Passo Duran (Duran Pass), at 1,601 m5,253 ft, is a pass best explored on foot: an easy climb to a hut, or a stage of the Alta Via 1.
Where is Passo Duran and what can you see from it?
The pass links the Agordino and the Val di Zoldo and looks down on La Valle Agordina, just below.
What can you do from Passo Duran?
Climb to Rifugio Carestiato: trail 549, a mule track, passes the Casera Duran and reaches this hut, run by the CAI Agordo section, in 45 minutes to 1 hour. The trail is graded T: a good half-day outing, or a way to stretch your legs after the drive.
Set off on the Alta Via 1: at the pass, CAI trail 543 leaves the road at Rifugio Passo Duran and leads to Rifugio Sommariva al Pramperet in about 4 hours 30 minutes. It is a hiking trail (E), longer and more demanding than the climb to the Carestiato.
This stage opens the last four days, in the Belluno Dolomites National Park, from Passo Duran to Belluno, where the route from Lake Braies ends.
At the pass itself, Rifugio San Sebastiano offers a stop before or after your walk. Check whether the huts at the pass are open before counting on a meal or a bed.
Nearby huts
Rifugio San Sebastiano
A quiet year-round refuge in the valley between the Civetta and Moiazza massifs, well suited for hikers seeking a less crowded base in the Agordino.
Rifugio Passo Duran
Sitting right on the road pass between the Civetta and Moiazza massifs, this accessible refuge serves as a convenient overnight stop for hikers and a gateway to dramatic high-altitude terrain.
Rifugio Carestiato
A small and welcoming refuge on the southern slopes of the Civetta group, offering a quiet alternative to busier huts and direct views of the mountain's immense rock walls.
Rifugio Sommariva al Pramperet
A remote and peaceful refuge tucked beneath the towering walls of Monte Schiara, offering a genuine wilderness experience far from the crowds of the central Dolomites.
