Sella Group is one of the most outstanding groups of Dolomites. From anywhere you look at it, it appears as a huge castle, surrounded by high defence walls and with up to 3000 m high peaks like towers above the walls. On the northern side of Sella Group one of such peaks is Cima Pisciadu.

Of course the Sella castle is not monolithic. Several valleys and gorges cut the outer walls and also Cima Pisciadu is surrounded by some of them: Val de Mezdi on east, Valun di Pisciadu on west and part of it the high valley of Tita on south. On the north-west side, on foothills lies a beautiful Lake Pisciadu (2564 m) with a mountain hut above it (Rif. F. Cavazza al Pisciadu, 2585 m).

Because of a marked route, a nearby hut, the panorama road over Passo Gardena (Groedner Joch) and well known Dolomites tourist resorts, Cima Pisciadu is often ascended, although it is far from being one of the most popular Dolomites peaks. The ascent still requires overcoming more than 1000 m of altitude and is on some parts also quite demanding. But you will be rewarded with astonishing views on wild scenery around and with a broad panorama from the top.

Summit Panorama

The view towards the north...

... and towards the south

Getting There

Cima Pisciadu from Kolfuschg

On Ferrata Tridentina

For the broader overview see group pages: Dolomites and Sella Group.

From Corvara towards Passo Gardena (Groedner Joch) by the road. Arriving on the altitude of 1956 m, you will see on the left (southern) side of the road a big (free) parking place. It is there, where two out of three main trails begin. The other possibility to start the ascent is Passo Gardena (Groedner Joch), where on the altitude ov 2121 m the Alta via Dolomiti (High Dolomites Route) starts.

The first goal of ascent is to reach Lake Pisciadu. If you start on Passo Gardena, a long traverse leads you into Val Setus, where you join the route from 1956 m parking place, which ascends more directly. Then you climb Val Setus, cross a broad ridge and descend a bit to the hut and the lake. The other, more beautiful but also much more demanding is Via Ferrata Brigata Tridentina. From the 1956 m parking place you take a traverse around Torre Brunico and then climb almost vertically around the 2494 m tower, cross a narrow gorge by a shaky, hanging bridge and reach the hut.

From Lake Pisciadu you take a marked path towards south, ascent into Val de Tita (towards SE) and then towards north on Cima Pisciadu.

All paths are marked.

Map: Tabacco, 1:25000, No. 5 (Val Gardena) or No. 3 (Alta Badia).