A glimpse of the Dolomites’ splendor – short but sweet in 3 days, exploring the Puez-Odle Nature Park (Odle/Geisler group)

Getting to the Dolomites is a long and tiring trip, especially since people usually head there in summer—right when it’s the most crowded. That’s also when everyone else goes because the weather conditions are the best. You can’t really avoid the crowds on the most popular routes and spots—there will always be people around. The only way to escape is to set off on a proper hike deep into the mountains. But everyone who loves Mountains has to see the Dolomites at least once. 

I managed to explore and hike a few of the well-known trails with my little group over three days. Honestly, I have to admit: these were three pretty touristy days. Sure, I’m grateful I got to see some of the famous peaks up close, but the truth is, I didn’t really get that wild, raw feeling of being in untouched nature. For me, there were just too many people—and all kinds of people, not just hikers. On top of that, it was hot, and we kept starting each hike way too late in the day.

My advice? Don’t get too comfortable—wake up early and hit the trail before everyone else does.

Day 1 – Adolf Munkel Trail

This is an easygoing trail—perfect for families or retirees. The scenery is beautiful: you walk a lot through shady forest paths, pass by plenty of wildflowers, and maybe even run into a horse or cow grazing in the meadow. The route goes past two mountain huts, and at the end, you’re rewarded with a view of the Gaisler Peaks, standing proudly above it all, completely unbothered by the stream of people below.
If you’re planning to do this trail, I’d definitely recommend going early in the morning so the sun isn’t glaring straight into your camera lens like it was for me.

Adolf Munkel trail highlight

Day 2 – Seceda Ridgeline

Seceda is part of the same Odle/Geisler group we visited the day before. The summit sits at 2,518 meters, rising out of a lovely meadow covered in wildflowers. It’s pretty easy to reach because you can take the Col Raiser cable car up to 2,106 meters—and I’d recommend you do. If you decide to hike the whole way up, you’ll be completely exposed to the relentless sun the entire time. Plus, you’ll probably end up weaving and bumping through crowds of curious visitors trying to get that perfect new Instagram profile pic.
Because of where the sun sits in the summer, it’s best to hike early in the morning or later in the afternoon.

Seceda ridgeline

Day 3 – Sass de Putia

This circular trail was my favorite, mainly because there weren’t too many tourists, and there was even a bit of climbing involved. I’d recommend it to anyone who has at least once tried hiking on rocky terrain. Sass de Putia is a mountain inside the Puez-Odle Nature Park.
Along the trail, you’ll come across cows, two mountain huts, and probably even some locals selling homemade honey. For the best views, start the loop heading west, ideally early in the morning—otherwise, the harsh sun will make it hard to get good photos of the stunning scenery.

Wildflower meadow on a way from Sass de Putia