Base Town: Ortisei in Val Gardena, South Tyrol; Trailhead: Passo Sella; Transportation to Trailhead: local valley bus

Col Rodella is a prominent little isolated hill that sits at the top of Passo Sella. From the cable car side, it looks like a grassy ski slope (which it is); on the backside that faces Val di Fassa, however, there’s a sheer cliff. This is where you’ll find via ferrata Col Rodella. This a great course for beginners who want to practice technique or for anyone who just wants to spend time climbing without a long approach hike. The via ferrata takes less than 30 minutes and has a lot of fun vertical sections, with and without ladder support.

The views across Val di Fassa to Maramolada - the highest peak in the Dolomites - are incredible. At the top of Col Rodella is a hut with a roof-top cafe. We ordered an espresso so we could soak in the views of Sassolungo, the Sella Group, Puez-Odle Nature Park, and Marmolada. Having spent 2 months in the Dolomites, I can assure you that Rifugio Col Rodella wins for “best viewpoint”!

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After doing the via ferrata, we had loads of time left in the day to saunter down to Passo Sella and walk the trail at the base of Sassolungo, which offers a front row view of the Sella Group. Stunning! We walked over to Comici Hut and had lunch - expensive, but some of the best food we had in the Dolomites! We ordered tagliatelle with cream sauce and mushrooms, pan fried potatoes, and a huge salad with tuna, olives, cheese, and corn. And the bathrooms at Comici Hut, which are sponsored by Mercedes Benz, are worth a visit ;-) .

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