This pleasant circular walk in the woods near Ortisei is especially recommended in spring and autumn
Image gallery: Circular hike Ortisei - Sacun
It is probably the oldest church in the Val Gardena valley and was already a destination for many pilgrims in the 13th century. This is the Church of St. Jacob, located above the village of Ortisei. Our walk through the woods northeast of the market town begins in the village centre. We follow Str. Rezia and the former railway line, then path no. 6B towards San Giacomo (St. Jakob/Sacun).
The trail goes uphill through the forest until it meets the tarmac road leading to the hamlet of San Giacomo, called Sacun in Ladin, which we then follow. San Giacomo consists of a group of houses in a meadow clearing around the Hotel Jakoberhof. Just behind the hotel, path no. 6B continues upwards towards the church. It is situated slightly above the hamlet, surrounded by the forest.
It is a charming spot. Behind the church tower rises the peak of the Sassolungo, which still has plenty of snow. We can enjoy the sun on the small meadow on the slope before heading back to Ortisei via path no. 6. This path is a pleasant promenade through the woods that leads into the Dialogue Trail (Troi dl Dialogh). In this small park at the edge of the forest, artworks and inscriptions invite visitors to reflect.
We need about two hours for this six-kilometre circular walk. It is especially recommended in spring and autumn, when the weather at higher altitudes is still, or already, somewhat uninviting. An alternative in this area also tells you the legend of Saint Jaboc. This is the St. Jacob Legend Trail, which also leads to the small church but starts in Santa Cristina Valgardena.
Author: AT
Experienced: May 2014
Last updated: 2026
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- Starting point:
- village centre of Ortisei (1,222 m a.s.l.)
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- Overall time:
- 02:00 h
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- Total route length:
- 6,7 km
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- Altitude:
- from 1.222 m to 1.580 m
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- Altitude difference (uphill | downhill):
- +372 m | -372 m
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- Signposts:
- former railway line, no. 6B (Sacun / San Giacomo), 6
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- Destination:
- "dlieja da Sacun" (Ladin name of the St. Jacob Church)
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- Resting points:
- resting points in the centre of Ortisei
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- Recommended time of year:
- Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec
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- Download GPX track:
- Circular hike Ortisei - Sacun
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- More information:
- The overall time shown above refers to the walking time only, not including breaks or stops.
If you want to undertake this hike, we recommend checking the weather and trail conditions in advance and on site before starting this hike!
