Sant'Uberto - Lago di Limo

Access to starting point:
Via the border crossing Rateče we drive to Trbiž / Tarvisio, where we head onto the highway in the direction of Vidma / Udine. We leave the highway at the Tolmezzo exit and follow the road to the mentioned settlement. From Tolmezzo we continue in the direction of the settlement Ampezzo and the mountain pass Passo della Mauria. The road then starts descending and brings us into the Cadore valley, where we continue right (left Belluno and Cortina d'Ampezzo) in the direction of the settlement Auronzo. After a few additional km of driving we come to the next major crossroad, where we turn right in the direction of the settlement Misurina (left Tre Croci pass). From here we descend the road to a major crossroad where we continue left towards Cortina d'Ampezzo (right Austria). From the mentioned crossroad we continue approximately another 10 km towards Cortina d'Ampezzo, then in a sharp left turn we turn right onto the road towards the mountain hut Rifugio Ra Stua. We park on the parking lot located right at the beginning of the mentioned road.

Path description:
From the parking lot we head left onto the cart track following the signs »Valle di Fanes« (path no. 10). The cart track starts descending from the parking lot and quickly brings us to a marked junction. At the junction we turn right onto the footpath following the signs »Valle di Fanes«. From the junction the path starts descending through the forest and brings us to an asphalt road.
We continue right along the road and cross the bridge over the stream Rio di Fanes. The road, which runs alongside the stream, then brings us to a junction.
Right leads the more demanding path named Sentiero dei Canyons, while we turn left (path no. 10) onto the road, which is asphalted for a short time and then becomes macadam. Further on, the road mostly ascends gently through the forest, and occasionally views open up on the nearby peaks.
Later a footpath branches off to the left towards the saddle Posporcora, while we continue along the macadam road. The road then turns slightly to the right and crosses the deep gorge Gola di Fanes over a bridge. We continue along the road and soon reach another junction. Near the junction there are also a few benches and tables.
At the junction we continue left along the road; straight ahead leads the path Scorciatoia (shortcut), which is somewhat steeper and later rejoins the road. From the mentioned shortcut the path Sentiero dei Canyons also branches off. To the right at the junction leads the path to the waterfall Cascata di Fanes, which is just a few minutes' walk along an exposed ledge (recommended use of self-belaying).
We therefore continue left and ascend further along the macadam road, which is also suitable for mountain bikers. After a short ascent we reach another junction where path 401 branches off to the left towards the notch Forcella Posporcora. We continue right and ascend further along the road through the forest, from which views of the surrounding peaks open up ever more frequently. The road then ascends more steeply several times and is occasionally concreted. Higher up the path Sentiero dei Canyons also branches off to the left, leading also towards the valley Val Travenanzes.
Our path then slowly turns right and approaches the stream Rio di Fanes again. Here the path Scorciatoia joins from the right, and shortly after, the path to the last waterfall on the stream Rio di Fanes branches off to the right. The waterfall is just a few minutes' walk along an exposed path. Self-belaying is also recommended here.
At the junction the road turns gently left and continues alongside the mentioned stream. The path soon brings us out of the forest and wonderful views open up on the surrounding peaks. The panoramic path then brings us to the lake Lago di Fanes.
At the end of the lake we cross the bridge and continue along the gentle cart track beside the stream. The path brings us to a fence where we leave the Dolomiti d'Ampezzo nature park and enter the Fanes-Senes-Braies nature park. The border between the Veneto region and South Tyrol (Trentino-Alto Adige) also runs here. We continue along the cart track, which briefly still runs beside the stream before ascending somewhat more steeply from the grassy slopes into the forest. The forest becomes ever sparser and from the path we have a fine view of the peaks above the Valle di Fanes valley. Our path runs beside the stream again for a while and brings us to a junction.
Left leads the road towards the mountain pasture Malga Fanes Grande; here we leave the road and turn right onto path 10A, which leads to the mountain hut Rifugio Fanes. This is followed by an ascent across grassy slopes amid sparse dwarf pines, after which we rejoin the macadam road. We continue right and follow the panoramic road to the lake Lago di Limo.

On the way: Lago di Fanes (1832m)

Trip can be extended to: Ütia de Gran Fanes , Bivacco Baccon Barborka , Vallon Bianco , Col Bechei (1 h 45 min)