Sant'Uberto - Ütia de Gran Fanes

Access to starting point:
Over the border crossing Rateče we drive to Trbiž / Tarvisio, where we go on a highway in the direction of Videm / Udine. We leave the highway at exit Tolmezzo and we follow the road to the mentioned settlement. From Tolmezzo we continue in the direction of the settlement Ampezzo and mountain pass Passo della Mauria. The road then starts descending and brings us into a valley Cadore, where we continue right (left Belluno and Cortina d'Ampezzo) in the direction of the settlement Auronzo. After few additional km of driving, we come to the next bigger crossroad, where we go right in the direction of the settlement Misurina (left mountain pass Tre Croci). From here we descend on the road to a bigger crossroad where we continue left towards Cortina d'Ampezzo (right Austria). From the mentioned crossroad, we continue for approximately 10 km towards Cortina d'Ampezzo, and then in a sharp left turn we go right on the road towards the mountain hut Rifugio Ra Stua. We park on a parking lot, which is located at the very beginning of the mentioned road.

Path description:
From the parking lot, we go left on a cart track following the signs »Valle di Fanes« (path number 10). Cart track from a parking lot starts descending and it quickly brings us to a marked crossing. At the crossing, we go right on a footpath following the signs »Valle di Fanes«. From the crossing, the path starts descending through the forest and brings us on an asphalt road.
We continue right on the road and we cross a bridge over the stream Rio di Fanes. The road which runs by the stream then brings us to a crossroad.
Right leads demanding path named Sentiero dei Canyons, and we go left (path number 10) on a road which is short time still paved with an asphalt and then becomes a macadam. Further, the road is mostly slightly ascending through the forest, occasionally also views open up on the nearby peaks.
Later footpath towards the saddle Posporcora branches off to the left, and we still continue on a macadam road. The road then turns a little to the right and over a bridge crosses deep gorge Gola di Fanes. We still continue on the road and quickly we are again at the crossing. Near the crossing there are also few benches and tables.
At the crossing, we continue left on the road, straight leads the path Scorciatoia (shortcut), which is a little steeper and later again joins the road. From the mentioned shortcut then also the path Sentiero dei Canyons branches off. And at the crossing to the right leads the path towards the waterfall Cascata di Fanes to which there is only few minutes of walking on an exposed ledge (recommended use of self belaying).
So we continue left and still ascending on a macadam road which is appropriate also for mountain bikers. After a short ascent, we come to another crossing where the path 401 towards the notch Forcella Posporcora branches off to the left. We go right and continue to ascend on the road through the forest from which views are opening up more frequently on surrounding peaks. The road further few times steeply ascends and is occasionally also paved with concrete. Higher, the path Sentiero dei Canyons branches off to the left, which leads also towards the valley Val Travenanzes.
Our path then slowly turns to the right and again gets closer to the stream Rio di Fanes. Here from the right side joins the path Scorciatoia, little after that also the path to the last waterfall on the stream Rio di Fanes branches off to the right. To waterfall there is only few minutes of walking on an exposed path. Also here is recommended to use self belaying.
At the crossing, the road turns slightly to the left and further runs by the mentioned stream. The path then soon brings us out of the forest and wonderful views open up on surrounding peaks. Panoramic path then brings us to the lake Lago di Fanes.
At the end of the lake, we cross a bridge and we continue on a gentle cart track by the stream. The path brings us to a fence where we leave nature park Dolomites d'Ampezzo and enter the nature park Fanes-Senes-Braies. Here runs also the border between region Veneto and South Tyrol (Trentino - Alto Adige). We continue on a cart track which short time still runs by the stream and then a little steeper ascends and from grassy slopes brings us into the forest. Forest is becoming thinner and from the path, we have a nice view towards the peaks above the valley Valle di Fanes. Our path for some time again runs by the stream and it brings us to a crossing.
To the right leads the path 10A towards the mountain hut Rifugio Fanes, and we continue left on the road towards the mountain pasture Malga Fanes Grande. Further, the road runs in a gentle ascent towards the southwest. Later, the road starts slightly descending and from the right the road from the mountain hut Rifugio Fanes joins. Only a short descent follows on a panoramic road to the hut Ütia de Gran Fanes.

On the way: Lago di Fanes (1832m)

Trip can be extended to: Lago di Limo , Bivacco Baccon Barborka (1 h 45 min) , Vallon Bianco (2 h 15 min) , Bivacco della Pace , Furcia Rossa III