Overview
Map
Introduction
The loop walk of Pian de Ra Spines is a relaxing stroll, with a length of about seven kilometers, or four and a half miles, in the locality of Fiames. This easy walk will take about an hour and a half, with practically no elevation gain, making it suitable for anyone, even mothers with strollers or people who are not very fit.
You can find the route on Tabacco Map 003 - Cortina d'Ampezzo Dolomiti Ampezzane. It goes along Path 417 and returns along Path 10. Alternatively, you can see our route on Google Maps by clicking here.
The loop walk of Pian de Ra Spines follows the flow of the stream and is mostly protected by the shadow of the trees, making it perfect during hot summer days and still being enjoyable in mild seasons. In winter it's not accessible, as it's crossed by cross-country ski trails.
Path of the Hike
The walk of Pian de Ra Spines, as we imagined it for you, starts at the free parking lot of Ampezzo's Dolomites Park. If you are unsure of how to reach it, we'll describe it in depth down on the page, in the chapter "How to Get There."
From the parking lot, walk towards the wooden tourist information hut, cross the bar that blocks the passage of cars, and walk along Path 10.
On your right, you can see a suggestive gorge, dug by the flow of the stream Felizon; its Italian name is Forra del Felizon.
A hundred meters ahead, or three hundred feet, you'll find the intersection of the Felizon Bridge. Take the road in the direction of the stream, down to the left, indicated as Path 417.
Be careful not to get confused with the loop of Pian de Loa, which has a vaguely similar name and also starts from here.
The next two hundred meters, or six hundred feet, are on a gravel road along the shores of the Boite Stream until you reach a small wooden bridge, which will take you on the other side of the water.
From the bridge, you can enjoy a lovely view of some charming small waterfalls. It is the perfect spot for some photos or to relax to the sound of flowing water.
The riverbanks to the south of the bridge are ideal for sunbathing, although on hotter days you'll likely find the area also occupied by other people.
After crossing the bridge, turn left and continue along Path 417, which goes on through the woods without any significant ascents or descents.
When the woods open up, looking to the left, you'll see the chalet Spiaggia Verde, which is very close to the starting point of this walk. You may consider it for a stop at the end of the walk.
We have never tried the restaurant under the new management. Although it is generally crowded during peak season, it might be advisable to read some reviews first.
Continuing the walk, you'll see a curious wooden column with some books in it. This is the Librasción, a bookshop in the woods, based on BookCrossing. Books are free; you can take or leave them freely.
You can read a book in nature or take one for later; sometimes there are even some in English. The word has no real meaning in Italian; it's the merging of two words: "book," "Libro," and "Brasción," which means "tree" in the local dialect.
As mentioned before, this walk is almost flat, but we are in the mountains, and now you have to face a small climb. Proceed along the gravel road, ignoring the less-walked path that goes down on the left.
While walking you may have noticed some artistic installations among the trees. These artworks are part of the Sentieri d'arte project, created together with the students of the Cortina Art Institute. Those wishing to have more information could consult the official webpage of the project, but it's written in Italian.
After the climb, on your left, you'll see the Camping Olympia. It's easily recognizable by the caravans and the fence. Continue walking until the end of the camping.
Once you have passed the campsite, continue for a little more until you reach a cross. On your left you'll clearly see a bridge over the Boite stream; cross it.
Right after crossing the bridge, turn left and take Path 10. It's marked by the sign Pian de Ra Sia Q 1200, and you'll follow the directions for Bar Albergo Fiames and ufficio informazioni del parco, which means park information office.
The trail continues in the woods, running alongside the river for about a hundred meters, or six hundred feet, when it reaches a parking area, which happens to be the park's information office parking. As a side note, here is also the departure point of the shuttle bus to Malga Ra Stua.
Continue past the parking area for about ten minutes, always along Path 10, which runs parallel to the main road. Once you reach Hotel Fiames, you can choose whether you want to stop for something to eat or drink.
In our case, we really enjoyed the buckwheat cake with a cappuccino; it was a bit too early for a Prosecco.
Once you decide to end this walk, walk past Hotel Fiames, reach the bus stop behind the hotel, head towards the barrier that blocks vehicle access, and take the gravel road into the wood known as Bosco dell’Impero.
From here, the road continues gently for about twenty minutes alongside the former Fiames airport first and, later on, the Boite stream.
Once you reach the parking lot of the Park of the Ampezzo's Dolomites, you can take your car and return towards Cortina or consider a visit to the bar and restaurant Spiaggia Verde which is just below it. The walk should have taken you about an hour and a half.
Did you like this walk? Let us know! Tag @ciaocortina.it 📷 in your posts and stories on Instagram. We'd love to see your photos.
Curiosities
The former airport of Cortina was built during the First World War as a makeshift runway for planes engaged in the war. It was expanded in 1962, thanks to the tourist boom of the 1956 Olympics. The airport has never been widely used, and it closed in 1976, after a plane crash where six people died, including some councilors of the municipality of Cortina. Over the years there have been some attempts to reopen the airport, but none of these succeeded. In modern days the airfield is mainly used as a heliport. In conjunction with the XXV Winter Olympic Games, the Olympic Village was set up on the airstrip.
If you decide to take the walk of Pian de Ra Spines between May and the end of July, observe the green around you. With a little attention you can see one of the many orchids that grow spontaneously in the Cortina area, especially in the areas of Podestagno and Pian de Loa, very close to where you are walking. These are small but extremely complex flowers, which are worth observing closely. Be careful, as these are protected species, the collection of which is absolutely prohibited.
Many beautiful hikes can be taken from the tourist information house where we parked the car. One above the other is the hike of the Fanes Falls. This is a trek with different variations; the one we propose offers a beautiful view of the low waterfalls, with the possibility of walking the optional canyons and waterfalls trail. If you wish, you could also do the small via ferrata under the waterfall. We talked about this hike in detail on the following page:
The Librasción that you saw along the walk is not the only one in Cortina. You can also find one on the walk from the Sant'Uberto parking lot that leads to Malga Ra Stua and one near Lake Pianozes. This nice project was born from the collaboration between students of the Art School of Cortina, the Regole d'Ampezzo, and the U.L.d'A., the Union of the Ladins of Ampezzo. The concept is the same as BookCrossing, so you can bring your books to add to the collection or take one freely.
In the forest behind Hotel Fiames, the one called Bosco dell'Impero, there was a cemetery for the victims of the First World War. Around 1939 the bodies were transferred to the Military Ossuary in the locality of Pocol, which we talked about on this page:
How to Get There
The walk of Pian de Ra Spines is a loop, so you can start at any point of the path. If you have a car, the best place to start is the free parking lot of the Ampezzo's Dolomites Park, near the chalet Spiaggia Verde. From the center of Cortina you will need around fifteen minutes.
If there are no free parking spaces, there is a second parking lot that might go unnoticed. It is exactly here. Another solution might be to go back to Fiames and park your car in one of the many free parking spaces in the surroundings of the airfield, from which you can easily reach the starting point.
Another solution might be to take Bus n° 1 from Tennis Apollonio bus stop and get off at the end of the line, near the Hotel Fiames. For more information and to purchase tickets, you should contact the ticket office, which is located in the same office as the Tourist Information Center. It may be closed during lunch.
If you left your car in the locality of Fiames, or you took the bus to arrive there, you will start this loop walk in a different place than us. It means you will need to read first the last part of the chapter of the path of the walk, and then you have to jump to the beginning.
If you want to make this walk more challenging, you may get there walking from the town center. Along the road known as the former railway, you can reach Fiames in about two hours. In Italian we call it Ex Ferrovia.
We have described this pleasant walk in a specific page, which you can visit by clicking below:
Finally, you could take a taxi. From Cortina to Fiames, the cost should be approximately €25. Considering that prices could vary a lot, both for the type of vehicle and the number of people, you should always ask for a quote. Taxis can be found in Roma Square or you can visit the official taxi website.
If you need any information, there is a tourist information office. It is located in the town center, near the church.
Useful information
The walk of Pian de Ra Spines, in winter, is closed. The cross-country track crosses part of the route, and, by regulation, it is forbidden to walk or use snowshoes on the ski slopes.
This walk is really easy, but we suggest using appropriate clothing, starting with your shoes, which should be sturdy. Always carry a backpack with, at least, some water, a snack, and a rain jacket. If you are new to hiking, we recommend you read the page we wrote on how to tackle a mountain outing:
We want to emphasize that, in the territory of the Dolomites, there are rules to be followed. The main ones are:
- It is strictly forbidden to light fires.
- It is strictly forbidden to pick plants and flowers.
- Free camping is prohibited.
- It is prohibited to abandon garbage.
- It is mandatory to keep pets on a leash.
Always be responsible, and when in doubt, stop. CiaoCortina cannot be held responsible for any damage to things or people, variations, wrong paths, errors, or inconveniences that may occur along the route.
Conclusion
We hope you liked this page on the loop of Pian de Ra Spines. Before saying goodbye, we would like to mention that you can find other amazing hikes in Cortina and its surroundings by clicking here.
If you want to thank us, you can read the page Support Us. If you only want to suggest a change, propose something, or just say hello, in the section Contacts and Info, you'll find all the ways to reach us.