Canazei - Basalt Waterfalls - Val Salei - Col Rodella - Campitello

<p>The itinerary connects Canazei to Passo Sella and then to Col Rodella, crossing the vast pastures of Val Salei. Along the climb you encounter the Basalt Waterfalls, a particular hexagonal rock formation.</p>

<p>The route starts from the church of San Floriano which, with the houses overlooking the square of the same name, forms a picturesque cluster in Canazei's historic center. You climb Strèda dò Ruf de Antermont passing next to the old sawmill and crossing the wooden bridge over the Ruf de Antermont stream to the left. You ascend the dirt road (trailblaze no. 655) that follows the course of the stream and whose slope gradually eases. The valley offers a complete view of the imposing Sella group with Piz Ciavazes on the left and Sass Pordoi on the right. A steep but short section leads to a crucifix. You cross with gentle slope the grassy basin of Mortic where, to testify the presence of one of the oldest settlements in Val di Fassa, only a chapel dedicated to Maria Ausiliatrice remains. A little further on, after the bridge, you resume climbing along the more marked road which, bordering the ski slope, makes a wide left turn to continue below the Dolomites State Road which is reached at the eighth hairpin bend. You follow it for about thirty meters, then resume climbing in the woods, cross a stream and, after a short stretch diagonally below the road, reach Pian de Frataces where the Hotel Lupo Bianco and several other refreshment points are located (time 1.00 hour). Now leave the road, descending towards the gravel plain and continuing straight to a wooden bridge over the Ruf de Antermont stream. Crossing it, you join trail blaze no. 655 (which follows the Col de la Pica forest road) climbing among the huts and haylofts of Pradel. You reach the bridge over the Ruf de Val stream (Pènt de l’Ors), cross it continuing at the edge of the woods until the locality of Costa Rossa. With a wide right turn you climb through the woods to a small grassy plateau called Pian de Marizanela. You tackle a steep but short hollowed section after which opens the suggestive basin of Val known for its great variety of alpine flora. At a junction take left climbing to a vast plateau (Pian de Jiadoes). You cross it and, after a belt of forest, climb diagonally entering Val Salei. You climb it at half slope with moderate slope until reaching Passo Sella just above Rifugio Valentini (time 2.15 hours). From here you take a left on a flat dirt road leading to Rifugio Salei where the climb towards Forcella Rodella begins. You reach it continuing to the left towards Rifugio Des Alpes (time 3.00 hours). Nearby starts the trail which, in about 15 minutes, allows reaching the summit of Col Rodella, from where you can enjoy an exceptional circular panoramic view over the Fassa Dolomites.</p>