Lagazuoi - Loop from Armentarola & Great War Tunnel

• The Goal: To walk up to the foot of the Lagazuoi, cross the Forcella and come back down by the lake and Rifugio Scotoni, without any lift.
• The Route Data:
  • Start/End: Sciaré bus stop, in Armentarola (loop)
  • How to get to the start: By bus (see below).
  • Sequence: Meditation trail (Tru de meditaziun) via the Sass Dlacià chapel -> start of the Alta Via 1 -> steep climb to the Forcella Lagazuoi -> trail no. 20 toward the Lagazuoi lake and Rifugio Scotoni -> back to Armentarola.
  • Distance: 13 km8.1 mi, measured on the GPX track above
  • Elevation: +861 m2,825 ft ascent / -860 m2,822 ft descent.
  • Duration: allow almost 6 hours of walking.
• The Reality: This is a hard hike because of its elevation gain, concentrated in the climb to the Forcella. The loop follows the Alta Via 1, the great traverse of the Dolomites, for about 3 km. The loop tops out at 2,494 m8,182 ft and does not climb up to the hut.

Rifugio Scotoni comes at the end of the loop: it is the stop for a late lunch or a drink before the last descent. The details are on our Rifugio Scotoni page.

Extension to Rifugio Lagazuoi: above the loop, the last switchbacks climb from the Forcella to the cable car top station, at 2,732 m8,963 ft; Rifugio Lagazuoi, the goal of this climb, is at 2,752 m9,029 ft. The loop does not include them: add the round trip to your walking time, or ride the cable car down to Falzarego if someone is waiting for you on that side.

• The Goal: To ride the cable car up, then walk back down through the Great War tunnel dug into the Piccolo Lagazuoi.
• The Route Data:
  • Start/End: Cable car parking, Passo Falzarego (loop)
  • How to get to the start: By car to the pass, then the cable car up to 2,732 m8,963 ft.
  • Sequence: Top station -> Anticima tunnel going down (over 1 km0.6 mi, fully equipped with a cable) -> trail to the pass.
  • Elevation: about -630 m2,067 ft, the height the cable car gained for you.
  • Duration: under an hour in the tunnel, then about half an hour to the pass.
• The Reality: The tunnel has no technical difficulty, but it is damp and dark: you move slowly, one hand on the cable. This is the direction most visitors choose, and the only one that spares your legs: with children, it is the gentlest option on this page.

All on foot from the pass: if you want the tunnel without the cable car, a loop by trails 402 and 401 and the tunnel takes 2 h 30 to 3 h for 639 m2,096 ft of elevation gain. It is graded EE, for experienced hikers.

Staying at the top: Rifugio Lagazuoi also takes overnight stays, booked online: you then walk down the tunnel at the time that suits you, without depending on the cable car.

The loop starts from the Sciaré stop, in Armentarola, served by bus. Lines and timetables change with the season: check them on Südtirol Mobil the day before. To choose your base in the valley, see our Alta Badia hiking guide.

The Alta Badia tourist board suggests another start, at the Saré parking lot, south of San Cassiano: its route climbs via the Capanna Alpina and Rifugio Scotoni to Rifugio Lagazuoi, then goes back down by cable car to Falzarego. It is a one-way hike of 8.3 km5.2 mi and 1,065 m3,494 ft of ascent, about 3 h 40, with the return by cable car: the tourist board's route description details it step by step.

The cable car leaves from Passo Falzarego (2,109 m6,919 ft) and climbs to 2,732 m8,963 ft in under 3 minutes. The lift parking is free for the whole 2026 summer season. Cinque Torri is in the same area: the two combine easily on one trip.

In 2026, the cable car runs from 6 June to 18 October, with a cabin every 15 minutes: first ride up at 9:00, last ride up at 16:40, last ride down at 17:00. The 2027 dates are not published yet: check them on the Lagazuoi cable car website before you go.

The loop from Armentarola does not depend on the cable car, but the last ride down matters if you add the hut and plan to go back down to Falzarego. For the tunnel, go up early: you will have time to walk through it without watching the clock.

The loop climbs to almost 2,500 m8,202 ft. Check the forecast for the day and give up the climb if storms are forecast.

Helmet, headlamp and gloves: bring them, along with good hiking boots. A headlamp is better than a handheld torch, since your other hand holds the cable.

• Footwear: hiking boots with ankle support, for the steep climb to the Forcella and the descent that follows.
• Water: set off with all your water, Rifugio Scotoni only comes at the end of the loop.
• Clothing: a windproof jacket and a warm layer for the Forcella, even in fine weather down below.
• Sun: sunscreen, sunglasses and a hat.
• Cash: enough to pay at the hut, without counting on a card.