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Monte Cernera Hike

Monte Cernera (2,664 m) rises south of Passo Giau, away from the hordes of hikers heading north toward the popular peaks of Nuvolau and Cinque Torri. This is precisely what makes it so appealing. With moderate effort, you reach a summit that offers a 360° panorama of the most famous peaks of the Dolomites — Pelmo, Civetta, Tofane, Cristallo, and Marmolada — in an almost surprising calm for the Cortina d'Ampezzo area.

Note, however, that the route includes three roped sections, that require at least some experience hiking on rock.

Remarks

Parking: Free spots are available along the road to Passo Giau, one of the region's busiest mountain passes. In high season, these spots fill up quickly, so plan to arrive before 8:00 a.m.

Directions: At Forcella Col Piombin, turn right to leave trail 436. The fork is not marked by a sign (as of 2025). Then, follow the red markings and cairns.

Description and difficulties of the hike

From the Passo Giau parking lot, take trail no. 436, which starts next to the small chapel, heading toward Forcella Giau. The nearly flat path crosses high-altitude meadows and passes through Forcella Zonia (2,229 m) and then Forcella Col Piombin (2,239 m) in about twenty minutes.

At Forcella Col Piombin, the path to Monte Cernera is not marked by a sign. You must leave trail 436 and take the path marked with red dots to the right. This path is sometimes referred to as the "Sentiero Alpinistico del Cernera." This trail is unnumbered.

The route first runs along the mountainside on grassy slopes that gradually steepen. You will then encounter three sections equipped with cables — re-equipped in 2025 with via ferrata-style cables. The first two sections are traverses across slabs, and handrails provide safety. The third section, a steeper rocky couloir, is the most technical part of the route, especially when descending. However, via ferrata equipment is not necessary as the sections are short and the cables only serve as aids for progression.

After the cable sections and up to the summit, the terrain alternates between rock and scree. Navigation relies on cairns and red markings, which are frequent enough that they are not difficult to follow in good visibility.

What you'll love

The 360° summit panorama: Pelmo, Civetta, Tofane, Cristallo, and Marmolada — a complete overview of the great peaks of the Dolomites.
The tranquility of the route, that contrasts with the hustle and bustle on the trails north of Passo Giau.
A remarkable effort-to-reward ratio: just over 500 meters of elevation gain for a view that rivals much longer climbs.