The iconic Seceda ridgeline is one of the Dolomites’ must-see attractions. Giving you a side view of the sprawling Odle Group, the Fermeda Peaks are nothing if not jaw-dropping. If you’re visiting with a dog, you’re in luck, your dog can get up to the Seceda ridgeline any way that you can. But some careful planning will help you make the best of your visit. Here is everything you need to know about getting to the Seceda Ridge Trail with your dog.
The cable car route to Seceda
Since the Seceda summit is 2519 meters high, the easiest way to get up there is by taking the cable car from Ortisei. This route is actually divided into two parts. The first is a cable car that can carry 6-8 passengers per cabin and runs continuously, taking less than 10 minutes to reach Furnes. The second is a giant gondola that has a capacity of up to 60 people but runs every 5 minutes because there are only two vehicles. The trip takes less than 5 minutes to get your right up to Seceda, minimizing your required walk time.
Dogs are allowed on both of these lifts, but you’ll have to buy a ticket for them. You’re also (in theory) required to have a muzzle for them, or they’ll make you buy one at the ticket counter. We found that none of the dogs riding the cable cars with us were wearing one, and no one said anything. But just in case, it’s good to have one on you. The one downside is that the way up was crowded and uncomfortable, but it was only a couple of minutes.
Seceda Ridge Trail with a dog
Once you’re at the top, you can do a short little loop that takes you right up to the edge of the Seceda peak and back down to the cable car station, giving you a 360-degree view of the surrounding mountains. When you emerge from the cable car, you’ll see a sign pointing you in the direction of the ridgeline viewpoint. The route is steep at the beginning but after 10-15 minutes, you’re walking on relatively flat ground or descending most of the time. Part of the hike around the summit is on a stone path that is designed to avoid slippery conditions but can make it tricky for dogs to walk on as their paws can slip between the stones. So it’ll be easier for them if they’re walking along the dirt/grassy edge.
Though the Seceda ridgeline looks more impressive and dramatic the farther away you are from it, the short hike was worth it. And it’s a good way for your dog to get some energy out after being in a crowded cable car.
In all, our hike was just under 2.5 km, though it’s possible to take a longer route in the area. We chose not to because we were already in direct sunlight with no possibility for shade, which is tough on a dog. Before hopping back on the cable car down to Ortisei, we stopped at Rifugio Seceda, which is adjacent to the cable car station, and had some refreshments in the shade so we could further enjoy the view. Since we left relatively early, we had both cable car sections to ourselves on the way down.
Timing your arrival to the Seceda cable car station in Ortisei
If you’re taking the cable car, you have to be very careful about your arrival because the Seceda viewpoint is one of the most popular in the Dolomites and it gets quite busy. This means you have to park farther and farther away the later you arrive. Being in the Dolomites with our dog, we wanted to make sure he saved up his energy for the beautiful hikes themselves and not for the sweaty walk from some parking lot to the hike. So we arrived around 7:30 am, an hour before the cable car started running. But we got a coveted parking spot in the very small Parkgarage Seceda that is directly underneath the cable car station.
We were one of the first people there, so we killed some time in the Val d’Anna Kneipp path that runs along a beautiful creek across from the cable car station. We started lining up for the cable car at 8 am, and we were second in line, but it got very, very crowded while we waited. The popular advice to come right at opening time has made the first hour quite a busy affair. We descended around two hours later and by the time we reached Ortisei, there was almost no one in line. So take that into consideration if you’re looking to avoid heavy crowds with your dog.
On the other hand, the later you come, the more likely it is that you’ll get stuck in traffic and have trouble finding nearby parking. Even if the cable car is relatively empty at 10:30 am, the parking lots will still be full of people still up at Seceda. So there’s downsides no matter what.
Col Raiser hike to Seceda
If you want to avoid the hassle of getting your dog into a cable car and waiting in line with a bunch of people, you can also reach the Seceda viewpoint by hiking there. However, the trail doesn’t begin at Ortisei but at Col Raiser. The point-to-point trail is 7.7 km long through meadows, forests, and mountains. The Firenze Rifugio is a popular rest stop along the way.
From Seceda, you can then take the cable car down to Ortisei. Then you can take a bus back to Col Raiser if you parked your car there. You can take bus 350, 352, 360, and 473 back to Col Raiser. If you’re staying in a hotel in the area, you will probably get a Guest Pass that allows you to take buses for free. Alternatively, if you and your dog are especially active hikers, you can take the trail back down again to your starting point.
The pros and cons of each route to Seceda
The biggest downside of taking the cable car to Seceda, especially when you’re traveling with a dog, is that you have to start your hike at around 9 am, when the sun is already coming down in full force at the top of the mountain. If you take the Col Raiser hike, you can begin whenever you want, meaning that the bulk of your walk can be in the cooler morning hours. If you’re only taking the cable car down but not up (or not taking it at all), you would also save money – €52 per person round trip is not cheap. And it’s €59 if you have a dog.
On the other hand, the hassle of having to catch a bus at the end of your hike back to your starting point is not ideal with a dog. Buses can be crowded or cramped, and the ride isn’t nearly as smooth as a short cable car trip.
For us, the cable car was the best option even though it was the most expensive one. We walked less than hour in total in the hot sun, and since it was early morning, it wasn’t nearly as hot out as it would have been at 12 pm – 3 pm. That way, we still got to enjoy the Seceda viewpoint, but we were able to conserve our dog’s energy for bigger, better hikes like the Adolf Munkel trail.
Tips for visiting the Seceda viewpoint with your dog
Buy your cable car ticket online
To cut the amount of time you have to be in line before you get to the main event, I recommend pre-buying your Seceda cable car ticket online. It’s a general ticket with a validity of a couple of months so you’re not tied to any particular date and time. People complaining about being forced to buy a muzzle were definitely buying tickets in person because none of the cable car operators cared.
Wait out the crowds at 8:30 am
If you’ve already secured parking nearby, you don’t have to rush to take the cable car right away. You can let the opening rush go up and spend some time wandering along the creek nearby or at the Apres-Ski Seceda which is underneath the cable car station and offers light refreshments.
Remember that the cable car stops running at 5:30 pm
You’re not only restricted by the opening hours but by the closing hours. If you visit later in the day or you spend all day at Seceda, you risk missing the last cable car off the mountain if you’re not careful. These are also likely to be crowded.
Hope these tips are useful and that you and your furry friend have an incredible time at the crown jewel of Val Gardena.
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