Val Fiscalina (Fischleintal in German) branches off from Moso, a hamlet of Sesto, and runs just four and a half kilometres into the Tre Cime Nature Park. It's short, but it's one of the most beautiful valleys in the Dolomites. You walk along an almost flat valley floor with an amphitheatre of spires in front of you: the Croda dei Toni, the peaks of the Meridiana, the walls that frame every step.
The name isn't just geography. The peaks above the valley form the Sesto sundial: Nine, Ten, Eleven, Twelve and One, that is the Pala di Popera, the Croda Rossa di Sesto, the Cima Undici, the Croda dei Toni and the Cima Una. The sun passes over them one after another, and the peak it stands over gives the solar time with more or less accuracy: the Croda dei Toni marks noon almost to the minute, the morning hours are approximate. How to read it, hour by hour.
You start at Piano Fiscalina, where the road ends, and climb toward the Rifugio Fondovalle (Talschlusshütte) on an easy path that even works with a stroller. From there, fitter hikers carry on at altitude toward the Rifugio Locatelli and the Tre Cime di Lavaredo. But even just the walk to the valley head, with the stream beside you and larches all around, is worth the trip.
To see where Val Fiscalina fits among everything else in the Dolomites: What to See in the Dolomites: The Complete Guide.
Frequently asked questions
How do you get to Val Fiscalina and where do you park?
From Sesto you pass through Moso and turn toward Val Fiscalina, following the road to its end at the paid Piano Fiscalina car park. Spaces are limited and from June to October, and again in winter, they fill up fast. Arrive in the morning, or leave the car in Moso and take the shuttle.
Is there a shuttle to the valley?
Yes. In the summer season (roughly mid-June to early October) the Fischleintal shuttle links Sesto and Moso with Piano Fiscalina. It leaves near the Moso church and stops at the main points along the way. It's the easiest option on busy days, when the valley car park is full.
Are the trails family-friendly?
Very. From Piano Fiscalina to the Rifugio Fondovalle, trail 102 is almost flat, about an hour each way with little elevation gain, and doable with a stroller. It's the classic easy walk for everyone. Beyond that, toward the Rifugio Locatelli and the Tre Cime, the terrain turns into a proper hike.
What is the Meridiana di Sesto?
It's a group of five peaks named after hours: Nine, Ten, Eleven, Twelve and One. The sun passes over them one after another, and the peak it stands over gives the solar time. Twelve, the Croda dei Toni, is accurate; in winter the morning hours run about an hour late.