Rifugio Scoiattoli - Rifugio Nuvolau

Access to starting point:
A) From Kranjska Gora via 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 past the mentioned settlement we drive to the end of the Gailtal valley, or more precisely to the settlement Kötschach-Mauthen, where we turn right towards the settlement Oberdrauburg. The route 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. At 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 arrive in Cortina d'Ampezzo, we follow the signs for the alpine pass Passo Falzarego. The road above Cortina d'Ampezzo starts to ascend more steeply, and we follow it for quite some time, more precisely to the spot where just before a sharp right turn a road branches off to the left, by which we quickly reach the large parking lot at the hut Rifugio Bai de Dones. Then we buy a ticket and take the four-seater chairlift to the hut Rifugio Scoiattoli. From Kranjska Gora to the starting point is 208 km.
B) From Kranjska Gora via the border crossing Rateče to Trbiž / Tarvisio and further on the motorway towards Videm / Udine. We leave the motorway at 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 takes 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. The road above Cortina d'Ampezzo starts to ascend more steeply, and we follow it for quite some time, more precisely to the spot where just before a sharp right turn a road branches off to the left, by which we quickly reach the large parking lot at the hut Rifugio Bai de Dones. Then we buy a ticket and take the four-seater chairlift to the hut Rifugio Scoiattoli. From Kranjska Gora to the starting point is 198 km.
C) From Nova Gorica we drive into Italy and continue on the motorway to Portogruaro, where at the motorway junction we turn towards Belluno. We follow the motorway to its end (we do not turn towards Belluno), then we continue driving towards Cortina d'Ampezzo. When we arrive in Cortina d'Ampezzo, we follow the signs for the alpine pass Passo Falzarego. The road above Cortina d'Ampezzo starts to ascend more steeply, and we follow it for quite some time, more precisely to the spot where just before a sharp right turn a road branches off to the left, by which we quickly reach the large parking lot at the hut Rifugio Bai de Dones. Then we buy a ticket and take the four-seater chairlift to the hut Rifugio Scoiattoli. From the border crossing to the starting point is approximately 230 km.

Path description:
From the hut Rifugio Scoiattoli, from which there is a nice view of Cinque Torri, we head right following the signs for Rifugio Nuvolau and Rifugio Averau. The path ahead leads us along a stone road, or a much more pleasant parallel mountain path for walking, which ascends on the left side of the road. After a good 20 minutes of moderate ascent, over a panoramic slope that is initially also still grassy, the trail splits into two parts (the junction is unmarked).
We continue straight (the right path rejoins the road and leads to the hut Rifugio Averau, from there it is also possible to continue towards the hut Rifugio Nuvolau), along the path which continues to ascend moderately, only that it transitions from grassy slopes into rocky terrain. A little higher the path brings us to a ridge, where the path from the hut Averau joins us, and we continue further in the same direction. Higher the ridge narrows somewhat and becomes precipitous on the right side, but the path runs along the left side all the time, which when dry is not demanding. We follow this increasingly panoramic path, from which a view also opens up to the highest peak of the Dolomites - Marmolada (Punta Penia), all the way to the summit on which the hut Nuvolau stands, which we reach after a few minutes of further walking.

Trip can be extended to: Rifugio Averau , Averau