The Alte Vie of the Dolomites
The Alte Vie of the Dolomites are eight historic long-distance hiking routes, born between the 1960s and 1970s to link mountain huts and valleys along high-altitude trails. Numbered 1 to 8, they cross almost the entire province of Belluno and let hikers discover mountain groups that differ widely in shape, history and atmosphere: from the spires of the Cristallo to the walls of the Civetta, from the silence of the Vette Feltrine to the memory of the Great War on Monte Grappa. Each Alta Via has its own character and its own level of difficulty, from gentler stages to equipped routes reserved for experienced hikers. Here is an overview of all eight routes, with a link to the dedicated page for each.
Alta Via n. 1 – The Classic
From Lake Braies to Belluno. The first and best-known of the Dolomite Alte Vie, it crosses the Fanes-Sennes-Braies nature park, the Cristallo and the Ampezzo Dolomites. Discover Alta Via n. 1
Alta Via n. 2 – Of the Legends
From Bressanone to Feltre. It crosses the Sella group, the Marmolada and the Pale di San Martino, among the mountains that star in the most evocative Ladin legends. Discover Alta Via n. 2
Alta Via n. 3 – Of the Chamois
From Villabassa to Longarone. It crosses the Ampezzo Dolomites, the Pelmo, the Civetta and the Duranno-Cima Preti group, prime chamois territory. Discover Alta Via n. 3
Alta Via n. 4 – Grohmann’s Route
From San Candido to Pieve di Cadore. Dedicated to the mountaineer Paul Grohmann, it crosses the Sesto Dolomites, the Cristallo and the Tofane. Discover Alta Via n. 4
Alta Via n. 5 – Tiziano Vecellio’s Route
From Sesto to Pieve di Cadore. It crosses the Sesto Dolomites and the Marmarole group, among the most demanding and least frequented routes in the whole system. Discover Alta Via n. 5
Alta Via n. 6 – The Way of Silences
From the source of the Piave to Vittorio Veneto. The longest of the Alte Vie, it crosses the Carnic Alps and the eastern Belluno Dolomites over thirteen stages, all the way to the Alpago area. Discover Alta Via n. 6
Alta Via n. 7 – Patera’s Route
From Rifugio Dolomieu al Dolada to Tambre in Alpago. The shortest but among the most demanding in terms of elevation gain, it runs along the ridge of the Col Nudo-Cavallo group. Discover Alta Via n. 7
Alta Via n. 8 – The Way of the Heroes
From Feltre to Bassano del Grappa. It crosses the Grappa massif, weaving together Great War history and views that open onto the Venetian plain. Discover Alta Via n. 8
Discover also the other trekking and hiking ideas in the Belluno Dolomites.
How to choose your Alta Via: at-a-glance comparison
| Route | Stages | Length | Difficulty | From → to |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Alta Via n. 1 the Classic | 12 | ~125 km | E – EEA | Braies → Belluno |
| Alta Via n. 2 of the Legends | 12 | ~180 km | E – EEA | Bressanone → Feltre |
| Alta Via n. 3 of the Chamois | 8 | ~120 km | medium | Villabassa → Longarone |
| Alta Via n. 4 Grohmann’s route | 6 | ~85 km | E – EEA | San Candido → Pieve di Cadore |
| Alta Via n. 5 Tiziano’s route | 7 | ~100 km | demanding | Sesto → Pieve di Cadore |
| Alta Via n. 6 Way of Silences | 13 | ~180 km | E – EEA | Sappada → Vittorio Veneto |
| Alta Via n. 7 (Lothar Patera) | 5 days | ~36 km | EE – EEA | Rif. Dolada → Tambre |
| Alta Via n. 8 of the Heroes | 4 | ~60 km | demanding | Feltre → Bassano del Grappa |
Practical tips for hikers
- Book huts well in advance, especially in high season (July–August): many are part of the CAI’s Prenota Rifugi booking portal.
- Always check the weather and trail-condition bulletins before setting out, especially on equipped (EEA) sections and on residual snowfields early in the season.
- Bring a harness, helmet and via ferrata kit if your route includes EEA sections (for example the Sentiero delle Farangole on Alta Via n. 2, or the equipped stretches on Alte Vie n. 1, 4 and 6).
- Download GPS tracks (for example from apps like CAI Geo or Komoot) as a support to trail markers, not a replacement for them.
- Consider mountain rescue insurance, available through a CAI membership card or directly at the huts.
- Start early in the morning: in the Dolomites, summer afternoon thunderstorms are frequent, especially on ridges and exposed sections.
- If you’re just starting out, Alte Vie n. 3 and n. 4 are a good entry point; n. 2, n. 6 and n. 8 call for more experience and training given their overall length or elevation gain.
