Dürrenstein, 2839 m

Short or long?

• Start: Gemärk/Cimabanche (1.530 m) or parking place Plätzwiese (1.979 m)
• Train/bus:
  Start Gemärk/Cimabanche: bus Sexten-Toblach, Bus Toblach- Misurina-Drei Zinnen;
  Start Plätzwiese: bus Sexten-Toblach, Toblach-Pragser Wildsee, Brückele- Plätzwiese;
• Time of walk: from Gemärk rise 4h, descent 2 ¾h; total 6 ¾h; From Plätzwiese total 4h
• Huts: Plätzwiese-Hut and Hotel Hohe Gaisl
• Map: KOMPASS no 635

There is no question that Dürrenstein is one of the most beautiful vantage points in the north of the Dolomites, and this is also due to its peripheral location: the dolomite peaks are light grey, the Pustertal valley is green-wavy, and the granites and gneisses in the north, in the Rieserferner group and on the main Alpine ridge, are dark. This attracts many visitors, and most of them come from the Pustertal valley because you can drive right up to the edge of the Prato Piazza (1,991 m). Of course, this shortens the ascent considerably. If you start in the Gemärk, you first have to climb up through the Knappenfußtal valley to the alpine pasture region, but you usually don't have much company - quite the opposite of the actual summit trail. At the top of Dürrenstein, it can get pretty crowded in good summer weather. It's a completely different story down in the mountains late in the afternoon: when you arrive back at the "Strada d' Alemagna" after the big tour, the excursionists have long since left, the last rays of sunlight are flickering on the Cristallo and a few trucks are whizzing by. Contrasts, as you can always find in the Dolomites. From the pass summit Im Gemärk ( 1,530 m) on the gravel road over the scree cone overgrown with mountain pines into the Knappenfußtal valley and through the ditch to its end; here turn right, steeply uphill through a shallow hollow to the Plätzwiese inn ( 1,991 m). Cross the road and continue a little further to the cross-country "Dolomiten-Höhenweg 3". Cross the road and follow the path that climbs diagonally through the bare south-western flank of the mountain peak (Brunen), then above the Dürrenstein alpine pasture in hairpin bends to the ridge. Along the ridge to the pre-peak, behind it over a short rock step down and to the cross-adorned main peak (wire rope) of the Dürrenstein (2,839 m). The panoramic view with the Hohe Gaisl (3,146 m) and the Cristallo massif is magnificent. Descent on the ascent path.

Elevation profile

Compass map