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Monte Nuvolau, Monte Averau and Cinque Torri Circuit

Starting from Passo Giau (2,236 m), this loop combines two via ferratas, two summits and the iconic Cinque Torri — a striking rock formation and open-air museum dedicated to the Great War. From each summit, a 360° panorama takes in the highest peaks of the Dolomites: Tofane, Cristallo, Sorapiss, Pelmo, Civetta, Marmolada…

A superb hike, packed with rewards, and one of the must-do routes around Cortina d'Ampezzo. The main viewpoints are very popular, but few hikers tackle the full loop. The return trail, in particular, offers an almost unexpected sense of solitude.

Remarks

Parking: free spaces are available along the road up to Passo Giau, one of the most popular passes in the region. They fill up fast in high season — aim to arrive before 8 a.m.

Note: the equipped sections are short (shown in purple on the map, at markers 1, 2 and 3). This is above all a hike: the via ferratas are simply the way to reach summits that would otherwise be very hard to access.

Gear: helmet, harness and via ferrata kit required for both equipped sections (Ra Gusela and Averau).

Direction of the loop: clockwise is recommended — Passo Giau → via ferratas → Nuvolau → Averau → Cinque Torri → trail 443 → Passo Giau. You climb the via ferratas rather than descend them, and tackle them early on, while your legs are still fresh.

Description and difficulties of the hike

From the Passo Giau trailhead, take the wide path heading north. Within five minutes, you reach a first junction: keep right on trail no. 443 toward Cinque Torri. Continue northeast to a clearly signposted junction, then turn left onto trail no. 438, which climbs in switchbacks toward the east face of Ra Gusela. About 45 minutes from the start, the first cable marks the beginning of the via ferrata.

It first follows a wide ledge, using the cable as a handline — easy ground throughout. You skirt around a ridge to reach the eastern face of Ra Gusela, then enter a chimney. A few easy moves bring you out onto a small plateau with an almost lunar feel, where you can spot Rifugio Nuvolau higher up and the summit of Ra Gusela on the left.

A 30-minute out-and-back trail leads to the top of Ra Gusela (2,595 m), which towers over Passo Giau. Optional but recommended detour (GPX track available on the via ferrata Ra Gusela page). Return to the junction and head for Nuvolau via a second equipped section: ladders and slightly exposed rock steps, but nothing too demanding.

From Rifugio Nuvolau, the descent leads to Rifugio Averau (2,413 m). A waymarked trail reaches the foot of the via ferrata Averau in about fifteen minutes. The equipped section covers only about fifty meters of elevation gain, but it is very vertical and includes a few technical moves — a clear step up in difficulty from Ra Gusela. A short stretch on scree and loose rocks then leads to the summit cross of Monte Averau (2,648 m), the highest point of the loop. The descent follows the same route, which means going back through the via ferrata. Since 2024, the route has been split into separate ascent and descent lines, which has cut waiting times considerably.

Back at Rifugio Averau, trail no. 439 descends to Rifugio Scoiattoli (2,255 m), the gateway to the Cinque Torri. A loop trail circles this spectacular rock formation and crosses the open-air museum of the Great War: restored trenches, shelters, observation posts and information panels recall the fighting between Italian and Austro-Hungarian troops from 1915 to 1917. Free, self-guided visit.

The return to Passo Giau follows trail no. 443, which skirts the Nuvolau massif on the east side. This is the most monotonous part of the loop, alternating climbs and descents with a few steep passages. Allow about 1.5 hours for this final stretch, far wilder and more solitary than the rest of the route.

What you'll love

The complete and varied loop: two via ferratas, two summits, the Cinque Torri formation and four mountain huts in a single circuit.
The 360° panoramas from Monte Nuvolau and Monte Averau, among the finest in the Dolomites.
Rifugio Nuvolau, the oldest hut in the Dolomites, perched on the edge of the cliff.
An excellent introduction to via ferrata: Ra Gusela lets you build confidence on easy cabled sections before tackling Averau, short but more vertical and technical — the ideal combo for easing into the activity.
The open-air museum of the Cinque Torri, where you walk through restored trenches and shelters at the foot of the towering rock pillars.