From Carbonin to the Prato Piazza meadow

The Prato Piazza meadow is among the most beautiful high alp landscapes of the Dolomites. From Carbonin in the Val di Landro valley, it is accessible in a two-hour hike.

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Starting point of our hike is Carbonin in the Val di Landro valley, accessible via the Alemagna-Straße road, which proceeds from Dobbiaco to Cortina d’Ampezzo.
Foto: AT, © Peer
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View from our starting point on the Croda Rossa d’Ampezzo mountain (Hohe Gaisl).
Foto: AT, © Peer
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The path no. 37 ascends immediately. In the picture the Monte Cristallo mountain.
Foto: AT, © Peer
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Again and again, the path crosses the forest road. So you can choose if you want to take the more comfortable, but slightly longer alternative.
Foto: AT, © Peer
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The direct route saves time, but is a bit steeper.
Foto: AT, © Peer
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There is a lot of forest, but also some clearings along the way.
Foto: AT, © Peer
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Foto: AT, © Peer
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A goldfinch is watching the hikers.
Foto: AT, © Peer
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View towards the Monte Cristallo with its rocky towers.
Foto: AT, © Peer
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The destination is getting closer, here you can already see the Rif. Vallandro mountain hut (Dürrensteinhütte).
Foto: AT, © Peer
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Foto: AT, © Peer
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Now, in early summer, the gentian is blooming.
Foto: AT, © Peer
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Next to the Rif. Vallandro there is a former military fortress.
Foto: AT, © Peer
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View towards the Croda Rossa d’Ampezzo mountain.
Foto: AT, © Peer
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We continue our hike up to the Malga Prato Piazza mountain hut.
Foto: AT, © Peer
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View back to the Rif. Vallandro.
Foto: AT, © Peer
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Gorgeous blooming landscapes.
Foto: AT, © Peer
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The mountain hut is already visible.
Foto: AT, © Peer
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Arrived at our destination.
Foto: AT, © Peer
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Now we have deserved a hearty lunch!
Foto: AT, © Peer
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The range of traditional desserts is also impressive.
Foto: AT, © Peer
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A last view on the Croda Rossa d’Ampezzo before we start our way back.
Foto: AT, © Peer

From Carbonin to the Prato Piazza meadow: offer 7 nights from 882 € per person

The hamlet of Carbonin (Schluderbach, in German) is located in the Val di Landro valley at the junction of the road to the Misurinasee lake and can be easily reached by bus or car from Dobbiaco. Already on the way through the valley with the Lake Dobbiaco the landscape shows its most beautiful side. The path no. 37 leads from Carbonin through the forest up to the Prato Piazza meadow (Pätzwiese).

If you like it more comfortable, you can also follow the forest road, which winds its way up in serpentines. Both paths meet again and again. Soon you have a wonderful view on the Monte Cristallo. The forest thins out and we reach the first meadows. While the Croda Rossa d’Ampezzo mountain can be seen in the west, the Rif. Vallandro mountain hut and the Prato Piazza Barrier, a fortress of the Austro-Hungarian Army from the late 19th century, are already in front of us.

We have now crossed the 2,000-metre mark and reached the blooming alpine meadow landscape framed by the Dolomite peaks. For lunch we climb up to the Malga Prato Piazza mountain hut and enjoy the view on this sunny day in early summer.

Author: AT

If you want to do this hike, please take information about the current conditions on site!

Starting point: Carbonin in the Val di Landro valley (Dobbiaco)
Signpost: no. 37 (alternatively the forest road, a little longer but less steep)
Distance: 5.5 km (each direction)
Walking time: about 2 hours (each direction)
Altitude difference: approx. 630 m
Altitude level: between 1,430 and 2,070 m a.s.l.
Experienced in: June 2018

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