It is an unassuming small valley with a rather dull name – Vallunga, which translates to the long valley. Yet once you step onto the trail that runs across it, you will quickly realize nothing is dull about it. The perfect U-shape of the valley and the sheer, almost 90-degree walls surrounding it will undoubtedly leave a long-lasting impression on you.
Everything to know about the hike through Vallunga
Vallunga hike: the stats
- Distance roundtrip – 9 km / 5.6 mi
- Time required – 2-3 hours
- Total Ascent – 230 m / 755 ft
- Type of hike – out and back
- When to go – year-round
- Parking – Parkplatz Langental – Wolkenstein
- Trail number – 14
- Map – Tabacco no 05 (Val Gardena – Alpe Di Siusi)
Where is the Vallunga Valley hike?
Vallunga is a small valley that branches off the famous Val Gardena. It lies in the southern part of the Puez Geisler Nature Park (Italian: Puez Odle), home to a famous Dolomiti landmark – the Seceda Ridgeline.
The map of the Vallunga hike
Above, you can see my path from the car park to the summit. For the map’s legend, click on the icon at the top left corner of the map.
How challenging is the hike through Vallunga?
Unless you plan on doing the extensions I write about towards the end of this article, then it’s time to leave your heavy hiking boots at home.
Vallunga is a walk through the park. The ascent is so gentle that you will hardly notice it. Walking through Langental is an excellent choice for a rest day. I included this hike on my autumn hiking trip itinerary across the Italian Dolomites.
The best month to hike through Vallunga
You can hike through Vallunga at any time of the year, even in the Winter! The busiest period is between July and September.
My favourite month for it is, hands down, October. That’s when the valley comes to life, with larch trees turning all shades of yellow and orange. All photos in this post were taken on October 29th, during the peak of the autumn season.
READ MORE: Best Autumn Day Hikes In The Italian Dolomites
Getting to the trailhead
Getting to the trailhead by car
The parking lot for Vallunga is a 7-minute (2.7 km) drive from Selva di Val Gardena, 10 minutes (5.2 km) from Santa Cristina, and 15 minutes (9.2 km) from Ortisei.
At the time of writing this article, the parking was free, however, one of my readers has informed me that from 2023 a fee was introduced. There is a 0.50 cent charger/30 minutes. You can either pay with a card or cash. The machine does not give change.
During the peak season, I recommend coming earlier, as spaces are limited and the parking lots can fill up quickly. However, during October, there were plenty of spaces throughout the day.
Getting to the trailhead by bus
The nearest bus stop to the trailhead is Vallunga, which is 950 meters away. To get to the trailhead, you must walk the extra distance, adding a couple of kilometres to your day.
Bus no. 357 operates along this route. I recommend the Süd Tirol Mobil website for checking bus connections.
Remember that buses operate seasonally (June-September), and many routes shut down during the shoulder season. Travelling by public transport in October, for instance, is very difficult.
The highlights of the Vallunga day hike
For the little effort I put in to complete the Vallunga hike, I was rewarded tenfold with dramatic views. Immediately as you step onto the trail, you will notice the steep walls of Mont De Sëura straight ahead.
As you walk a little further and look to the right into the gulley that leads to Val Chedul, the sharp peaks of Pizes da Cir peak above. The valley has the perfect U-shape, which is the outcome of glaciers doing their thing through millions of years.
Facilities along the Vallunga trail
There is a little outdoor restaurant right at the start of the trail, which operates seasonally, usually between June and September. No backcountry huts are along the trail unless you decide to extend the hike into the higher alpine areas.
You also won’t find any toilets, so practice the leave no trace policy and always carry out what you brought in with you, including toilet paper! Unfortunately, toilet paper in the bushes and forests is a sight that is way too common in the Dolomites.
Vallunga trail description
There is not much to say about the trail through Vallunga. It is as straightforward as they come. From the moment you leave the parking lot until the end of the valley, you will be following a wide gravel path. That’s it! It’s impossible to get lost.
The route is approximately 4.5 kilometres (2.8) miles and gains 250 meters of elevation. The incline is very gentle, though, and hardly noticeable.
Be mindful of bikes and many dog owners along the trail. Around 3/4 into the trail, there is a vast field where I let my dog run leash-free for some time.
Where to stay nearby
The nearest towns to the Vallunga hike are Selva Di Val Gardena, Santa Cristina di Val Gardena, and Ortisei. As their names suggest, they all lie in the Gardena Valley. Below are some of my hotel recommendations for your stay in the area.
How to extend the Vallunga hike?
You have two opportunities to extend the hike through Vallunga, turning it into a full-day excursion. Refer to the map at the beginning of the post to see the trails marked in different colours.
Option 1: Rifugio Puez
Once you reach the end of the valley, continue on trail no. 14 and follow the signs for Rifugio Puez. I marked this extension with a yellow line on the map.
Once at the refuge, take trail no. 16 down to the valley, turning the extension into a circuit hike. Since it is a circuit, you can also hike it clockwise.
This extension will add approximately 6 kilometres and 540 meters of elevation. It will get steep so it won’t be a relaxed hike anymore!
Option 2: Val Chedul
This extension (marked in a blue line on the map) is an excellent option for those who like more off-the-beaten-path places.
From the end of the valley, continue on path no. 14, following the signs for Rifugio Puez, then veer off onto path no—14A towards Forcella (saddle) Ciampei.
Once at the saddle, take path no. 2 towards Forcella Crespeina and then no. 12 across Val Chedul, which eventually merges with Vallunga.
When choosing this extension, you must count eight additional kilometres and approximately 600 meters of extra elevation gain.
Other outdoor activities to experience nearby
Via Ferratas
More travel and hiking resources in the Dolomites
- Photography spots in the Italian Dolomites
- Regions in the Italian Dolomites
- Itineraries for the Italian Dolomites
- Via ferratas in the Italian Dolomites
- Day hikes in the Italian Dolomites
- Hut-to-hut treks in the Italian Dolomites
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If you have any questions, leave them in the comments below!
Hello Marta,
Thanks a lot for your insightful information. Regarding the parking charges, they are still the same as of Jul 2025, 0.50 Eur every 30min and they apply from 9am to 17pm only. It means a maximum charge of 8 Eur per day. If you depart early in the morning let’s say 7am and return by 12pm, you will only pay for 3hours = 3 Eur.
Fantastic! Thanks for your input
Hi Marta,
Any idea how much additional time you need for extension n° 2, approx.?
Is it possible to complete this hike incl. extension n° 2, in 8hrs for average hikers, you think?
And do you happen to know if you can easily reach the Vallunga parking lot from the Jimmi Hut, via de Val Chedul? (so: leaving the car at the parking lot in Vallunga, doing the Vallunga hike as you described above, going for the extension 2, go a little further down to the Rifugio Jimmy and then go to the parking lot in Vallunga via the Val Chedul)
Hope you can answers all of these questions 🙂
Thanks.
PS: I really like your way of describing the hikes in a detailed way. Very nice site. Love it!
Hi Guy. I reckon I could do it all in 8 hours, but I cannot tell you if you will. You can hike to Rifugio Jimmmy over Forcella Cir then back again to rejoin the trail and hike to Vallunga through Val Chedul. I reckon it would be circa +2 extra hours. I hiked over Forcella Cir when I did the Alta Via 2.
Thank you so much for this guide! We were looking for something to break up multiple days of really tough hikes and had an amazing morning and picnic lunch at Vallunga. Wanted to note that we were there last week and there is indeed a parking fee now: 0,50€ per half-hour. The credit card reader wasn’t working and it doesn’t give change, so it’s good to bring exact change in coins.
Hi Tegan! Thanks so much for your amazing feedback. I am glad to hear you had an awesome time in the Dolomites and that you liked Vallunga. It is a great trail than gives a lot and requires a little effort in return 🙂 Thanks for the info about the parking. I added it to my post. It will be helpful to my other readers.