Last Updated on November 12, 2023
Rifugio Lagazuoi is a mountain hut located above Passo Falzarego. Paso Falzarego is about a 30 minute drive from Colfosco and slightly less time from Cortina d’Ampezzo. The rifugio is not the destination, rather it is the starting point to walk over to Monte Lagazuoi Piccolo. The mountain top provides 360 degree views of the surrounding mountains and valleys below
Funivia Lagazuoi (cable car) takes visitors up to the refugio from Passo Falzarego. There is also a trail from the Passo Falzarego to the rifugio. We took the cable car up to the rifugio, roamed around the mountain top and hiked down the trail back to the Passo Falzarego. We describe our experience here so that you have an idea of what to expect if you decide to do the same thing as we did. We did this excursion in early September 2023.
Getting to Passo Falzarego
We had a rental car so we just drove ourselves to Passo Falzarego. While at the pass, we saw a public bus stop in front of the Funivia Lagazuoi. There is a bus stop in front of the cable car if you look at Google Maps. According to Google Maps, Bus 465 from the town of Corvara will take you to the pass. Bus 030 from Cortina d’ Ampezzo also makes a stop at the pass.
You can choose to park on the side of the road if there is one available or park in Funivia Lagazuoi’s paid parking area. The parking area has an automatic gate that raises after you take the parking ticket from the dispensing machine (just do not forget to press the button for the parking ticket to be dispensed). Parking costs 5 Euros for the day but it is free if you purchase a cable car ticket.
Cable Car
There are two cable cars that take visitors up to and from the Rifugio Lagazuoi. If one is going up, the other is going down. The cable cars run every 15 minutes. It takes less than five minutes to make a run.
The cable cars are big enough to accommodate about 20 people. There is only one seat and that is for the cable car operator. It is standing room only for the passengers.
The cable car station at the top of the mountain has a balcony area and cafe. We said “Wow” first time we set foot on the balcony after exiting the cable car. The mountain views are just spectacular.
Rifugio Lagazuoi
It is a short walk to the rifugio from the cable car station. The rifugio has a much larger balcony filled with tables with bench seating. There are also benches along the balcony perimeter, each facing towards the mountains. It is a nice place to just sit for a moment to take in the beauty.
Monte Lagazuoi Piccolo
The walk to Monte Lagazuoi Piccolo from Rifugio Lagazuoi is probably around a kilometer. It is easy walking on top of the bare mountain with minimal elevation gain. You get 360 degree view along the way. There are also log benches along the path where you can admire the view while snacking or eating your pack lunch.
There is a cross at Monte Lagazuoi Piccolo. Most people hang around here before turning back. We spent an hour here just admiring the views. Others would continue partway down to the start of the via ferrata route. So you would see many hikers carrying climbing helmets and hip harnesses. We wanted to stay longer but we still had to hike down and get to our next accommodation.
Hike Down
I’ll say it now, skip this hike down and just spend more time at Monte Lagazuoi Piccolo. Just pay for the round trip cable car ticket and save yourself the agony of this trail. The trail has a lot of switchbacks and loose stones and rocks. It is also exposed so it can be warm to hot while hiking down in the afternoon. Some trail sections have been partially washed out making the crossing a little tricky. You want to be sure footed or else you may end up tumbling down the mountain side.
The cable car takes about five minutes to get down. We took about 1 hour and 50 minutes hiking down. Granted, we moved slower than most other hikers as we want to be careful and not slip. There is a nice view midway down the hike. It’s like looking through a tunnel with mountains on either side. Something you would not see at Monte Lagazuoi Piccolo.
Summary
Rifugio Lagazuoi is located on top of a mountain that provides sweeping views of the surrounding mountains and valleys below. There is a cable car that whisks visitors up to the rifugio from Passo Falzarego. Passo Falzarego can be reached by public bus from the towns of Corvara or Cortina d’Ampezzo.
The cable car only takes about five minutes to get up to the rifugio. There is a trail that starts from the cable car parking lot to the rifugio. The trail has a lot of switchbacks, loose stones and rocks, steep in some places and has a few washed out sections. The trail is also exposed.
Mount Lagazuoi Piccolo is about a kilometer walk from the rifugio. There are plenty of log benches along the way, perfect for admiring the view and/or having a snack. The mountain top also provides 360 degree panoramic views. It is one of those destinations that can be easy to get to and yet rewards you with absolutely stunning scenery.