The Giro del Sassolungo is one of those routes hikers pass on to each other like a small rite of passage. It starts at Passo Sella, at 2,244 metres, and circles the huge Sassolungo through terrain that keeps changing: scree slopes, pastures, rock amphitheatres, with the vertical towers always at your back. The classic loop, with the climb to Forcella Sassolungo, measures 10.8 kilometres and takes 3 hours 43 minutes of walking according to the Val Gardena tourist office, but the variety of scenery makes it feel longer, in the best way.
Along the way you pass several refuges that have written their own chapters in Dolomite climbing history: the Rifugio Comici, the Vicenza wedged between the Sassolungo and Sassopiatto, and high up at Forcella Sassolungo the Toni Demetz, which you can also reach on a distinctive egg-shaped cable car. Those lifts let you dial the effort up or down: you can shorten the loop or skip the steepest climb to the pass. The descent toward the Vicenza is the most technical bit, rated for experienced hikers, but it's no real trouble if you've got a steady foot. What sets the route apart is the rare mix of big mountain scenery and easy logistics, starting from a pass you can drive to.
Giro del Sassolungo is one of the routes we gathered by grade and by area: Trekking in the Dolomites: the best trails and how to plan your hike.
Frequently asked questions
Where does the Giro del Sassolungo start?
The classic start is Passo Sella, which you can drive to from Selva di Val Gardena or the Val di Fassa. From there the loop around the massif begins, usually heading first toward Rifugio Comici.
How demanding is the Giro del Sassolungo?
Our route page grades it for experienced hikers (EE): it asks for fitness, given the climbing and the stretches on scree. You can skip the steep climb to Forcella Sassolungo by taking the cable car to Rifugio Toni Demetz, while the descent toward Rifugio Vicenza is best left to experienced hikers.