Alta Via 2 (day 6): Lago di Fedaia to San Pellegrino + Via Ferrata delle Trincee

Last Updated on 2 September 2026

Day 6 marks the halfway point of AV2 and features a completely different side of the Dolomites, where dark volcanic ridges replace the familiar limestone peaks and a fascinating network of WWI fortifications tells the story of this once fiercely contested frontier. Beginning on the hillside above Lago di Fedaia, Via Ferrata delle Trincee is an extended and challenging traverse around the spectacular Padon Ridge, combining sustained scrambling, wartime tunnels, and uninterrupted views of Marmolada, the highest mountain in the Dolomites.

With via ferrata occupying much of the day, I’d recommend hiking the short distance to Penia and then catching a bus onwards to Passo San Pellegrino. In doing so, you’ll cross from South Tyrol into Belluno, where the shift from Austrian language and cuisine to a distinctly more Italian culture is immediately apparent (basically: less Guten Tag, more pasta).

*If you want to skip the via ferrata entirely, an alternate hiking route brings you from Lago di Fedaia to Passo San Pellegrino via Penia and Rifugio Contrin (6hrs; 21km; +1280m / -1410m). This variation is shown on my GPS map and is recommended over the traditional AV2 route, which follows a lot of paved road.

This comprehensive guide to Day 6 of Alta Via 2 contains detailed section times, route recommendations, adventurous side trips, via ferrata, and heaps of insider tips— use it to plan your hike & then refer back on the trail so you always know what to expect!

All my AV2 knowledge in one place: Alta Via 2: complete hiking + via ferrata route guide

Alta Via 2: Day 6 overview

• Trail hours: 6.25hrs
• Distance: 14.5km
• Elevation gain: 950m gain & 1465m loss
• Side trips: Via Ferrata della Trincee (loop; challenging)— refer to Tabacco Map 07 & Cicerone Vol.1 (route 33), Cima Mesolina
• Huts: (Rifugio Castiglioni Marmolada, Rifugio Padon), Hotel Costabella (& others in San Pellegrino)

*Trail times reflect the time we spent hiking, excluding extended breaks where we removed our backpacks to eat lunch, relax on the summit, or otherwise luxuriate along the trail. These figures are best used to understand realistic minimum hiking times between major waypoints, but we recommend factoring in 1-2hrs of additional time every day to properly enjoy the route! 

Lago di Fedaia to Rifugio Luigi Gorza (45min)

From Rifugio Castiglioni Marmolada, cross the road and ascend steeply for about 45min to reach the cable car station and nearby Rifugio Luigi Gorza. This is a great place to gear up for the via ferrata, which is reached in a further 10min. 

Via Ferrata delle Trincee (3hrs)

Traversing the distinctive volcanic rock of Padon Ridge in the shadow of Marmolada, Via Ferrata delle Trincee combines exhilarating scrambling, fascinating WWI history, and uninterrupted views of the highest mountain in the Dolomites to create one of the most unique adventures on the entire trek.

Thanks to the grippy, feature-rich conglomerate rock, much of the via ferrata feels more like natural scrambling, despite remaining protected by fixed cables for most of the route. Along the way, weave through wartime tunnels and ruined military positions before completing a spectacular circuit high above Lago di Fedaia. This is a very challenging via ferrata only suited to those with scrambling experience!

The cables begin on the left side of the rock under a blank white sign, climbing up the wall in a series of challenging but very fun moves. This is the hardest part of Trincee, so if you can make it up this, the rest of the day will pose no issue!

>>> New to via ferrata? Read this post: Introduction to via ferrata + complete via ferrata gear list

Allow a little over an hour to work your way through first cable, which ascends and circles several of the rock spires high over Lago di Fedaia with the perfect backdrop of Marmolada. 

After the first lengthy stretch of cable, drop onto a little pass before connecting to the next cable, which will bring you around the south side of the mountain for about 30min. The next half hour is spent on intermittent cable, interrupted regularly by easy scrambling across the grippy volcanic rock. 

If you’re following my custom AV2 adventure route, the best way to stay on track is with my custom-built AV2 GPS map— packed with detailed daily tracks, 168+ waypoints, all the side trips & via ferrata described in this guide, detours to avoid challenging sections, plus extensive trail notes to help you navigate AV2 like an expert. UPDATED SEPT 2026 BASED ON USER FEEDBACK!

Available in both JSON and GPX formats, the map works seamlessly with GPS apps like CalTopo, Gaia, and AllTrails, or with Garmin devices and watches. Head to my storefront to purchase the map!

Shortly after passing a cave, you’ll travel through the first tunnel of the day, an incredible living relic from the First World War. Keep your headlamp handy as you wander through the dark underground spaces. 

The second tunnel is reached after a short section of cable and is an absolutely enormous network of corridors, stairs, rooms, and little windows looking out onto Marmolada and the surrounding mountains. Allow at least 10min to wander through the tunnel end-to-end, keeping a close eye on the reflective red signs that denote your path onwards. 

Unlike the first tunnel, it would be all too easy to lose yourself in the maze of paths that exist within this incredible cave system, and when you finally pop out the other side into daylight, you’ll have a new appreciation for what it may have been like for the soldiers who spent days hidden in these tunnels. In just a few steps, arrive at Bivvaco Bontadini. 

Side trip: Cima Mesolina (15min)

From Bivvaco Bontadini, climb for about 10min up the hillside to arrive at a little side summit— marked, as always, with a cross. The view is sprawling and an easy addition to the day!

Return to Rifugio Castiglioni Marmolada (1h15m)

Back at the bivouac, descend a steep but manageable trail towards Rifugio Padon and then continue around the right side of the mountain, gradually losing elevation as you return towards Lago di Fedaia. 

The path eventually fades into a series of goat tracks and you’ll no sooner have found what appears to be a well-trodden trail than arrive at a dead-end in a steep hillside of grass. Just keep making your way across and down, generally following the GPS track to finally connect with a discernible route above Rifugio Castiglioni Marmolada. Common-sense route-finding is essential here.

Lago di Fedaia to Penia (1hr)

Just below Rifugio Castiglioni Marmolada, a steep trail descends through the forest and occasionally along the creekside for several kilometres to reach the nearby town of Penia. This is a beautiful walk, and although it does cross the road about 3 times, you’re largely in the trees and even shaded on the descent. 

Penia is a fairly small town, but only 2km down the road, Canazei is a bustling holiday destination— this is a great place to pop into a pharmacy or pick up any last minute supplies, as you won’t really find another town of this size on the second half of AV2 (I couldn’t even buy cold medicine in any of the tiny Passos we hiked through, so stock up here as needed!). It’s an easy walk along a footpath to Canazei (photo below).

Penia to San Pellegrino (via bus)

If you opted not to do Via Ferrata delle Trincee today, you’ll certainly have time to hike onwards from Penia to Passo San Pellegrino via Rifugio Contrin (this route saves a considerable amount of road walking compared to the route via Malga Ciapella). Allow 6hrs+ for the journey. 

If you did tackle the morning excursion on Via Ferrata della Trincee, I’d recommend catching a bus from Penia or Canazei to San Pellegrino (bus fare ~1.5€). A third option would be staying in Rifugio Contrin to break up the walk.

Night 6: Passo San Pellegrino

Unlike every other night on AV2 where the stage concludes at a single mountain rifugio, Passo San Pellegrino offers a choice of several comfortable hotels. The pass itself is little more than a couple of cafés and a small cluster of accommodation (don’t expect to restock supplies here), but after several nights in shared dormitories, a private room and ensuite bathroom feel wonderfully indulgent!

I stayed at Hotel Costabella, where a scorching sauna, a bathtub in the room, and a spectacular multi-course dinner made for a very welcome break from rifugio life. Reserve Hotel Costabella online.

For more information on what to expect in a mountain hut & how to prepare for your stay: Everything you need to know about mountain huts (rifugi) in the Italian Dolomites

Read more about Alta Via 2

• start here ->Detailed AV2 Route Guide
• ALTA VIA 2 (DAY 1): BRESSANONE TO RIFUGIO GENOVA + VIA FERRATA SASS D’PUTIA
• ALTA VIA 2 (DAY 2): RIFUGIO GENOVA TO RIFUGIO PUEZ + VIA FERRATA PIZ DULEDA
• ALTA VIA 2 (DAY 3): RIFUGIO PUEZ TO RIFUGIO PISCIADÚ + VIA FERRATA GRAN CIR, PIZ DA CIR, BRIGATA TRIDENTINA
• ALTA VIA 2 (DAY 4): RIFUGIO PISCIADÚ TO PIZ BOÈ + CIMA PISCIADÚ
• ALTA VIA 2 (DAY 5): PIZ BOÈ TO RIFUGIO CASTIGLIONI MARMOLADA 
• ALTA VIA 2 (DAY 6): LAGO DI FEDAIA TO SAN PELLEGRINO + VIA FERRATA DELLE TRINCEE
• ALTA VIA 2 (DAY 7): PASSO SAN PELLEGRINO TO RIFUGIO VOLPI AL MULAZ
• ALTA VIA 2 (DAY 8): RIFUGIO MULAZ TO RIFUGIO PRADIDALI
• ALTA VIA 2 (DAY 9): RIFUGIO PRADIDALI TO RIFUGIO TREVISO + VIA FERRATA PORTON & NICO GUSELLA
• ALTA VIA 2 (DAY 10): RIFUGIO TREVISO TO PASSO CEREDA + VIA FERRATA CANALONE
• ALTA VIA 2 (DAY 11): PASSO CEREDA TO RIFUGIO BOZ
• ALTA VIA 2 (DAY 12): RIFUGIO BOZ TO CROCE D’AUNE
• navigate confidently on & off the trail ->AV2 adventure route GPS map!