This article has been updated as the previous description suggested a short descent with snowshoes from Col Drusciè along the “B” slope. Unfortunately, the new regulations adopted by the Freccia nel Cielo cable car company prohibit walking with snowshoes on this section, which leads to the Montanelli Path.
Snowshoeing through the forests of Col Druscie
The descent from Col Drusciè (or from Pietofana – 1675 m) to Cortina with snowshoes is one of many easy routes accessible to all, allowing us to explore some of the lesser-known corners of the Ampezzo Valley forests. This is a relatively low-altitude walk, but it can be enjoyed even when snowfall has been light, as the snow here does not melt quickly due to the limited sunlight.
The route mainly runs under the shadow of Col Drusciè and the quiet conifers that populate the magical forests beneath the slopes of Tofana di Mezzo and Crepe de Cianderòu, where the stunning Ghedina Lake lies hidden. If bad weather prevents high-altitude excursions, remember that snowshoeing in the quiet, snow-covered forest is enchanting, making this hike a great alternative.
ACCESS
To reach Pietofana, there are two options:
- Take the Freccia nel Cielo cable car to Col Drusciè and descend to Pietofana along the slope connecting the two. When the terrain flattens out, you’ll reach a junction at the end of the descent. Turn right and follow the signs for Lago Ghedina. Note: Walking with snowshoes from Col Drusciè is prohibited up to this point. Walk on the side of the slope, watching for skiers.
- Drive to Pietofana. From Cortina, take the SR 48 road, and in the Gilardon area, turn right and follow signs to Pietofana.
ITINERARY
After parking your car in the large lot at Pietofana, walk around to the back of the restaurant and head along the flat connecting path towards Col Drusciè. After a few minutes, before the path starts to climb, you’ll reach a junction with signs for your route. This is the same junction you would encounter if you had chosen the first option: take the cable car to Col Drusciè and walk down to this point.
Follow the sign for Lago Ghedina.
You are now on a flat road (path no. 410), part of the “Sentiero Montanelli,” dedicated to the renowned journalist who loved walking here during his stays in Cortina. Beyond the trees, you’ll see the Po’ Drusciè reservoir, the largest lake in Cortina, with 96,000 cubic meters of water and a depth of 10.5 meters. This water reservoir plays a vital role in snowmaking for the Socrepes, Pocol, and Tofana slopes.
Continue along the road for about 600 meters until you exit the forest. Here, turn sharply right (east) and follow path no—410, which descends steeply into the woods. Remember that continuing the road marked with sign no—409 will eventually bring you to Lago Ghedina. Still, the first stretch can be exposed to potential avalanches in certain snow conditions, so I recommend avoiding it.
The steep descent I’m describing is much more fun, especially when there’s plenty of snow.
Soon, you will reach the magical Lago Ghedina (1457 m), a beautiful water mirror in the forest. The elegant restaurant by the lake offers high-quality cuisine and a wine cellar with around 300 labels worldwide, making it a great place to plan a memorable meal!
Continue to the lake’s southern edge and enter the forest along a path that is initially flat and then slightly uphill, following it until you reach a road.
Cross the road and continue on the clear path no—413, which leads to the ski slope from Col Drusciè to Cortina. On the opposite side of the ski slope, the trail continues and soon meets the upper, now-closed section of the old Olympic bobsled track.
We can now follow this unique track until we reach the current start of the bobsled run. From here, descend through a large clearing and return to the ski slope, which, in a few minutes, takes us back to the starting point of our snowshoeing trip.
DIFFICULTY: Easy
AVERAGE TIME: 2.5 – 3 hours
Note
Although this is an easy route, finding the path can be difficult if no one has passed before you and there are no tracks in the snow.
To retrieve your car after the hike, it is recommended to take the cable car back to Col Drusciè and then descend to Pietofana along the slope, which takes about 20 minutes.
On Col Drusciè, you’ll find the “Helmut Ullrich” Astronomical Observatory, visited annually by hundreds of enthusiasts, students, and curious visitors who come to admire the wonders of the sky from a privileged location, with clear skies and minimal light pollution.
Useful Link:
Rifugio Col Drusciè.
