Seceda is definitely one of the places that impressed me the most in South Tyrol. Its steep cliffs and panoramic views are breathtaking and clearly show the smallness of man to the power of nature. And I love it, and I tremendously appreciate being part of something bigger than ourselves. Seceda is like that, and it is a place that must be visited in person because the photos do not reflect all the emotions that this place can evoke. I was here in October, which is the end of the season, and I don’t regret it because the Dolomites in fall time are poetically beautiful.
Take a look at this post because I have gathered here all the most important information about Seceda – when to go, how to get there, and what trail to choose to experience it in the best possible way.
Where is Seceda located in the Dolomites?
Mount Seceda lies within the Puez Odle Natural Park (Naturpark Puez-Geisler) and is one of the many mountains that make up the Odle Group (Geislergruppe or Gruppo delle Odle), rising 2518 meters above sea level above the towns of Ortisei, St. Christina, and Selva in Val Gardena.
The name “Odle” comes from the Ladin language, which is used, among others, by the people of Val Gardena and means “needles” – and they exactly resemble these peaks. The name Seceda comes from the Latin word siccus, which means “dry,” and it fits just right because this mountain landscape can be extremely harsh (especially outside the summer season).
When is the best time to go to Seceda?
The hikes season starts at the beginning/middle of June and lasts until the beginning/middle of October.
The fastest way to reach Seceda is via the Ortisei-Furnes-Seceda cable cars. In the summer season, they usually run from early June to mid-October. The exact dates can be found on the Seceda Cable Cars website.
The best time to visit Seceda is September or early October. There are not so many tourists and the weather is still stable. The summer season is way too overloaded.
It is worth checking the weather conditions at the top of Seceda on an ongoing basis. The best way to do so is via Seceda webcam HERE.
How to get to Seceda?
The quickest and easiest direct way to the top of the Seceda is from the Ortisei-Furnes gondola station in Ortisei, which then connects to the Furnes-Seceda cable car.
If you come to Ortisei by car, you can park directly at the gondola station or in the underground parking lot Garage Central in the heart of Ortisei.
At the Ortisei-Furnes gondola station, you need to buy a ticket to use the lift.
The gondola and cable car rides are enjoyable due to the views along the way. After the gondola ride, proceed to the Furnes-Seceda cable car station. It is located a short distance from the hotel. It will let us reach the top. The rides take about 15 minutes in total.
Let’s put it this way. It’s just brilliant that you can take a cable car to a place like this instead of climbing. As soon as you get off the cable car, you will be genuinely amazed by the view. Tipped mountains are rising vertically into the sky and a valley stretching out below. Seceda offers one of the most beautiful mountain experiences in South Tyrol – an unforgettable view of the Dolomites. We can have it without much physical effort getting to the top in comfortable conditions.
Practical tip: The cable car from Ortisei to Seceda usually runs from 8.30 am to 5.30 pm from early June to mid-October. Check the timetable here. A two-way ticket costs EUR 35 (children 8-15 years – EUR 17.50). There are parking spaces at the cable car station, parking costs EUR 8.
Hike to the Seceda without cable car in mid or late October
If you want to visit Seceda in mid-October, when the cable cars are no longer operational, you can climb up Seceda from the Praplan car park above Santa Cristina, another town in Val Gardena. However, you must know that this is a challenging hike for advanced hikers.
Another option is to park in the parking lot at the Col Raiser gondola station in Selva, Val Gardena (address: Col Raiser, Str. Raiser 65, 39048 Selva Val Gardena). This is where the 6-kilometer hike (950 m elevation) to the Seceda begins. One way takes about 4 hours. Go with the trails: 1, 1a, and 2.
Which trail to choose while on the Seceda
There are many different trails on the Seceda, varying in difficulty and distance. If you are interested in a scenic walk, you can reach the main viewpoint of Fermeda Towers in less than 15 minutes. Just follow trail no. 1. Seceda is worth a visit, as the view is stunning.
If you are looking for something more challenging, you can choose the trail to Rifugio Firenze. After enjoying the scenic views of the Fermeda Tower, continue on trail 2B towards Pieralonga. You pass Rifugio overlooking the twin towers of Pieralong. You can stop here for a snack or lunch at Rifugio Firenze. It also offers panoramic mountain views. You only have 1,5 hours to go back to the Seceda summit station.
Seceda mountain station to the Seceda viewpoint (10 minutes)
After leaving the Seceda cable car station, follow the signs to the viewpoint. The hike to the viewpoint, marked with a cross and a circular board showing the most visible peaks in the Italian and Austrian Alps, takes no more than 10 minutes.
From Seceda viewpoint to Pieralongia (40 minutes)
As you follow the ridge, continue your hike towards the jagged peaks of Fermeda (Pitla Fermeda, Grana Fermeda, Gran Odla).
The path goes down into trail no. 6. Follow it through the Seceda Alp to the Forcella de Pana/Panascharte (2439 m), a couloir that leads to Val di Funes.
At the Panascharte intersection, turn right and follow trail no. 1 towards the Trojer Hütte/Baita Trojer hut, referred to as Troier on the hiking maps.
At the next intersection, turn left onto trail 2B towards the Pieralongia hut. On the right, the trail leads to Baita Troier.
The stunning landscape of the Pieralongia hut, with its twin spires as its hallmark, is a real eye-catcher. Here is a rustic mountain chalet nestled among dolomite boulders where light snacks and drinks are served.
Pieralongia to Rifugio Firenze/Regensburger Hütte (40 minutes)
After you pass the Pieralongia hut, continue straight on 2B for another 10-15 minutes (780m). At the intersection, turn right onto trail 13B to Rifugio Firenze.
After another 7-10 minutes, continue on Trail 13 until you reach the Firenze Hut.
Rifugio Firenze/Regensburger Hütte is much more than just a place to dine. It is an oasis with panoramic views of the Odle/Geisler, Muntejela, Mont de Stevia, and Sassolungo/Langkofel peaks. During the summer season, Rifugio is surrounded by grazing horses and cows.
Rifugio Firenze also offers accommodation for tourists. If you are interested in an overnight stay, I recommend booking in advance. Here are the contact details of the hut: Fam. Perathoner 39047 St. Christina – Tel: +39 0471 796307 info@rifugiofirenze.com
Rifugio Firenze/Regensburger Hütte to Seceda mountain station (1.20 – 1.30 h)
To finish the hike along the circular trail you need to go back along trail no. 1 to Seceda. This part of the route continues uphill. After about 40-50 minutes you will reach the Baita Troier Hut.
Continue climbing trail no. 1 back to the Seceda mountain station.
How difficult is this hike through the Seceda?
This is an easy and moderate hike, depending on the trail you choose. The difficulty will obviously depend on how acclimatized you are at higher altitudes, the weather conditions, and your physical condition.
Technically speaking, the hike is easy. However, it involves climbing and 575 meters and going down. After rain or snowfall, the terrain can be very slippery. Unfortunately, I experienced it at the beginning of October. The hiking poles can be helpful.
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My experiences at the Seceda during the fall
During my October trip to the Dolomites, I had several approaches to Seceda and actually changed the trip day every day because of low visibility. Finally, when I could not postpone the trip day anymore, it was the afternoon hike. The weather was fall-like, foggy, and there was snow here and there. On the other hand, this place had a gloomy, dark, and mysterious atmosphere, and I honestly prefer it over perfectly blue sky and green grass. It is more dramatic in terms of experience and taking photos. Anyway, you can see in the photos how amazing of the atmosphere was there.
When I got to the top, I was literally blown away by truly magical conditions. I stood there in awe as the fog ran down the rim of the mountain plateau and the Geisler peaks jutted out above the clouds far in the distance. It was almost like walking in a dream, and all the more, I recommend being here off-season.
For the best views of the Fermeda, start your hike in Seceda and follow trail no. 1 as indicated by the signs.
This trail led me up a hill through the fog, which every beginner hiker can handle. Soon I found myself at the foot of the imposing cross on the top of Seceda. Next to it, there is a circular viewpoint carved out of iron, thanks to which you can recognize all the mountains in the area. I only saw their outlines looming somewhere among the fog and clouds. It was a truly fascinating view.
As you look in the direction of Alpe di Siusi, more iconic peaks of the Dolomites can be seen on the horizon, including the Sella Group, the Sassolungo massif, and the Witches’ Mountain (Mt. Schlern). From here, you can even spot the king of the South Tyrolean mountains, Ortler, who lures you from 3905 meters above sea level.
Just behind the cross to the east is the perfect spot to capture some of the most photogenic scenes from the Fermeda Towers. From here, I continued my hike towards the Fermeda Towers. The path began to go down at this point slightly. The view around is breathtaking; it will demonstrate the power of mountain nature.
Finally, I came to the signpost of trail no. 6. If you follow this trail to the left, you will come to the steep Furcela Pana (Pana-Scharte), from which you can admire the Fermeda Towers from the cliff edge.
This view never gets boring and is idyllic in its own extraordinary way. It is worth seeing famous places from the perspective of less popular seasons. October is perfect for Seceda.
The material was created in collaboration with South Tyrol Tourism Organization
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