Passo Valparola (Valparola Pass), at 2,168 m7,113 ft, links Val Badia with its close neighbour, Passo Falzarego. Don’t mix the two up: the Lagazuoi cable car starts from Falzarego, not here.
Where is Valparola Pass and what can you see from it?
The pass is in the province of Belluno, close to the South Tyrol border; its Ladin name is Ju de Valparola. From the pass you look at the Sas de Stria, Col di Lana, Sassongher and the Marmolada glacier.
How do you get to Valparola Pass?
By bus, Südtirol Mobil line 465 (Corvara - San Cassiano - Passo Falzarego) stops at Passo Falzarego; from there, trail 424 reaches the pass in 20 minutes (2 km1.2 mi) past Lake Valparola. Check the line’s season and timetable with Südtirol Mobil before you set out.
By car, from Alta Badia, provincial road SP 24 climbs to the pass. On 4 July 2027, the day of the Maratona dles Dolomites, check traffic conditions with the organiser before driving up.
What can you do from Valparola Pass?
Climb the Sas de Stria: the ascent starts at the pass, next to Forte Tre Sassi.
Walk up from the valley: from Armentarola, trail 18 reaches the pass via Malga Valparola in 2 hours (9 km5.6 mi, 550 m1,804 ft of ascent). Our Alta Badia hiking guide covers the walks on the Val Badia side.
Reach the Lagazuoi on the Kaiserjäger path: it follows the old Austrian war road up to the summit of the Piccolo Lagazuoi. The route up there is described in our Lagazuoi hike.
What remains of the Great War at Valparola?
Valparola saw fierce fighting during the First World War. Forte Tre Sassi, at the pass, is now a museum.
Nearby huts
Rifugio Lagazuoi
Perched on the summit of Lagazuoi at nearly 2,800 m9,186 ft, this refuge rewards visitors with one of the most celebrated panoramic sunsets in the Dolomites and access to restored World War I tunnels.
Rifugio Scotoni
A small and scenic refuge on the slopes below Lagazuoi, offering panoramic views of the Fanes group and a quiet alternative to the busier huts of Alta Badia.
Nearby hikes
Nearby hiking bases
Arabba Hiking Guide
A guide to hiking from Arabba, in the Fodom valley: the Campolongo and Pordoi passes from the village, lifts, the Viel del Pan, summer buses without a car, where to stay and when to go.
Updated 20 October 2026
Alta Badia and Corvara Hiking Guide
Alta Badia sits at the geographic heart of the Ladin Dolomites, with Corvara acting as a central hiking base. It covers the Alta Via 1 Fanes stages, Piz Boe access, and the best rifugi in the valley.
Updated 20 October 2026
Tours via this pass
Grande Traverse of the Dolomites - Bolzano to Cortina
A 10-day self-guided traverse from Bolzano to Cortina crossing the Rosengarten, Alpe di Siusi, Puez-Odle plateau, Lagazuoi and the Tre Cime di Lavaredo - all with refuge half-board throughout.
Grande Traverse: Verona to Venice
An 11-day guided traverse from Verona to Venice through the heart of the Dolomites. Rosengarten, Alpe di Siusi, Puez-Odle, Lagazuoi, and Tre Cime di Lavaredo - refuges throughout with cultural city bookends.
