The Serrai are a canyon cut by the Pettorina stream below the Marmolada, in the municipality of Rocca Pietore. The gorge runs for about two kilometres between Sottoguda and Malga Ciapela. In places the walls close in to a few metres and rise hundreds of metres above your head. Water drops from above in several waterfalls: the best known is the Franzei waterfall, over a hundred metres high. Along the way you also pass a small chapel dedicated to Saint Anthony.
Winter changes everything. The waterfalls freeze and the gorge becomes one of the busiest spots in Europe for ice climbing. The ice flows draw climbers from outside the region, and those who don't climb can walk through the canyon and look up at the frozen walls. The Vaia storm of 2018 hit this area hard and the Serrai stayed closed for years. After seven years of works they reopened to visitors in summer 2025, on a secured route that doesn't yet run all the way to Malga Ciapela.
You get there on foot: cars can't enter the gorge, and neither can the old tourist train, which is no longer running. You set off from the village of Sottoguda and walk into the canyon. You're in the heart of [Arabba and the Marmolada](/localita/arabba-marmolada), so you can pair the walk with a ride up to [the Marmolada glacier by cable car](/cosa-vedere/ghiacciaio-della-marmolada-funivia) from Malga Ciapela.
Frequently asked questions
How do you reach the Serrai di Sottoguda?
You enter on foot from the village of Sottoguda, along the valley-floor road that climbs the gorge toward Malga Ciapela. Cars are not allowed in the gorge. The tourist train that once ran through the Serrai is no longer in service either, so the visit is done on foot.
How much does it cost to enter and what are the hours?
Since the summer 2025 reopening there is an entry fee: around 5 euros for adults and 2 euros for kids aged 7 to 14, free under 7. Access is capped at a set number of visitors, usually from 9 am to 5 pm. Check current hours and prices before you go.
How long is the walk?
The open route is about two kilometres long and almost flat. On average it takes an hour one way, more if you stop at the waterfalls. After Vaia the stretch toward Malga Ciapela isn't fully restored yet, so the open part can be shorter than the full canyon.
Can you see the Serrai in winter too?
Yes. In winter the waterfalls freeze and the gorge becomes a reference point for ice climbing. Those who don't climb can still walk through the canyon and admire the ice flows from below. Dress warmly and wear shoes suited to icy ground.