Dolomites

Demanding

Alta Via 2

Alta Via 2 hut-to-hut: 160 km from Bressanone to Feltre in 12–14 days. Harder than AV1, with via ferrata through the Puez-Odle, Marmolada and Pale di San Martino.

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Distance
160 km
Days
12–14
Ascent
10,190 m
Max altitude
2,932 m

Alta Via 2 is the via ferrata cousin of AV1. It runs from Bressanone (Brixen) in the north down to Feltre in the south, crossing the Puez-Odle, Sella, Marmolada, San Lucano and Pale di San Martino. Most days finish above 2,400 m.

Several sections — the Lichtenstein ferrata above Puez, the cables under the Marmolada, the Cesare Piazzetta on the Sella, and the long ferrata around Cima di Ball in the Pale — make it the Alta Via with the most fixed-cable exposure. A short via ferrata set (harness, lanyard, helmet) is mandatory.

Highlights

  • Plose ridge above Bressanone on the opening day
  • Puez-Odle plateau and the Forcella della Roa ferrata
  • Sella crossing via the Pisciadù and Boè rifugi
  • Marmolada south face seen from Rifugio Contrin
  • Cima di Ball ferrata in the Pale di San Martino
  • Schiener traverse to the Vette Feltrine

Day-by-day itinerary

  1. Day 1 — Bressanone → Rifugio Città di Bressanone (Plose)

    3 h
    8 km900 m100 m

    Plose gondola to 2,052 m strongly recommended; full walk on foot is 27 km / 6.5 h.

  2. Day 2 — Rifugio Plose → Rifugio Genova (Schlüterhütte)

    5 h
    15 km500 m650 m

    Via Forcella di Putia; water scarce early.

  3. Day 3 — Rifugio Genova → Rifugio Puez

    6 h
    15 km850 m670 m

    Via Forcella Roa (scree/exposed) and Forcella Sielles; no resupply en route.

  4. Day 4 — Rifugio Puez → Rifugio Pisciadù

    5 h
    10 km570 m460 m

    Via Passo Gardena / Sella plateau; cable-aided traverse.

  5. Day 5 — Rifugio Pisciadù → Rifugio Castiglioni alla Marmolada

    7 h
    19 km750 m1280 m

    Via Arabba / Passo Pordoi (cable car option at Pordoi); long descent.

  6. Day 6 — Rifugio Castiglioni → Malga Ciapela (hotel)

    2 h
    9 km80 m600 m

    Trail descent. Stage 6 split here to avoid a 25 km day — overnight in valley hotel.

  7. Day 7 — Malga Ciapela → Passo San Pellegrino (hotel)

    5 h
    16 km530 m60 m

    Mostly SP road + path; Trentino bus available if you skip the road walk.

  8. Day 8 — Passo San Pellegrino → Rifugio Volpi al Mulaz

    7 h
    14 km1100 m500 m

    Via Forcella della Stia; hardest ascent segment.

  9. Day 9 — Rifugio Mulaz → Rifugio Pedrotti alla Rosetta

    5 h
    8 km760 m750 m

    Sentiero delle Farangole; max 2,932 m — highest point on AV2.

  10. Day 10 — Rifugio Rosetta → Rifugio Treviso

    7 h
    14 km720 m1600 m

    Via Rifugio Pradidali (paths 702/715/709); steep descent to Val Canali.

  11. Day 11 — Rifugio Treviso → Passo Cereda (hotel)

    4.5 h
    10 km1150 m900 m

    Path 718 over Forcella d'Oltro; small hotel/rifugio at the pass.

  12. Day 12 — Passo Cereda → Rifugio Bruno Boz

    6.5 h
    14 km1200 m600 m

    Via Bivacco Walter Bodo Feltre; Sentiero dell'Intaiada.

  13. Day 13 — Rifugio Boz → Rifugio Dal Piaz

    7 h
    15 km900 m650 m

    Traverse Vette Feltrine; path 801.

  14. Day 14 — Rifugio Dal Piaz → Feltre

    6 h
    19 km180 m1670 m

    Via Croce d'Aune; mostly descent on path 801 and road.

Rifugi on this route

  • Rifugio Plose
  • Rifugio Genova / Schlüterhütte
  • Rifugio Puez
  • Rifugio Pisciadù
  • Rifugio Castiglioni Marmolada
  • Rifugio Mulaz
  • Rifugio Rosetta
  • Rifugio Pradidali
  • Rifugio Treviso
  • Rifugio Bruno Boz
  • Rifugio Dal Piaz

Logistics

Getting there
Fly into Innsbruck (INN), Verona (VRN), or Venice (VCE). Bressanone is on the main Brennero–Bolzano–Verona line — direct trains from all three airports.
Getting back
From Feltre, regional trains run to Padova (≈1h40) and on to Venice or Verona.
Permits
No permit required. Camping is forbidden in the protected areas — overnight only in rifugi or bivouacs.
Booking
Book every rifugio when the season opens (early March). The Pale section (Rosetta, Pradidali, Mulaz) fills first because it's also walked by AV3 hikers and weekend climbers.

Season & difficulty

Best season
Early July to mid-September
Difficulty
Demanding
Start
Bressanone / Brixen (BZ)
End
Feltre (BL)

What to pack

  • B/C-rated approach boots — solid edging matters on cabled sections
  • Via ferrata set: certified lanyard, harness, helmet (mandatory)
  • 30–40 L pack (a bit more than AV1 for the kit)
  • Sleeping-bag liner (sacco lenzuolo)
  • Waterproof shell and warm mid-layer — afternoon storms above 2,500 m
  • Head-torch
  • Cash for rifugi that take cards intermittently

FAQ

How hard is Alta Via 2 compared with AV1?

Noticeably harder. Daily ascents are 900–1,400 m, average altitude is higher, and several days include obligatory via ferrata. Walkers comfortable with cables and exposure can do it; if AV1 felt like your limit, do that one again before stepping up.

Do I really need a via ferrata kit?

Yes. The Forcella della Roa, the Cesare Piazzetta on the Sella, and the Cima di Ball traverse in the Pale all have sustained cabled sections. A helmet is also mandatory — rockfall is real, especially mid-afternoon.

Can I skip the hardest ferrate?

Some, not all. The Roa has a longer alternative around Forcella Nives. The Pale ferrata can be skipped by descending to San Martino di Castrozza and rejoining at Passo Cereda, but you lose the best day of the route.

When is the best time to walk AV2?

Mid-July to early September. Snow lingers on the Marmolada and Pale passes into early July most years — check the Rosetta and Mulaz huts before booking late June.

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