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

The route connects Canazei to the Sella Pass and then to Col Rodella, across the vast pastures of Val Salei. Along the ascent we encounter the Basaltic Waterfalls, a peculiar hexagonal rock formation.

Find the church of Saint Florian and the square of the same name in the old centre of Canazei. Take "Strèda dò Ruf de Antermont", and go past the old sawmill. Then cross the stream "Ruf de Antermont" by way of a bridge to the left. The path is no. 655 and it follows the stream. You will join the forest road "Pian Pozates" and after this the gradient lessens. There is a clearing with a view of the entire Sella mountain group: the Piz Ciavazes on the left, and the Sass Pordoi on the right. You keep following the dirt road until you get to the edge of the forest where there is a bench and a cross. Next walk across the basin of "Mortic" where an old chapel (dedicated to Saint Mary Ausiliatrice) is the only remainder of one of the oldest settlements in Val di Fassa. Now you cross a bridge, and when you meet up with a ski-run go round to the left and keep going not far from the main road. The path then joins the main road at the eighth bend. Keep going uphill until you reach "Pian de Frataces" (1 hour) where you find the Lupo Bianco Hotel on the left and other refreshment points. leave the car at "Pian de Frataces" near the Lupo Bianco Hotel. Go down towards the hollow which used to be an artificial lake. Cross the stream "Ruf de Antermont" and take path no. 655 which actually runs along the forest road "Col de la Pica". Go up through the wooden huts and barns at "Pradel" and then cross the stream "Ruf de Val" ("Pènt de l’Ors" bridge). Keep going along the edge of the forest until you reach a cross and a bench at "Costa Rossa". Turning right you go uphill through the trees and then you will come to a clearing called "Pian de Marizanela". Next there is a short steep section just before you reach the basin of "Val", an area renowned for its wide variety of alpine flora. At a fork turn left to reach the vaste meadow of "Pian de Jiadoes". Cross it going then up through sparse fir and larch trees. Next you come to the Val Salei. The path proceeds gently as it climbs up the mountainside to the Valentini Refuge (2 hrs 15). Go left along the flat road to the Salei refuge and then climb up to the "Forcella Rodella". From here, to the left, the uphill section to the Des Alpes Refuge begins (3 hrs). Then you can take the path which leads up to the top of Col Rodella. You will reach the summit in 15 mins and the view of the Fassa Dolomites is quite exceptional.