Alba di Canazei - Rifugio Contrin

Access to starting point:
A) From Kranjska Gora over Korensko sedlo to Austria, where at the first major intersection we continue left towards Podklošter / Arnoldstein and Trbiž / Tarvisio. At the end of the settlement Podklošter, signs for Šmohor / Hermagor direct us right onto a regional road, along which we drive past the mentioned settlement to the end of the Gailtal valley, or more precisely to the settlement Kötschach-Mauthen, where we turn right towards the settlement Oberdrauburg. The road ahead leads us over the Alpine pass Gailbergsattel (982 m), after which we descend into the mentioned settlement. After crossing the bridge over the river Drau, we continue left towards the settlement Lienz. In the main roundabout in Lienz we continue "left" in the direction of the settlement Sillian and Italy. Further on, we cross the state border between Austria and Italy, and we follow the main road to the settlement Dobbiaco / Toblach, where we turn left towards Cortina d'Ampezzo. When we arrive in Cortina d'Ampezzo, we follow the signs for the Alpine pass Passo Falzarego. At the pass Falzarego (2105 m) there is an intersection, where we continue straight downhill in the direction of Marmolada and the pass Passo Fedaia. At the following intersections, we follow the road in the direction of Marmolada and the mentioned pass. After the pass Fedaia (2057 m), which is located by the artificial lake Lago di Fedaia, the road starts descending again, and we follow it to the beginning of the settlement Alba, where on the left side we will notice the Ciampac cable car (gondola). We park on the large parking lot by the lower station of the mentioned cable car. From Kranjska Gora to the starting point is approximately 280 km.
B) From Kranjska Gora over the border crossing Rateče to Trbiž / Tarvisio and further on the highway towards Udine. We leave the highway at the settlement Tolmezzo, from where we continue driving towards the settlement Ampezzo and further towards the Alpine pass Passo della Mauria (1298 m). The road then starts descending and brings us into the Cadore valley, where we continue right towards the settlement Auronzo di Cadore. At the following intersections, we follow the signs for Cortina d'Ampezzo. When we arrive in Cortina d'Ampezzo, we follow the signs for the Alpine pass Passo Falzarego. At the pass Falzarego (2105 m) there is an intersection, where we continue straight downhill in the direction of Marmolada and the pass Passo Fedaia. At the following intersections, we follow the road in the direction of Marmolada and the mentioned pass. After the pass Fedaia (2057 m), which is located by the artificial lake Lago di Fedaia, the road starts descending again, and we follow it to the beginning of the settlement Alba, where on the left side we will notice the Ciampac cable car (gondola). We park on the large parking lot by the lower station of the mentioned cable car. From Kranjska Gora to the starting point is approximately 270 km.
C) From Nova Gorica we drive into Italy and further on the highway to the settlement Portogruaro, where at the highway junction we turn in the direction of Belluno. We follow the highway to the exit for Belluno, and after the settlement Belluno we follow the road in the direction of the settlement Agordo and then Marmolada and the Alpine pass Passo Fedaia. After the pass Fedaia (2057 m), which is located by the artificial lake Lago di Fedaia, the road starts descending, and we follow it to the beginning of the settlement Alba, where on the left side we will notice the Ciampac cable car (gondola). We park on the large parking lot by the lower station of the mentioned cable car. From the border with Slovenia to the starting point is approximately 245 km.

Path description:
At the end of the parking lot, we continue slightly left following the signs »Locia de Contrin« on the forest road, which is closed to public traffic. The road mostly runs through the forest and only occasionally opens up a view on the nearby peaks. The road then soon crosses a bridge and brings us to a marked junction where a footpath from the settlement Penia joins from the left. Further on, the road ascends mostly in switchbacks and higher up some cart tracks also branch off from the road. We always continue straight on the well-maintained road. Later the road turns left and soon a footpath towards the Ciampac ski area branches off to the right. We continue on the road and after a short ascent we come to the hut Locia de Contrin.
From the hut we continue on a gently sloping gravel road, which then soon crosses a wooden barrier. The road continues to lead through the valley along the Ruf de Contrin stream and past the pastures brings us to a junction.
To the right upwards branches off the path towards the saddle Forcia Neigra and the summit Colac, while we continue on the road, which then starts to descend slightly. Soon we come again to a junction, where the path towards the hut Rifugio Passo San Nicolò branches off to the right.
We continue on the road, which here turns left and crosses a bridge. The scenic road starts ascending again and brings us to the hut Baita Cianci.
From the hut Baita Cianci we continue on the road, which soon brings us into the forest and starts to ascend somewhat more steeply. Along the path, strips of forest and meadows alternate, from which increasingly beautiful views open up on the surrounding peaks. Such a path then brings us to the hut Rifugio Contrin.

On the way: Locia de Contrin (1736m), Baita Cianci (1828m)

Trip can be extended to: Bivacco Dal Bianco (2 h) , Cima Ombretta di Mezzo , Cima Ombretta , Punta Penia (Marmolada) (4 h 15 min)