Route: challenging – EE. Approximately 1,800 m elevation gain.
Hiking time: 12 hours.

Map: Sheet 22 Tabacco – Pale di San Martino

Spectacular route that unfolds along the southern slopes of the Pale di San Martino.
The upper section, both technical and demanding, runs beneath the peaks and offers sweeping views of the Cimonega group and the mountains of Primiero, before descending toward the forests and pastures of Passo Cereda. The route then continues across meadows and alpine grasslands, passing old barns and traditional mountain huts above the villages of Gosaldo, Forcella Aurine, and Frassenè, before climbing again toward Malga Losch and the Scarpa–Gurekian mountain hut. From there, the final stretch leads through the forests of Val Domadore and, via Passo di Luna, returns to Rifugio Malga Cavallera beneath the vast and imposing south face of Croda Granda.

From Rifugio Cavallera, take trail 718 heading west toward Forcella d’Oltro. Continue past the pass on the same trail until you reach a junction: the path on the right climbs up to Passo Regade, while our route follows the left-hand path, which descends to Passo Cereda.
The route continues along the forest road that starts just below Passo Cereda, in the area known as Padreterno. Alternatively, you can take the forest road just above Passo Cereda, which enters the woods heading east toward the small church of Santa Rita. The trail then alternates between footpaths and forest roads, following the signs first for Mis and then for Domadore.
From Passo Cereda to Domadore, the route follows a combination of easy paths and faint tracks, but with very few trail markers. For this reason, a map and good navigation skills are essential.
From Domadore, take another forest road—the same one that leads up to Rifugio Malga Cavallera—which you leave shortly after to take the junction on the right marked for Sant’Andrea. Once in Sant’Andrea, continue toward Forcella Aurine, partly along the provincial road for a few hundred meters, then on a footpath that starts just beyond the bridge. Follow this trail until you reach the beginning of trail 733 to Col di Luna. After climbing the trail for about 150 meters, you will find signs directing you toward Frassenè. From here, in about 20 minutes, following faint tracks and lightly marked paths, you reach a small bridge in the area known as Fienili Domadore.
The final stretch of the route leads to the Scarpa–Gurekian mountain hut, which can be reached either by following the road that climbs to the right of the stream toward Malga Luna, or by taking one of the paths on the left side of the stream. These trails eventually merge onto the road leading directly to the hut (trail 771).
From the Scarpa–Gurekian mountain hut, the route finally returns to Rifugio Malga Cavallera via trail 773, which passes through Passo di Luna and Malga Camp. Along the way, there are opportunities for short detours to visit various points of interest in the area.
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An additional stage can be added to the proposed itinerary by extending the route into Val Canali, reaching Malga Canali and Rifugio Treviso via Forcella d’Oltro and Passo Regade.

Given the length of the itinerary, it is recommended to complete it over two or three stages. This allows you to fully enjoy, at a relaxed pace, the remarkable variety of landscapes and environments along the route, and to take advantage of the opportunity for short detours to interesting sights located near the trail.
In this route description, we suggest starting and finishing at our mountain hut, but the proposed itinerary lends itself to various interpretations. It is possible to modify the route by choosing different starting and ending points (Passo Cereda, Rifugio Scarpa–Gurekian, Mis, or Sant’Andrea), as well as the direction of travel and the locations for lunch stops or overnight stays.

Along the route, you pass close to several places that are definitely worth a detour or a variation to the proposed itinerary.
– Col di Luna: from Passo di Luna, following the signs southward, an easy path leads to the summit of Col di Luna, a wonderful panoramic viewpoint above Forcella Aurine;
– Malga Luna: about 10 minutes from Passo di Luna in the direction of Rifugio Scarpa-Gurekian, you reach a junction where you leave trail 773 and take the path descending to the right toward Frassenè, reaching in a few minutes a malga (mountain hut), now disused and serving as a shelter. Just below the malga, the path becomes a forest road that descends to Fienili Domadore, and can be used as a variant of the loop route on the way back to Malga Cavallera.
– Buddhist temple: from passo di Luna, you climb northwards along the Coston di Luna, following a steep and poorly marked track. The route features very steep sections and some exposed stretches that require experience and careful attention, especially if the ground is wet. The little shrine can also be reached via the ‘Spirits of the Air’ trail, which starts near the Scarpa hut and runs along the base of the peaks between the Agner and the Croda Granda.
– Pissandol waterfall: just before the ascent to Rifugio Scarpa-Gurekian, turn right onto a trail marked by a wooden sign reading “Pissandol,” which can be reached in about 15 minutes. This path is very steep and slippery in sections and must be tackled with great care, especially when the ground is wet or damp. From the waterfall, the trail continues downhill to meet the forest road descending from Malga Luna.