Nuvolau from Passo Giau

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Overview

  • Starting point: Passo Giau (2236m), Dolomites, Italy
  • Summit point: Nuvolau (2574m)
  • Duration: ~4h30 (including via ferrata descent)
  • Elevation Gain: ~600m including some ups and downs
  • Best for: Moderate hikers, via ferrata beginners (optional descent route)
  • Best Time to Visit: Late spring to early autumn, early start recommended to avoid crowds

A Panoramic Hike from Passo Giau to Nuvolau

This stunning hike begins at Passo Giau (2236m), a mountain pass between Selva di Cadore and Cortina d'Ampezzo in the heart of the Dolomites. Getting there involves a spectacular drive with 29 hairpin bends, reminiscent of the famous Passo dello Stelvio. From the pass, you’re greeted by the towering Ra Gusela, an imposing rock pillar that dominates the skyline. Behind it lies Nuvolau, the summit of this hike. Fortunately, there’s no need to climb Ra Gusela—you’ll take a scenic route around the mountain to reach the peak from the back.

Trail Description

The hike begins from the pastures on the right flank of Nuvolau, initially on a gentle undulating path. After about 1.5 km (30 minutes), you’ll reach a major intersection:

  • Left: A more challenging route featuring a via ferrata to the summit.
  • Straight: A longer but easier hiking path to Nuvolau.
At this point, the landscape opens up, offering stunning views of the Cinque Torri, a group of iconic rock spires, as well as the Tofane range. Recently, part of one of the Tofane peaks collapsed, leaving a noticeable scar on the mountain—a reminder of the ever-changing nature of the Dolomites.


For the next 30 minutes, the path descends slightly, reaching its lowest point at 2120m before a short but steep climb leads to the flatter terrain around the Cinque Torri. Here, the landscape becomes grassy, and it’s the perfect spot to snap a photo with the towers before continuing upwards to Rifugio Scoiattoli (2255m).

At this point, we had been hiking for about 1h40 from the start. Rifugio Scoiattoli is another possible starting point for this hike, as it can be reached by chairlift from the Cortina side.

The Ascent to Nuvolau

From Rifugio Scoiattoli, a wide gravel path leads steadily uphill towards Nuvolau. Unlike the previous section with ups and downs, this climb is continuous and steady, and the terrain becomes increasingly rocky and lunar-like. The trail can sometimes be hard to distinguish among the scattered rocks, but as long as you follow the slope towards the summit, you’ll stay on track.

After 1 hour and about 320m of ascent, you’ll reach the summit of Nuvolau (2574m). At the top, you’ll find Rifugio Nuvolau, one of the oldest mountain huts in the Dolomites. This is a classic refuge offering traditional dishes like polenta, goulash, and strudel.

Unfortunately, we couldn’t fully enjoy the famous 360° panoramic view over the Dolomites, as the weather took a turn for the worse. Midway from Rifugio Scoiattoli, the sky clouded over, and by the time we reached the summit, it had started raining heavily.

Descent: The Via Ferrata Option

The most common way back is to retrace the same path, but it’s a long descent. Instead, we opted for the via ferrata, a quicker route down the ridge.

Just a few meters past the hut, you’ll find the start of the via ferrata, marked by cables. This section is very easy—experienced climbers might even do it without equipment, but for safety, we used full gear. Initially, we hesitated due to the rain, but as it had temporarily stopped (with more forecasted soon), we decided to take the quicker descent.

Via Ferrata Descent

The ferrata starts by descending along a ridge, followed by an easy rocky slope. The terrain is not vertical, and there are plenty of natural handholds, making it a smooth descent. After just 15 minutes, we unclipped and reached a flat rocky plateau.

From here, the marked trail continues along the flat section, leading to a second, slightly more technical via ferrata section. Turning back at this point offers a dramatic view of Rifugio Nuvolau perched on the cliff, making for an excellent photo spot.


The second via ferrata section follows a rocky gully and is slightly more challenging than the first. It takes about 20 minutes before transitioning into a steep but normal hiking path. After another 30 minutes, you’ll reconnect with the trail intersection from the morning.

The via ferrata option saves nearly 1h30, cutting the descent time to 1h10 instead of 2h30 via the normal path.

Back to Passo Giau

From the intersection, we followed the same path back to Passo Giau. The last 15 minutes turned into a sprint, as the rain returned in full force—this time even heavier!

Final Thoughts

The Passo Giau to Nuvolau hike is one of the most scenic routes in the Dolomites. Whether you take the long scenic route or the adventurous via ferrata, this is a must-do hike for anyone visiting the Dolomites!














Location: Averau, 32043 Cortina d'Ampezzo, Province of Belluno, Italy

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