Rifugio Bai de Dones - Rifugio Scoiattoli (via Rifugio Cinque Torri)

Access to starting point:
A) From Kranjska Gora over Korensko sedlo to Austria, where at the first larger crossroad, we continue left towards Podklošter / Arnoldstein and Trbiž / Tarvisio. By the end of the settlement Podklošter signs for Šmohor / Hermagor point us to the right on a regional road, on which past the mentioned settlement we drive to the end of the valley Gailtal, or more precisely to the settlement Kötschach-Mauthen, where we turn right towards the settlement Oberdrauburg. The path ahead leads us over an Alpine mountain pass Gailbergsattel (982 meters), after which we descend into the mentioned settlement. After we cross the bridge through 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, we cross the 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 get into Cortina d'Ampezzo, we follow the signs for Alpine mountain pass Passo Falzarego. The road above Cortina d'Ampezzo starts ascending steeper, and we follow it for quite some time, more precisely to the spot, where just before a sharp right turn we go left on a road which we quickly get to a large parking lot at the mountain hut Rifugio Bai de Dones. From Kranjska Gora to the starting point is 208 km.
B) From Kranjska gora over a border crossing Rateče to Trbiž / Tarvisio and further on a highway towards Videm / Udine. We leave the highway at settlement Tolmezzo, from where we continue driving towards the settlement Ampezzo and forward towards Alpine mountain pass Passo della Mauria (1298 meters). The road then starts descending and brings us into a valley Cadore, where we continue right towards the settlement Auronzo di Cadore. At the next crossroads, we follow the signs for Cortina d'Ampezzo. When we get into Cortina d'Ampezzo, we follow the signs for Alpine mountain pass Passo Falzarego. The road above Cortina d'Ampezzo starts ascending steeper, and we follow it for quite some time, more precisely to the spot, where just before a sharp right turn we go left on a road which we quickly get to a large parking lot at the mountain hut Rifugio Bai de Dones. From Kranjska Gora to the starting point is 198 km.
C) From Nova Gorica, we drive to Italy and drive forward on a highway to the settlement Portogruaro, where at the highway junction we turn in the direction of Belluno. We follow the highway to its end (we don't turn in the direction towards Belluno), and then we continue driving towards Cortina d'Ampezzo. When we get into Cortina d'Ampezzo, we follow the signs for Alpine mountain pass Passo Falzarego. The road above Cortina d'Ampezzo starts ascending steeper, and we follow it for quite some time, more precisely to the spot, where just before a sharp right turn we go left on a road which we quickly get to a large parking lot at the mountain hut Rifugio Bai de Dones. From the border crossing to the starting point, there is approximately 230 km.

Path description:
From the parking lot, we go towards the east on the path 425 following the signs »Cinque Torri, Rifugio Scoiattoli«. At the beginning for few meters we walk on a macadam road, and then blazes point us to the left on a nicely settled footpath. Here at first we walk on a little swampy terrain, and the path then quickly brings us into the forest and then leads us past the lake Lago Bai de Dones. Behind the lake path turns slightly to the right and also slightly descends. Such a path then brings us to a crossing where from the left side joins the path 424.
At the crossing, the path turns again to the right and soon starts ascending through the forest. The path is for some time still ascending through the forest and then it joins an asphalt road.
Further, we are ascending on the road from which the views start opening up mainly towards Tofanas. Later, the path brings us to a marked crossing where interesting path named Trincee branches off to the right, which runs through renovated military trenches and by which there are presented attractions from the first world war.
At the crossing, we still continue on the road from which soon nice views open up also towards the south. Here the road turns to the right and soon brings us to the hut Cinque Torri. Shortly before the hut from the left side joins the path 437 from the bridge Ponte di Rucurto (road towards the mountain pass Passo Giau).
From the mountain hut, we continue by following the signs »Rifugio Scoiattoli« and we start ascending in zig-zags on a slope on the south side of towers Cinque Torri. Ascending path soon brings us to a marked crossing.
Right leads a circular path around towers Cinque Torri (Giro delle Torri), and we continue left towards the mountain hut Scoiattoli. The path from the crossing becomes less steep and further crosses slopes towards the west. Right soon another path towards towers branches off, and we continue on the left bottom path and we still cross slopes. When we come on the west side of towers, from the left at first joins the path from the mountain pass Passo Giau, and a little after that also from the right path Trincee.
From the path beautiful views start to open up on all sides and follows only a shorter ascent by mostly grassy slope to the hut Scoiattoli.

On the way: Lago Bai de Dones (1895m), Rifugio Cinque Torri (2137m)

Trip can be extended to: Rifugio Averau , Rifugio Nuvolau , Averau