Alta Via 2

The Alta Via 2, known as the "Way of Legends," is the formidable older sibling to the classic Alta Via 1. It presents a longer, higher, and significantly more challenging traverse of the western Dolomites, demanding not just endurance but also a steady nerve and a head for heights. This is a trek for the experienced alpine hiker, linking the historic city of Brixen with Feltre via a succession of breathtaking mountain groups. The trail's personality is wilder and more remote, taking hikers across vast, moon-like limestone plateaus, along exposed ridgelines, and through sections secured with steel cables that add a thrilling vertical dimension to the journey.  

The existence of the more moderate AV1 provides an important context for understanding the AV2's unique appeal. It represents a clear progression in difficulty, attracting those who have hiked the AV1 and seek a greater challenge. While the AV1 skirts the great massifs, the AV2 confronts them directly, crossing the heart of the fortress-like Sella Group and the magnificent Pale di San Martino. The route offers unparalleled views of the Marmolada, the "Queen of the Dolomites," and its last major glacier. This is a more profound wilderness experience, where the rifugi feel more like remote outposts than trailside inns, and the sense of accomplishment upon completion is earned through skill and a deep respect for the mountain environment.  

The trail runs from Brixen (Bressanone) in the north to Feltre (or the nearby Croce d'Aune pass) in the south. Brixen is a major town with excellent rail connections to international airports such as Venice (VCE), Innsbruck (INN), and Munich (MUC). Many hikers opt to take the Plose cable car from near Brixen to begin the trek, bypassing a significant initial ascent. The southern terminus at Croce d'Aune has bus services to the larger town of Feltre, from which trains and buses connect back to Venice and other major transport hubs.

The rifugi on the AV2 are often in more remote and dramatic locations than those on the AV1, reflecting the trail's wilder character.

• Rifugio Puez: A key hut situated in the heart of the Puez-Odle Natural Park, serving as a gateway to some of the most iconic and photographed landscapes in the Dolomites.  

• Rifugio Franco Cavazza al Pisciadù: Dramatically located beside a small turquoise alpine lake, nestled beneath the sheer cliffs of the Sella Group. Access often involves a steep, cabled path, making its location feel particularly earned.

• Rifugio Rosetta "Giovanni Pedrotti": Provides crucial access to the otherworldly limestone plateau of the Pale di San Martino, a highlight of the southern section of the trek, and feels like a true high-mountain outpost.