Moena is not just a convenient base: it is the right starting point. Around the Fairy of the Dolomites there are routes for every level, every kind of landscape and every kind of day, from a stroll with the children to a demanding hike with an overnight stay in a mountain hut.
Here are seven destinations worth knowing before you arrive, with verified technical details and a few tips you won’t find on hiking apps.
Some hikes you do and forget. Lake Antermoia is not one of them.
The lake lies at 2,501 metres, set between the Croda del Lago and the Catinaccio d’Antermoia, and is one of the highest (and most photographed) lakes in the Dolomites: glacial in origin, with waters that shine blue under the summer sun. The Antermoia hut, five minutes’ walk from the lake, is open from mid-June to mid-September and serves Ladin cuisine.
The most scenic route from Val di Fassa is through Val Udai, starting from Mazzin or Campitello: a path that runs through the forest for about half its length, past small streams and waterfalls, climbing from 1,372 metres on the valley floor to 2,496 metres at the hut.
In Ladin tradition, “Antermoia” is the name of the nymph who lived in the waters of the Catinaccio lake – the “Rose Garden”, Rosengarten in German – and countless Ladin legends are set on its shores.
Technical details: start from Mazzin/Campitello — about 14 km return — 900 m elevation gain — 6–7 hours — difficulty: moderate. For an alternative route from Val Duron, see our guide on the Hotel Cavalletto website.
Not every trail feels the same alone and with a guide. The Manarin trail is one where the difference is striking.
It is a scenic loop through the woods around Moena, offered by Moena Outdoor with certified hiking leaders who tell the story, nature and culture of the area as you walk. It isn’t a guided tour in the classic sense: it’s a walk with someone who can read the landscape and bring it to life.
Loop starting from Moena, about 8 km, 300–400 m elevation gain, 3 hours, difficulty easy/moderate. Book through the hotel or at moenaoutdoor.it.
The Roda de Vael hut is one of the most photographed viewpoints in the Fassa Dolomites. It’s easy to see why: from its outdoor tables you see the Catinaccio head-on, from a perspective few other spots can offer.
Start from the Costalunga Pass (Karerpass, 1,745 m), a historic pass on the border between Trentino and South Tyrol, about twenty minutes’ drive from Moena. From there the path climbs steadily to the hut. Alternatively, you can use the lifts from the pass to reduce the climb. The route is also excellent for photography: the morning light on the Catinaccio in particular is worth the early alarm.
Technical details: start from the Costalunga Pass — about 9 km return — 550 m elevation gain — 3–4 hours — difficulty: moderate.
Val San Nicolò is one of those places that seem frozen in time. Dark wooden huts, Alpine meadows in bloom, cows grazing, a silence you can hear. The valley is especially loved by photographers and travellers for its authentic landscapes.
Start from Pozza di Fassa and walk up the valley towards Baita Ciampié and the huts in the upper part. The hike is also suitable for families with children who are not too small – the path is even, the ascent gradual, the stopping points frequent. In summer there is also a shuttle bus that shortens the walk along the valley floor.
Technical details: start from Pozza di Fassa — 8–10 km — 350–500 m elevation gain — 3–4 hours — difficulty: easy/moderate.
From Col Margherita (2,514 m) you can see everything: the Pale di San Martino, the Marmolada, the Catinaccio, the Lagorai range – a 360° panorama that on clear days spans three provinces. It is the highest point easily reached from the San Pellegrino Pass, thanks to the cable car that already takes you up to 2,200 metres.
The San Pellegrino Pass (1,918 m) owes its name to a medieval hospice run by friars that welcomed pilgrims and crusaders on their way to Venice; during the First World War it was a battlefield, and trenches and military posts are still visible at altitude. All this passes beneath your feet as you climb towards Col Margherita.
Technical details: start from the San Pellegrino Pass (cable car) — about 6 km — 250 m elevation gain — 2h30 — difficulty: easy/moderate.
The Fuciade hut is one of those places you always come back to.
It stands at 1,982 metres in a wide sunny pasture (“Fuciade” means “to mow” in Ladin), below the Costabella group and facing the Pale di San Martino and Col Margherita. The Rossi family has been here since 1983, and in the kitchen Martino continues the path of his father Sergio: dishes that tell the story of the land, with desserts made fresh every day in the hut’s own pastry kitchen.
The path from the San Pellegrino Pass is almost entirely flat, also suitable for off-road pushchairs, with just 65 metres of elevation gain between the pass (1,918 m) and the hut (1,982 m). It is the perfect destination for families with small children, for a quiet morning, or for anyone looking for lunch at altitude without having to earn it with hours of walking.
Technical details: start from the San Pellegrino Pass — about 6 km return — 65 m elevation gain — 2 hours (return) — difficulty: easy.
Alpe Lusia can be reached by the gondola from Ronchi, five minutes from Moena, and for this reason it is often treated as a routine outing. Wrong. The Lusia lakes area, in the upper part of the ski area, is one of the most open and luminous landscapes in Val di Fassa, with little Alpine lakes reflecting the peaks and that feeling of being far from everything while technically close to the village.
The route to the lakes takes a full day and trained legs, but you can choose a shorter route from the top station and reach only some of the goals. The area is also the starting point of the Marmot Trail, a themed route ideal for families.
Technical details: start from La Morea top station — 15 km — 680 m elevation gain — 5 hours — difficulty: moderate.
| Goal | Recommended hike |
| A spectacular Alpine lake | Lake Antermoia (Val Udai) |
| View of the Catinaccio | Roda de Vael hut |
| 360° Dolomite view | Col Margherita |
| Families with small children | Fuciade hut |
| An authentic, relaxing atmosphere | Val San Nicolò |
| Alpine meadows and mountain lakes | Alpe Lusia – Lusia lakes |
| Fit hikers, a challenging goal | Lake Antermoia |
Staying at Hotel Cavalletto in the centre of Moena means having all this less than an hour away – and in many cases just a few minutes’ walk from the trailhead. Every week, Moena Outdoor’s free programme takes guests on these routes with professional guides, for those who prefer a guided experience.
If you would rather plan on your own, reception is the first place to ask: trail conditions, mountain weather, hut bookings. Small details that make the difference between a nice day and an unforgettable one.
Planning your hikes in Val di Fassa? Discover Hotel Cavalletto’s summer packages – in the heart of Moena, the ideal starting point for the Dolomites.
