Col de la Puina is a grassy summit in the Dolomites, above Borca di Cadore in northern Italy. It is reached on foot: a forest road from the car park to Rifugio Città di Fiume, then a climb up open grass slopes that steepen towards the top. The reason to go is the panorama — Monte Pelmo and Civetta over the ascent, Sorapis and Antelao across the valley from the summit. Maps show two lines to the top, and only the eastern one, closest to the hut, is a walked path.
Col de la Puina
Sorapis and Antelao stay hidden the whole way up and fill the far side of the valley at the last step onto the summit.
- Accessibility
- No wheelchair-accessible approach: an unsurfaced forest road, then a steep grass slope to the summit.
- Parking
- Gravel car park by Rifugio Città di Fiume, about 2 km from the summit, no fee. A second car park, also free, lies about 2.4 km out.
- Difficulty
- About 8 km there and back with 594 m of ascent; three and a half hours for one party. Easy forest road first, then a steepening grass climb — graded moderate rather than hard by one visitor.
- Transport
- Nearest bus stop: Peronaz, about 3 km from the hill.
- Hours
- Open around the clock, every day.
What makes it special
Pelmo and Civetta dominate the climb. They are big, close and in view for most of the way up, and for many walkers they are reason enough to be on this hill at all.
The ground is grass once the forest road ends. One visitor graded the outing moderate rather than hard and still called the last stretch hard work: the slope keeps steepening the closer the summit gets, and there is no let-up before the top. Boots and a steady pace get most people up it.
Good to know
- No toilets or water — nothing within 800 m of the summit, and no information board either. Carry what you need for the round trip.
- The views start late — the forest road to Rifugio Città di Fiume is enclosed by trees; the peaks open up once the route climbs above the hut.
- The second half is the work — above the hut the route crosses open grass and steepens all the way to the top, with no shade on it.
Getting there
Access is by car. The nearest car park sits by Rifugio Città di Fiume, a little over 2 km from the summit, and everything past it is on foot: a forest road as far as the hut, then open grass climbing to the top. Public transport is not a practical way in — the nearest stop leaves several kilometres to cover on foot before the walk proper even starts.
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Col de la Puina on the map
Maps show two ways to the top. The western line, the one further from the rifugio, has no path on the ground and is punishingly steep. Take the eastern line, the one closest to Rifugio Città di Fiume — that is the walked route.
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Frequently asked questions
How long does the walk to Col de la Puina take?
One party covered the round trip — 8 km with 594 m of ascent — in three and a half hours from the car park. Another described an hour on the forest road, then a short steep climb up the grass slopes.How hard is the climb?
The first half is easy going and the second half steepens. One visitor who does not hike regularly graded it moderate rather than hard, and still found the final pull to the summit tough.Which route should be taken to the top?
The eastern one, starting nearest Rifugio Città di Fiume. The western line drawn on maps is little used, very steep, and has no path underfoot.Which peaks are seen from the summit?
Monte Pelmo and Civetta dominate the views on the way up. From the top, Sorapis and Antelao stand across the valley.