at 2,500 meters and is windy, so bring a jacket. There is a summit restaurant and toilets. In winter, Seceda is part of the Dolomiti Superski network, and skiers can ski 10 km down the 'La Longia' piste from the summit all the way back to Ortisei. Seceda can also be combined with the Alpe di Siusi on the same day: visit Seceda in the morning, then take the Mont Sëuc cable car up to the plateau from the other side of Ortisei in the afternoon.

Seceda

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