Averau moutain hut Nuvolau moutain hut hike

The panoramic hike to the Averau moutain hut and to the Nuvolau moutain hut in the heart of the Dolomites awaits you with breathtaking views, varied hiking trails and enjoyable refreshment stops.

Route description Averau moutain hut and Nuvolau moutain hut

The hike to the Averau and Nuvolau mountain hut starts at the spacious car park of the Lagazuoi cable car on the Falzarego pass in Belluno, which is located just behind the South Tyrolean border.

Here you take the initially quite wide hiking trail no. 441 in the direction of the Averau moutain hut. With a view of the striking Averau, it winds its way in mostly gentle ups and downs over a grassy ridge flanked by the imposing Croda Negra.

Beyond a bridge, the path gradually becomes steeper and rockier and finally leads through a limestone-white, rock-strewn and gravel-laden steep gully. Although you have to use your hands here from time to time, it is quite easy to master.

Behind it, the now almost level path winds its way along the foot of the Averau to the forcella Nuvolau and opens up dreamy views of mighty Dolomite peaks such as the Pelmo, the Civetta or the Marmolada.

A little below the forcella Nuvolau, the cozy Averau moutain hut presents itself. Before the enjoyable stop, it is worthwhile to climb the nearby Nuvolau. To do this, follow hiking trail no . 439 (caution: no signpost at the moutain hut) southeastward over the scree slope, which is initially grassy and later covered with stones.

Next to the Nuvolau mountain hut on the mountain of the same name, there is an unforgettable view of famous summits such as the Lagazuoi, Civetta, Sorapis and the glaciated Marmolada. Meanwhile, at our feet are the Averau mountain hut and Cortina.

From Nuvolau you go down to the Averau moutain hut along the already known path. This time you take the wide hiking trail no. 440.

Shortly before the Scoiattoli moutain hut, the now narrow hiking path no. 440 branches off to the left in the direction of Pian dei Menis. It leads in a mostly gentle descent through flower-filled meadows and wooded slopes, opening up picturesque views.

From Pian dei Menis, the narrow trail no. 424 climbs gently to the inviting rifugio Col Gallina mountain hut and to the starting point on the Falzarego pass behind it.

Note hike Nuvolau moutain hut

If you want to avoid the climb over the rocky steep gully, you can also hike up to the forcella Averau on hiking trail no. 419. This soon branches off from hiking trail no. 441 and rejoins it at the forcella.

How the Falzarego pass got its name

By the way, the name of the Falzarego pass comes from one of the most famous ladin legends: the one about the legendary Fanes Empire, which will be told here in brief.

For centuries, the peaceful people of the Fanes lived in harmony with nature and their allies, the smart marmots.

One day, however, a greedy king ascended the throne, determined to become the most powerful ruler of the mountain world. So he dissolved the old alliance with the peace-loving marmots and instead allied himself with the belligerent, aggressive eagles.

In fact, thanks to his lovely and at the same time brave and clever daughter Dolasilla, he managed to expand his empire considerably. Because of her charity, she was once given miraculous arrows that never missed their target. In addition, she wore a snow-white armor that protected her from enemy attacks.

One day, however, the greedy king sought a sunken treasure in the Aurona mountains, which he could not capture with military strength alone. Full of desire, he therefore allied himself with the neighboring people who controlled the land. He promised to cede his empire and his people if he was allowed to excavate the sunken land, which he intended to inhabit in the future with some of his subjects.

To give his new allies an easy victory, he immediately banished the bravest warrior from his kingdom. Now the only thing left to do was to keep his daughter away from the decisive battle. For this reason, he helped the worst enemy of the Fanes Empire to deprive his daughter of her unerring arrows with a ruse.

The next day, Dolasilla's snow-white armor turned black - an ominous sign: For she had once been prophesied that she would die if her armor turned black and she still went into battle.

But when she looked into the desperate faces of the Fanes people, her sense of duty overcame her - despite the imminent danger of death, she took up arms.

At first, the enemies did not recognize Dolasilla, because they were looking for her white armor. But then they shot her with the deadly wonder arrows. With her death, the downfall of the once flourishing Fanes Empire was sealed.

But the king, who had abandoned his people to destruction, was turned to stone on the Falzarego pass. Since then one can look into the greedy face of the ruler turned to stone on the Lagazuoi. Falzarego therefore means "falso ré" or "fautso rego", which means "false king".

The blinded Queen of Fanes, however, remembered his old allies and withdrew with the marmots and her second daughter into the underground passages of the Fanes area. There she has been waiting ever since for the resurrection of the once flourishing Fanes kingdom.

Infos Averau moutain hut Nuvolau moutain hut hike

• Duration:04:00 h
• Length:10.6 km
• Height gain:600 m

• Min. elevation:1968 m
• Max. elevation:2571 m