Stage 4: Pelmo Group

From Rifugio A. Sonino al Coldai to Rifugio Venezia - Alba Maria De Luca (to Pelmo)

The fourth stage marks the passage from Civetta to Pelmo, with an itinerary that links the two Systems of the Dolomites, a UNESCO World Heritage Site (System no. 1 “Pelmo ‑ Croda da Lago” and System no. 3 “Pale di San Martino, San Lucano, Belluno Dolomites, Vette Feltrine”).

From Rifugio Coldai, descend northeast along trail 556, an old military mule track, reaching the Malga Pióda pastures (1,816 m) where a dirt road - closed to private vehicles - climbs from Palafavera (provincial road 251). From Malga Pióda, follow trail 561 via the saddle of Forcella d’Alleghe, and cross the eastern ridge of Col dei Baldi (ski area) at 1885 m.

The route then descends into the Rio Canédo valley among paths and meadows, reaching Casèra Vescovà (1,734 m) and a natural surface road that runs along the left side of the valley; it heads east beside trail 568 until it joins provincial road 251 at a hairpin bend at 1,715 m. A short asphalt climb leads to Passo Staulanza (1,766 m, about 2 hours).

On the east side of the pass, take the marked path that climbs into the woods, with sometimes muddy sections, and joins trail 472, Alta Via no. 1, coming from Rifugio Città di Fiume. The track continues south-east into the forest and streams into a large open area under the bulk of Pelmetto; here, a marked track on the left leads to a famous boulder with dinosaur footprints, a unique testimony to the geological history of the Dolomites. Back to the main trail, 472, you nearly always hike at high altitude at the foot of Pelmetto and Pelmo, up to a streamlet in Le Mandre de So’ Pèlf (1,908 m); trail 473 joins here, climbing from Coi. Following the comfortable 472 trail, you gain a little altitude up to an outstanding plateau, the altopiano de I Làch (1,982 m), wide and grassy, closed by the imposing southern wall of Mount Pelmo.

Turning north, the path brushes against the base of the Pelmo South-East Shoulder with the characteristic spur of La Dambra, so called for its shape reminiscent of typical Zoldo footwear, and reaches the Campi di Rutorto pastures. From here, you soon reach Rifugio Venezia - Alba Maria De Luca (al Pelmo) (1,946 m, 5 hours), magnificently located below the eastern slope of the “Caregón del Padreterno”, Pelmo’s nickname meaning “The Throne of the Eternal Father”.