Forcella del Lago Lagazuoi loop

Technical difficulty: 3/10
Fitness: 3/10
Objective danger: 2/10
Landscape: 9/10
Busy: 3/10

An easy loop with awesome Dolomite scenery in a not-so-busy area close to Lagazuói and Passo Valparola in South Tirol. It passes through great landscapes around Rifugio Scotoni and through Forcella del Lago Lagazuoi.

Starting point: Parking close to Camping Sas Dlacia
Ending point: Parking close to Camping Sas Dlacia
Length: 12.5km
Vertical: 900m
Speed: Fast wide trails for most of the way. Some lose rock towards the pass.

Route:

This week, I’ve got a special treat for you—a magical running route nestled in the peaceful Dolomites in South Tirol, right near the Passo Valparola. The trail is gentle and the scenery is straight out of a postcard. So let’s get started.

Our adventure kicks off at a parking lot close to the inviting Camping Sass Dlacia. And oh, if you’re planning to spend the night, I highly recommend this campsite. It’s the perfect base for this part of the Dolomites.

We set off on the trail passing by the campsite. The path leads us north-east up a gentle valley towards the Capanna Alpina. As we trot along, we are wrapped in the cool shade of the forest before the trail opens up to let us pass through some green meadows. The path is broad, making it a smooth run to Capanna Alpina. If you’re looking to shorten the loop, you can also park here.

Now, with Capanna Alpina behind us, our path heads south-east, running parallel to a ski slope as it leads us to the Rifugio Scotoni. As we reach this quaint hut, perched on a small plateau, we take a short breather before the trail calls us forward. Now, we zigzag through a rocky couloir, each step taking us higher towards a lake waiting at the top.

Reaching the top of the corridor, a small plateau welcomes us again. And some awesome views too! The summit of Lagazuoi stands tall to the south across the plateau while the peaceful Lago di Lagazuoi and the pass beyond it call from afar.

We run past the lake and start up a steep climb up a scree slope. Our goal? The col nestled between two grand Dolomite towers. As we reach this narrow gap, the coolness of the stone and the view through the towers is simply mesmerizing.

Now on to the saddle marked by a wooden signpost, we shift our course northward, traversing down the hillside gently towards the Le Gran Plan. Our path eventually merges with a bike trail, guiding us back south-west towards the campsite. As we pass the Col de Lucia, the trail narrows and leads into a steep descent before widening again as we approach Capanna Alpina one more time.

From here, we retrace our steps, the familiar trail leading us back to our starting point.

Photos by @the.running.nomad