Seceda, Photo locations with little hiking
Seceda is maybe the most popular hike in all the Dolomites. Photographers and hikers flock to see the rugged ridge line that is located in Puez‑Odle Nature Park in the Dolomites, located above the village of Ortisei (also known as Urtijëi) in Val Gardena.
Secedas summit sits at approximately 2,518 m (8,261 ft) above sea level. You can access the summit via cable car or hike up. We were excited to check Seceda off our bucket list after three long years of waiting. We went in early to mid-October to avoid massive crowds and enjoy the fall foliage. I hope to share some of the “hidden” fees and surprises we came across to help you know exactly what you're getting into.
Seceda is located in UNESCO-protected land in the Dolomites. You have probably come across Seceda's famous ridgeline, the Odle/ Geisler peaks, which is one of the most photographed locations in South Tyrol.
We have tips for cheaper parking, photo locations, and hidden fees. So stick around so we can help you save money!
Photography
As photographers, we were excited to finally take our own photos of the famous locations. We were surpised that most of the Photo locations were Private farmland. We also came across a toll booth of five euros a person as we got closer to the Ridgeline. The toll booth took cards and cash, but we were a little disappointed with this since we had already paid for the pass to visit Seceda. Not to worry, everywhere you look is like a postcard. We got our best shots farther away on the cross trail to the left of the station. We used a zoom lens( 70- 120) and since it was midday, we used an ND filter.
You can check out the gear we used here!
Drone: Because Seceda lies in the Puez-Odle Nature Park (protected area / UNESCO site), drone usage may be restricted.
Cable Car and Parking
Gondola opening times: 23 May to 2 November, 8:30 AM to 5:30 PM (5:00 PM from 13 October).
Seceda cable car: It’s 52 EUR for a round trip, 26 EUR for children aged 8-16. You can also choose to go one way and hike up/down, which costs 39 EUR (19 EUR for juniors).
You can also get a ticket for one part and hike the other. For example, you only get a ticket for the first gondola and do the rest on foot. This costs 30 EUR (return) or 22 EUR (one way).
What we chose: Dolomiti Supersummer Card if you’re visiting other locations by cable car, like Alpe di Siusi.This card gives you access to 120 lifts during the summer. We barely made this using it on the last day, which was October 11th. We spent half the day at Seceda, then the other half at Alp di Siusi. This still saved us a lot of money, only visiting two locations.
You can reach the summit in 15 minutes.
Bus option: Bus #350 goes from Bolzano to Ortisei. (Buses have been known to be unreliable, though.)
Parking right at the station was supposed to be max 13 euros a day, but we were charged 22 euros. This blind sided us; we suggest parking at the Alpe di Suisi garage, where you only pay 8 Euros a day. It is about a ten-minute walk to the Seceda gondola, and if you are going there, your car will be waiting for you.
Hiking
If you choose to hike, it is free to do so. Ortisei → Seceda Ridge (via Monte Photo)
Distance and time: 11 km, 6miles, 4–5 hours.
Difficulty: Intermediate
From Santa Cristina via trail no.4 to Col Raiser, then to Seceda, takes around ~3 hours (medium difficulty) according to one guide.
Elevation gain using lift: Starting at roughly 1,200 m (Ortisei) up to 2,500 m, 1,300 m vertical gain.
Food
Rifugio Firenze, Baita Troier, and Pieralongia offer alpine meals with panoramic views.
You will find cuisine that includes local pasta, dumplings, Goulash, Wiener schnitzel, and more!
We enjoyed the beef goulash and turkey schnitzel. We noticed the restaurant closer to the cable car was slightly cheaper!
When to Visit
Summer/autumn lift season: late May to mid‐October, Val Gardena, it+1
Crowds: Large crowds midday / high season, especially when taking the cable car. Tripadvisor
For more solitude, consider early morning arrival or shoulder season (late spring or early autumn) before lifts stop or snow begins.
We noticed a smaller crowd in early October, but still enjoyed the nice remnant weather of summer.
How to dress
I suggest dressing in layers. Especially if you are visiting in spring or autumn, you will find yourself taking off and putting back on your layers frequently.
Hiking boots are recommended for climbing up and down the trails at the top. Some trials are steep and rugged.
Also, snow might be present, so water-resistant shoes will be helpful.
