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Piccolo Sass de Putia Hike

Sass de Putia (Peitlerkofel), an iconic peak in the Puez-Odle Nature Park, rises to 2,875 meters and stands out in isolation in the northern Dolomites. This route circumnavigates the entire mountain and ascends Piccolo Sass de Putia (2,813 m), a secondary peak that can be reached without a via ferrata. This is an alternative to the main summit for hikers who do not wish to tackle equipped terrain.

From the summit, hikers can take in views of the main massifs of the Northern Dolomites all the way to the Austrian Alps. Many hikers are attracted to the loop alone during peak season, but the branch leading to the summits is much less crowded.

Remarks

Parking: There is a large parking lot at Passo delle Erbe, across from the Ütia di Börz. Indicative rates in 2025: €8 for a car and €18 for a camper van. Valid between 7:00 a.m. and 2:00 p.m. After 2:00 p.m., parking is free. In high season (July–August), arrive early, as it fills up quickly.

Ideal period: From early July to mid-October. The mountain huts are generally open from mid-June to mid-October, depending on snow conditions.

Alternative route: To tackle the 2,875-meter summit of Sass de Putia rather than the secondary summit, see the Sass de Putia Hiking and Via Ferrata page. The route is 90% identical; only the final 100 meters of elevation differ.

Description and difficulties of the hike

From the Passo delle Erbe trailhead (1,987 m), take the wide track heading north (Trail 8A). The track crosses a pine forest and emerges fifteen minutes later onto vast alpine meadows dotted with wooden huts at the foot of the north face of Sass de Putia. This is where the loop splits. Turn right toward Forcella de Pütia to complete the loop counterclockwise. This allows you to tackle the main climb with fresh legs.

The trail skirts the north face of Sass de Putia as a contour path facing the Odle di Eores massif before ascending steeply through a wide scree gully (Trail No. 4). This is the first challenging section of the day, with a 260-meter climb to Forcella de Pütia (2,357 meters). At the pass, there are two routes: straight ahead, Trail 4B continues around Sass de Putia—this will be the return route—and to the left, the trail climbs toward the summits.

After an hour of steady progress along switchbacks, a fork appears, separating the two summits of the massif. Take the left path toward Piccolo Sas de Putia (2,813 m). The trail skirts the base of the main summit and climbs up a scree path to the secondary summit. After enjoying the wide-open views at the summit, retrace your steps to Forcella de Pütia.

Then, descend via trails No. 4B and 35 through meadows and alpine pastures dotted with small log cabins. The peaks of the Puez and Fanes ranges serve as a backdrop. Continue to Passo Goma (2,109 m). From there, trail No. 8B descends gently through the forest to Ütia de Göma. It then climbs back up via Munt de Fornella and rejoins trail 8A to loop back to Passo delle Erbe.

The marking is excellent throughout the route, and the terrain alternates between wide tracks and classic mountain paths. The only real challenge lies in the length and cumulative elevation gain.

What you'll love

The view from Piccolo: the Puez, Fanes, and Lagazuoi massifs. To the north are the Austrian Alps, with the south face of Sass de Putia in the foreground.
The alpine pastures to the south and east of the massif, dotted with wooden huts and offering unobstructed views of the northern Dolomites' main peaks.
The three mountain huts (Munt de Fornella, Ütia Vaciara, and Ütia de Göma) along the loop, which are perfect for a gourmet break.