Key Takeaways

The Seceda Ridge Trail loop is a short, 2.7 km (1.7 mi) moderate hike accessible via the Ortisei gondola, perfect for an unforgettable half-day adventure with legendary jagged-peak views of the Dolomites.

The route includes the spectacular Monte Seceda summit viewpoint and features a highly recommended mid-hike stop at the Sofie Hut for a delicious break and espresso.

Experience breathtaking panoramic scenery high above Val Gardena, featuring iconic long-distance views of the Langkofel Group massif and the sprawling alpine meadows of the Dolomites.

Seceda Ridge Trail

Ready to explore one of the most iconic views in the Italian Dolomites? The Seceda Ridge Trail loop, easily accessible from Ortisei, features an unforgettable alpine experience without requiring a full day of strenuous hiking. This short, moderate, but spectacular 2.7 km (1.7 mile) hike begins right at the top of the gondola, leading you to dramatic views of jagged peaks along Seceda Ridge.

This trail guide leads hikers up to the summit of Monte Seceda where you'll find breathtaking views of the Val Gardena region, high above Ortisei, before following the magnificent Seceda Ridge downhill with legendary alpine views of the Dolomites. Following the loop trail, you'll stop by at the Sofie Hut for a bite to eat and espresso to refuel before circling back to complete the hike. An epic Dolomites adventure awaits on this trail!

An Epic Seceda Ridge Trail Loop Hike

This hike begins at the top of the gondola station, located just below the summit of Monte Seceda near Ortisei, Italy. After riding the gondola up 1,150 meters (3,700 feet) from Ortisei, hikers will find themselves standing high above Val Gardena with breathtaking views of a sprawling alpine meadow landscape below their feet. Before heading up to the Monte Seceda summit, we first walked south to reach views of Ortisei and the Val Gardena region, with dramatic backdrop views of one of the Dolomites famous mountain ranges, the Langkofel Group of Alpe di Siusi. Taking in the views from outside of the gondola station, you can acclimate to the change in altitude while enjoying beautiful alpine vistas before heading up to the summit of Monte Seceda.

The Iconic Seceda Summit and Ridge Views

After exploring the views near the Seceda gondola station, the real hiking begins. Simply follow the Seceda Ridge Trail, and signage along the way, to reach the summit of Monte Seceda. At 2,400 meters (7,800 feet) above sea level, you may find yourself a bit out of breath as you start to climb toward the summit. Along the way up, you can enjoy distant views of the jagged peaks along Seceda Ridge, but you'll mostly be focused on keeping up with your breath while you ascend. Once on the summit, hikers will find a massive crucifix that stands tall over Val Gardena and Ortisei near the edge of the mountain. On the summit also sits a circular metal exhibit that depicts the nearby mountain peaks, which is a neat stop along the hike.

To the east of Monte Seceda's summit sit, what are arguably the best views of Seceda Ridge and its jagged alpine peaks. Hike the Seceda Ridge Trail east to reach these viewpoints, but be warned that this popular trail will generally have crowds of people looking to take photos from the best vantage points. If you can find a spot along the ridge fence, you'll find stunning views of one of the most iconic views in all of the Italian Dolomites! Be sure to take as many pictures, videos, and memories as you can from these viewpoints as they are probably the best along the entire route.

Pay Station Along the Seceda Ridge Trail

After exploring the summit of Monte Seceda and taking in the best views along the Seceda Ridge Trail, this hike leads down the switchbacks from the summit to follow the ridge trail as it traverses east toward the jagged alpine peaks. Along the way, near 0.88 km, as of September 2025, is a toll station where to cross you must pay 5 € per person. For thrifty hikers, you can skip this payment fee by hiking down the nearby trail and around, however, the 5 € per adult fee did not bother us so we paid by credit card at the pay station as it appeared as though this section of the alpine pasture was indeed private land. After you pass the pay station, the Seceda Ridge Trail continues to boast some of the best Alps views in the Dolomites as it traverses the top of the ridge to reach viewpoints and photo opportunities along the way. Below your feet, as is with the rest of this hike, more breathtaking views of the alpine meadows and pastures that sit high above Val Gardena.

Seceda Ridgeline / "Instagram Hill" Viewpoint - 1.35km

Located near 1.35 km, are panoramic views from Seceda Ridge that are extremely popular for hikers, tourists, and Instagrammers to stop at. And for good reason as there are sprawling views of distant Dolomites mountains as far as the eye can see, but also several rocky outcroppings that jut out from the ridge. The rocky outcroppings and the small hills offer a different perspective and fun photo opportunities along the hike, which is likely why so many IG influencers were hanging out here. As a joke, we nicknamed this small hill along the ridge "Instagram Hill" because when we arrived, there were various Instagrammers, influencers, and tourists spending far too much time taking pictures and videos with their cute outfits here. While the views and scenery from this spot are nice, they do not beat the views from the ridge trail near Monte Seceda's summit. This area gets a little overwhelming to be near these people as they tend to take up the viewpoints and photo ops for a very long time.

Hiking to the Sofie Hütte - 1.35 to 2.3 km

After exploring the last section and views along the Seceda Ridge Trail, you'll end up hiking back downhill as the trail follows switchbacks that lead away from the mountain ridge and back into the alpine pastures below. The downhill hike doesn't last for very long before this route takes a right-hand turn at the first trail junction to head toward the Sofie Hütte. Along the way toward the restaurant, hikers will find more breathtaking views of the alpine meadows and surrounding alpine peaks like the distant but stunning Langkofel Group massif near Alpe di Siusi. Finally, at 2.3 km, you'll reach the Sofie Hütte where you can grab a bite to eat and espresso to refuel if needed. On our hike, we had an amazing lunch, espresso, and drinks before we continued onward. Simply grabbing a bite to eat at the Sofie Hütte added 1 hour to this very short, but ultra-scenic hike, so I highly recommend doing the same if you have time!

Hiking Back to the Seceda Gondola - 2.3 to 2.7 km

The last section of the hike leads you from the Sofie Hütte back up the mountainside to reach the Seceda Gondola. The hike back uphill is moderate, but does not last for very long. Along the way, you'll find more alpine pasture views, distant views of the towering Dolomites mountains, and the possibly to witness paragliders swooping down the mountain descending toward Ortisei. Follow the trail as it leads up switchbacks to reach the Seceda gondola / cable car where this loop hike ends at 2.7 km (1.7 miles).

Seceda Gondola Tickets & Parking in Ortisei

To reach the starting point of the hike, head to the Seceda Gondola station located in the center of Ortisei, Italy. For those driving, there is a large paid parking lot situated directly at the base of the station, making it easy to leave your vehicle before heading up to the ridge. You will need to purchase a round-trip lift ticket to access Seceda Ridge; while rates can vary by season, the cost was approximately 60 € per adult during our trip in September 2025. We highly recommend checking the official Funivie Seceda website for current operating hours and exact pricing prior to your arrival.

Seceda Gondola Hours of Operation

Hikers should be aware that the Seceda Gondola does not run 24/7 and instead has hours of operation that vary by season. During our trip, the gondola started at 8:30AM. For official hours of operation and fees, please see the Funivie Seceda website.