In late September the valley floor of the Cordevole changes its voice: from the woods rising towards Salét comes the roar of the red deer, the hoarse call male stags use to mark their ground in the mating season. The Dolomiti Bellunesi National Park takes anyone who wants to hear it along an easy route, suitable also for people without specific training.

The route

The walk follows a recently restored path beside the Cordevole stream and reaches the meadows and clearings of Salét, where the horses of the forestry service graze. Along the way it is not unusual to meet amphibians in the pools, tracks of hoofed animals and, with patience and silence, the deer themselves: an environment the Park guides describe as a true ark of biodiversity a few minutes from the valley floor.

Practical information

• Meeting point: 9.00 a.m. in the car park of the pizzeria «La buona tavola» at Peròn di Sedico.
• Difficulty: easy to moderate, minimal height gain.
• Duration: about 4 hours.
• Places: maximum 20 people.
• Booking: compulsory, phone +39 329 0040808 or guide.pndb@gmail.com.

The walk is free of charge. The Park warns that routes may be changed according to updated weather forecasts.

The rut, explained

Between the end of September and the first days of October male red deer come into rut: the roaring keeps rivals away and gathers the hinds. It is a phenomenon you hear rather than see, which is why the Park outings insist on silence and on keeping a distance from the animals.

Information source: Dolomiti Bellunesi National Park.