Braies Beyond

When to Go

• Early summer through early autumn.
• July and August are heavily crowded, while September and October offer the best conditions—quieter trails, cooler temperatures, and peak alpine colors.
• In winter and spring, there is cold and snow.

Logistics 

• No permits are required.
• Near Lake Braies, it’s best to walk your bike. 
• Camping is prohibited, but bivvying is tolerated as long as you leave no trace. 
• There are no grocery stores along the route—only mountain huts and water fountains—so plan carefully and resupply before entering the area. 
• Only in San Vigilio di Marebbe is it possible to buy food, but it depends on the opening hours of the shops.

Dangers and Annoyances

• At the moment, there are no wildlife-related hazards. 
• With a bit of luck, you might spot an ibex—the true king of these mountains—and marmots. 
• Always stay on marked trails.

Travel Basics

• This all-Italian route kicks off in the Puster Valley. Just head toward Villabassa and follow the signs for Lake Braies. 
• You can reach the valley easily by car or train, then complete the final leg to the lake via bus, car, or a scenic bike ride.
• Parking: if you arrive by car, park in one of the villages before Lake Braies. Roadside parking is prohibited, and parking at the lake is extremely expensive. Free parking is available at the tour’s starting point in Braies di Dentro.
• Recommendations: you’ll be riding through a Dolomite nature park and a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Ride responsibly, stay on trail, and leave no trace behind.

What Bike

• Bike: a MTB hardtail with at least 130mm of front travel is ideal. A rigid MTB or a gravel bike with big tires can work, but you’ll miss much of the flow and the fun on the technical descents. I rode a GT Zaskar LT.

• Camping Olympia (Villabassa): Located slightly off-route, this is the perfect base camp for the night before you depart. It offers excellent facilities to prep your gear.
• Camping Al Plan – Dolomites (San Vigilio): A top-tier campsite located directly in San Vigilio, offering a luxurious stopover during your ride.
• Gasthof Huber: as the starting point of the route
• Some mountain cabins are scattered along the loop. 
• Rifugio Sennes and Rifugio Fodara Vedla are both excellent choices, perfectly positioned midway through the route.
• For those carrying shelter, a lightweight bikepacking tent can work, but only a discreet, overnight bivy is tolerated—meaning you’ll need to pack up and leave before sunrise.
• Additional mountain cabins include: Rifugio Biella (opening June-September) and Rifugio Pederù. Both sit slightly off the route’s midpoint, one before and one after, and can serve as useful alternatives depending on your pacing and overnight plans.

• Water Fountain: There are a lot of water fountains along the route and close to the Mountain Cabins (Loc. Braies di Dentro, Rif. Prato Piazza, Loc. Carbonin – end of descent – and San Vigilio di Marebbe)
• Food and Beverages: Along the route at Rif. Ra Stua, :Rif. Sennes, Rif. Fodara Vedla: Rif. Pederù and Malga Foresta
• Market and  Bakery: San Vigilio di Marebbe

location Braies di Dentro-Rifugio Sennes

Day 1 (35 km +1,900 m)

Leaving the Gasthof in Braies di Dentro (1,200 meters), the route drops briefly toward the roundabout on the main road. After a short stretch of pavement, it dives onto a mellow riverside trail, followed by a smooth gravel road, before returning to the provincial road.
Traffic is generally light outside the peak summer months. The road leads to the climb toward Prato Piazza, which is toll-only for cars.
The ascent begins steadily. I chose a forest shortcut that ramps up quickly and delivers an early wake-up call. Some sections are steep on the way to Rifugio Prato Piazza (2,000 meters), but the effort is rewarded with wide alpine meadows and sweeping views of often snow-dusted peaks.
A long descent follows to Carbonin, marking a regional border crossing.
From here, the route parallels Highway SS51, mixing pavement, bike paths, and gravel tracks.

At Lago Bianco, another demanding climb begins—beautiful but tough, with hike-a-bike sections—leading to Forcella Lerosa, a former World War I battlefield.
The pass opens onto a dramatic Dolomite balcony overlooking Pian de Ra Fopes, where silence and vastness make the effort worthwhile.
A fast descent drops to Rifugio Ra Stua, a reliable stop for food and water. The route then climbs again toward Rifugio Sennes (2,160 meters), the high point of day one. The final five kilometers of dirt road feature grades exceeding 20% and require a hike-a-bike.

The day winds down along the gravel road to Alpe di Fodara Vedla, a historic alpine settlement of wooden mountain cabins, with an overnight stop at Rifugio Fodara Vedla.

location Rifugio Sennes-Braies di Dentro

Day 2 (42 km +1,200 m)

Day two starts with a short climb to the saddle, followed by a very steep gravel descent, packed with tight switchbacks, dropping quickly to Rifugio Pederù.

From here, roughly 12 kilometers of forest singletrack unfold, mostly downhill, delivering smooth, flowing trails all the way to San Vigilio di Marebbe (1,250 meters).

This alpine town is the last reliable resupply point before the route’s main challenge. The climb up Val Fojedöra is long, steep, and relentless—nine demanding kilometers leading to Kreuzjoch Pass (2,283 meters). Reaching the top feels like landing on another planet: vast, remote, and strikingly beautiful.

From the pass, the “super trail” begins. The upper section is fast, playful, and full of flow. Lower down, the trail steepens and becomes more technical and rough. Once past the crux, it smooths out again, weaving through low shrubs with effortless flow, then widening and mellowing until Malga Foresta—an ideal spot for a well-earned break.

From here, the ride eases off. The route rolls calmly toward Lake Braies. After the obligatory photos, follow the gravel road on the right side of the main road downhill. Shortly after, you’ll return to the starting point, completing the loop.