It is probably the most beautiful valley in the Alps. White gravelled forest roads in the Fanes-Sennes-Prags Nature Park don't lead around the Dolomite towers, but plunge straight into this world of pale rocks. Many climbs are steep and have to be fought for, but with this panorama at your side, not even the pushing hurts. It's best to plunge into the nature park for a two-day hut tour, as the routes are long and the hut keepers are extremely welcoming.
But there is also a highlight without any strenuous metres in altitude: Kronplatz. Four lifts and four freeride trails await on this 360-degree panoramic mountain. The Herrnsteig on the north flank, the Olang II on the east side, the Furcia on the south side and the Piz de Plaies in St. Vigil. You don't necessarily need a big bike to ride these trails, but you do need strength in your arms. The bends and berms are built in such a way that you can get into the realm of flow by pumping and pushing. Once you've ridden all four trails, you'll have a whopping 22 kilometres of trail and 2350 metres of depth to your name. The 28 euros for the day pass are definitely well invested.
Insider tour tip Markus Rubatscher (bike guide and innkeeper)
From Wengen over the Antoniusjoch
Length: 55 km
Starting point: Wengen - 1350 m
Highest point: Antoniusjoch - 2466 m
End point: Wengen - 1350 m
Altitude metres: about 1800 hm
Retreat: Fanes and Lavarella hut, Großfanes hut
Variant: From Badia with the lift to Heiligkreuz and Trail 15 B to Wengen
Description: The Antoniustour, which leads from Wengen to the 2466 metre high Antoniusjoch, uses up the last of your energy reserves, especially in the last 30 minutes. If you still have energy left at the Antoniusjoch, you can hike up to the Antoniuspitze in around 30 minutes. Here the view opens up over thousands of mountain peaks. The panorama and tranquillity here are hard to beat. Experienced bikers will enjoy the following, difficult descent down to the Fanes-Hochalm. Depending on the position of the sun, the Dolomites reward you with unique plays of colour and light on the striking rock faces. An extensive break is a must in view of the impressive mountain lakes such as Grünsee and Limosee! Refreshments are available at the Faneshütte and Lavarella huts, then the route continues over the Limopass via a marvellous trail to Col de Locia. A barely rideable downhill leads to Capanna Alpina, where you continue on a gravel road to Badia. Here you can ride directly to Wengen or take the lift to Heiligkreuz and experience another highlight on trail 15 B to Wengen.
The most beautiful panoramic tours in the Fanes Nature Park
- Seekofel tour: 43 km/1300 altitude metres, difficulty: medium
Stitch tour to one of the most breathtaking places in the nature park. However, with an extremely steep ascent to the Fodara hut
- Nature park tour: 51 km/1800 metres altitude, difficulty: difficult
From St. Vigil through the Fanes Valley and over the Limojoch to the Sennes area - the absolute classic in Fanes.
- Heiligkreuz tour: 53 km/1900 m elevation gain, difficulty: difficult
Another Fanes classic. The highlight is an incredibly long trail along the rock face of the Kreuzkofel to the pilgrimage church.
- Vaciara tour: 40 km/1550 metres altitude, difficulty: medium
A rewarding tour to the picturesque Vaciara meadows below the Peitlerkofel. Towards the end with a challenging trail to St. Martin.
- Trails at Kronplatz:
The Herrnsteig trail is open from June to mid-October, cable car: Kronplatz 2000
The Furcia, Piz de Plaies and Olang 2 trails are open from July to September.
Information about the cable cars: www.kronplatz.com
Information about mountain biking in the Fanes Mountains
The precinct
Among all the beauty of the Dolomites, the Fanes-Sennes-Prags Nature Park stands out like a pearl. From the north, shortly after St. Vigil, you climb up a gravel ramp of 400 metres in altitude and are suddenly surrounded by a world of high alpine pastures, pale rock towers and small lakes. It goes without saying that there are many hikers in this region. But thanks to friendly co-operation, this is not a problem.
Weather and climate
The Fanes Nature Park still has a hint of a Mediterranean climate, but most tours climb above the tree line into high alpine regions. In midsummer, you have to watch out for afternoon thunderstorms.
Maps
Tabacco map "Fanes-Sennes-Prags Nature Park" and "Puez Geisler Nature Park", both at a scale of 1:25000.
Bike shuttle
There are no lifts in the Fanes region itself. But "Taxi Afo" also transports mountain bikers to the huts in its four-wheel drive jeep. Alfred Mutschlechner, tel. 0039/0474/501588, www.taxiafo.com
On the other hand, if you're climbing the Kronplatz yourself, it's your own fault. Four lifts are waiting here to lift bikers to the start of the four downhill trails: www.kronplatz.com
Bike shop
Bike hire Papin Sport in San Candido, tel. 0039/0474/913450, www.papin.it
Accommodation/BIKE tip
Hotel Pider***s
If anyone knows his way around the Fanes region, it's Markus from Hotel Pider. He has been a bike host from the very beginning, is a technically very experienced mountain biker and is open to any adventure in his home region, the Dolomites. His Hotel Pider is located in Wengen, just a stone's throw away from the Kronplatz bike region and the marvellous legendary world of Fanes. In short: the top address for sporty Dolomite enthusiasts!
www.pider.info
Tel. 0039/0471/843129
Further accommodation, tours and information can be found at www.bikehotels.it.
Gitta Beimfohr
Editor
