Sella Ronda Plus: Trail extension between Kreuzkofel and Pralongia
Text: Kirsten-J. Sörries
Yes, you can do the Sella Ronda. In fact, you should do it once in your life, if only because of the incredible Dolomite landscape that accompanies you along its 58 kilometres. But if you branch off from this famous tour into the Garder Valley in the north of the tour, near Corvara, then another special trail experience awaits you:
I have often been to the small South Tyrolean village of Abtei. Flanked by the Puez-Geisler Group and the Fanes Nature Park, you can start various tours from here. But this time I got a tip. A really fun nature trail branches off at the top of the Heilig Kreuz church. A descent that I obviously overlooked on my last visit. With me: the two enduro riders Nina and Shirley, who immediately have an idea of how we can add a famous trail classic to this trail and turn the whole thing into a day-long tour.
Trail no. 15 on the Kreuzkofelwand
A clammy morning mist rises as we float over the lush green meadows in the chairlift from Abtei. It's much warmer in the subsequent gondola. And we get really warm when we get off at an altitude of 2045 metres and have to push ourselves up the last few metres to the old pilgrimage church. But always with a view of the rock faces of the Kreuzkofel. "There it is, no. 15!" Nina has already spotted our turn-off. The trail that I must have overlooked last time starts directly below the church. Perhaps because its start is a little surprising for a bike trail:
There are a few large rocks in the way right at the start, which you have to get round first. In between, we feel our way down a few sporty but grippy rock steps. And just as we are getting used to this rhythm, the trail in the larch forest suddenly opens up. You no longer have to avoid the roots and stones that are still in the way, they just want to help you get off the ground.
The curve radii and short counter-climbs are perfect for keeping the pace moderate. After around four extremely entertaining kilometres, we join a wider forest path that takes us down to St. Kassian. You could leave it at that and simply cycle back to Abtei on the cycle path in the valley. But the girls have been looking forward to the St. Kassian classic since breakfast, so we hop on the Piz Sorega gondola here. It lifts us up to the Pralongià plateau - where the stunning 360-degree panorama means we're no longer as alone as we were on the 15er trail in Badia.
But the crowd of bikers and hikers quickly disperses. If only because the forest path is quite selective: ramp by ramp, we work our way up to the Pralongià inn in the midday heat. The hut is already well frequented, but none of us want to miss out on the well-earned dumplings on the terrace. A break that only increases the anticipation of the two girls, because immediately afterwards we join the great Sella Ronda on one of its most beautiful sections: the Fle Trail.
Its hairpin bends first swing wide and sweeping through the meadow hills. Then the tyres rattle along again over long Northshores. It doesn't just sound like a rollercoaster, it feels like one too. At some point, the trail dips into the forest and we immediately experience a similar rush of bends as we did on our first trail descent this morning. Until finally the first houses of Corvara flash up between the trees and the last trail metres of the day rattle through the speedometer.
Shirley can't stop grinning as we roll down the last nine kilometres to Abtei: "Two mega trails in one day - this Sella variant will make it onto my top list." Will the other places along the classic route offer similar combinations? We'll find out!
Alta Badia Signature Trail
There are detours from the famous Sella Ronda classic that are really worthwhile. Like this panoramic cinema tour between Kreuzkofel and Pralongia.
- Length: 34 kilometres
- Uphill: 330 metres in altitude
- Downhill: 1513 metres in depth
- Trail share (red): 10 per cent
- Difficulty: S0-S2
Tour description
Starting point: La Crusc" chairlift valley station in Abtei/Alta Badia.
The tour: In Abtei, take the La Crusc chairlift and the gondola uphill. A short forest path leads up to the Heilig-Kreuz-Kirche church, where trail no. 15 branches off shortly afterwards, an absolute highlight of the tour! Although there are a few S2 sections in the form of large stones, a few steps and slightly exposed (but undramatic) counter-climbs right at the start, the path in the forest soon becomes increasingly flowy until it finally meets a forest path. Behind the settlement of Rüdeferia, trail 15a branches off to the left and heads back down through the forest and meadows towards San Cassiano/St. Kassian.
From there, take the cable car uphill again to Piz Sorega. Then follow the main path up towards Pralongia. Although there are only 150 metres of altitude difference left, they are concentrated in some mean ramps. However, the view here is incredibly beautiful and it is worth stopping off at the Pralongia mountain inn.
After the break, the second highlight of the tour awaits: the Fle Trail. It is part of the great Sella Ronda and flows along wooden footbridges across the alpine meadows. But be careful: you must not miss the trail entrance at the La Marmotta mountain pasture, otherwise you will end up on the less fun road descent. Above Covara, at the golf course, the trail ends and a cycle path takes over for the last few kilometres: first through Corvara and then along the "Gran Ega" through the village of La Villa back to Abtei.
Key points: Trail no. 15 from the Heilig-Kreuz-Kirche has a few steps at the start (max. S2) and short counter-climbs that cut across the steep slope, but the path is wide enough. There is no danger of falling. The rest of the tour is easy to ride at S0-S1.
Ropeways:
- Abbey: La Crusc chairlift (from 8.30 am), lacrusc.org
- San Cassiano: Piz Sorega gondola (last ascent: 16:45).
If you want to use the cable cars in the region for longer: the Dolomiti Super Summer Card is available for 3 to 7 days and is valid for 140 lifts in the Dolomites.
General information: Accommodation and information on lifts and shops: altabadia.org
Download the GPS data
BIKE subscribers can find the GPS data for free download at bike-magazin.de "My area".
Non-subscribers can switch to the DK-Touren portal here and receive the data there via a Pro+ subscription (two-week trial subscription possible). If you have downloaded the corresponding app to your smartphone, you will automatically find the tour in the BIKE tour collection:
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