Cima dei Colesei, 1.972m

Suitable for bike- and hiking tours

• Start: Hotel Alpenblick
• Train/bus: bus Sexten- Innichen- Toblach in direction Kreuzbergpass
• Time of walk: rise 2h, descent ¾h; total 2 ¾h
• Huts: Rifugio Lunelli, Hotel Kreuzbergpass;
• Map: KOMPASS no 625

To call the grassy hill with the sonorous name a summit right away is perhaps a bit of an exaggeration, as it is merely the last spur of the rocky ridge that stretches from the Rotwand far to the east. But what the Cima dei Colesei lacks in stature, it easily makes up for with its panoramic view. From hardly any other spot can you enjoy such a beautiful view of the wild rocky area of the Val Popera and the eastern range of the Sesto Dolomites, from the Elferkofel (3092 m) over the rocky fingers of the Campanili di Popera (2657 m) and the massive Cima Bagni (2983 m) to the Cima Padola (2623 m). What a contrast to the wide forest and alpine landscape below the main Carnic ridge! The start is from the hotel to the Wald- und Weisensattel of the Kreuzbergpass (on foot or by public bus). First take the road gently downhill to the first big left-hand bend (sign); here take a flat track into a shallow depression (1603 m). Now in a gentle up and down through the wooded flank with the appropriate name "Bosco sotto Colesei" to the summit road. The road climbs gently in hairpin bends and soon leads out of the forest. With a splendid view of the rocky scenery of Val Popera, you hike towards the flattened Cima dei Colesei; finally on the right with ruined trenches to the highest point. Return to the road and with it to the Forcella Pian della Biscia (1942 m). From the hollow (path pointer) through an open hollow down to the alpine pasture and through sparse woodland to the tiny, silting up Bear Lake (Lago dell'Orso, 1769 m). A little further on, the high trail coming from the Rotwand meadows joins on the left. Follow it - finally parallel to the ski lifts - down to the Kreuzberg Pass and back to the hotel.

Elevation profile

Compass map