Kreuzbergpass, 1.636 m

The Kreuzberg Pass (1636 m) is not only the border between South Tyrol and the province of Belluno, between German and Italian; the shallow watershed also separates light dolomite from quartz phyllite. This can be clearly seen in the landscape: in the southwest, rugged-wild limestone walls, while to the north, towards the main Carnic ridge, gentle forms predominate, green predominates. The high-altitude hike from the Rotwand meadows to the Kreuzberg Pass also moves between rocky grey and white-green. To the left, the walls of the Croda Rossa di Sesto and its satellites rise into the sky, to the left the wide forests and alpine pastures at the foot of the Carnic ridge spread out. The hike is particularly beautiful in autumn, of course, when the larches change colour and the high peaks already have their icing on the cake. From the hotel, walk to the lift station of the Rotwandwiesen cable car and take it to the Rotwandwiesen (1914 m) - past the Rudihütte - briefly downhill, then uphill on a wide meadow path to a path spider (1950 m; signs). Here straight on to another fork (2002 m), then slightly down and up again around the rocky Burgstall (2168 m). Behind the Schellaboden, the trail loses some height again; under the mighty rock falls of the Sextner Rotwand and the Neuner (2582 m), it crosses scree slopes and through boulder terrain to below the Arzalpenscharte. At the junction (sign) turn left and gently downhill. Not far from the Bärensee lake, you come across a sandy road that runs down to the Kreuzbergpass (1636 m). The way back to the Rotwand meadows (signpost 18) leads out of the open pass area onto a wide track, initially flat, to the Weißenbach stream. You cross two ditches and then come across a forest track that leads slightly uphill to a clearing on the edge of the Schellaboden. Continue on a good path through the beautiful larch groves to the spider trail mentioned at the beginning and back to the lift station. From there, take the cable car to the valley station and back to the hotel.