Dolomites Alta Via 1 North vs South Showdown

Hey there explorers!

This is the time of year we are planning our summer alpine multi-day hikes.

If all goes well, it’s an Austrian adventure in July (more to come, let’s just say there are some birds of prey involved).

Skiing has been pretty great (minus the broken rib) and we’re getting ready for a hut to hut ski trip in the Dolomites next month.

But now’s the time to figure out summer hut to hut hiking plans before the middle of February for the Dolomites in Italy.

The season is so short - from July to middle of September.

So it begs the question…if you only have a week - should you hike the north or south section?

TL;DR: Alta Via 1 South vs North

I like the south better. But they are both outstanding.

Ready to book???

We loved the custom service from Bergxperience for our family, it was top notch.

You can also book a more traditional point to point Alta Via one with Alpenventures.

Is it Better in the South?

Last summer we ditched the northern section of the Alta Via 1 and hiked the southern section.

It was…

Pretty amazing. Less crowded, more intimate, less of a cattle call and logistical nightmare.

Our Southern Alta Via 1 Experience

It was magnificent, well lit and basically we hiked around Mt Civetta utilizing parts of the AV1.

We walked against the normal flow of traffic.

In a way it made the trail more isolated, yet social. How? I don’t know.

And walking north- the views and clarity were better for me.

I loved the sun at my back in the afternoons and a swim at Lake Coldai at the end of day’s hike.

but….

What you should be prepared for

• 8.8 to 4.1 miles per day

• 3,300 ft of elevation gain (at most)

• staying in rifugios or mountain huts

• variable weather

• narrow paths, you have to wait as you cross people

Alta Via 1 North - Am I cheating?

Okay, okay I sound like I don’t love the Alta Via 1 North section.

Absolutely untrue!

We hiked it 3 years in a row!

So now I feel like I’m cheating on my favorite trail.

My favorite rifugio up there just moved to a 2 night minimum, which is telling the story that it’s getting crowded.

Want to Know More about Hut to Hut hiking in General?

If you are curious about what it looks like to experience a hut to hut vacation, read my article here on some tips.

Talk to you next week.

I’m working on a video for websites that make booking the fisherman’s trail coastal hike in Portugal easier.

x Morgan