The tour takes us from Dobbiaco in Alta Pusteria to Cortina d’Ampezzo via the Val di Landro
Image gallery: MTB tour from Dobbiaco to Cortina d’Ampezzo
The starting point of today's MTB tour is the railway station of Dobbiaco opposite the cultural centre Grand Hotel Dobbiaco at 1,240 m a.s.l. Initially, we follow the signs to Cortina along the course of the Rienza stream. The path leads southwards along a paved road and then along a well-maintained forest path. After a few minutes' ride we are in the Val di Landro near Lake Dobbiaco at 1.176 m a.s.l. As we proceed along the river, a path to the military cemetery, where the victims of World War 1 are buried, branches off on the right.
Some kilometres ahead we can admire the Three Peaks on the eastern valley side. Unfortunately, today we cannot see them clearly as they are covered with fog. The initial section which follows an MTB path in the proximity of the strada Alemagna didn't quite meet our expectations. Although the road is not heavily trafficked on weekends, it is still noisier than we would have expected. After Lake Landro at 1,406 m a.s.l. our route continues farer away from the main road. Some sections of the itinerary were provisionally fixed as they were probably flooded in the last months. At the moment these sections are suitable only for mountain bikes.
The next ascent is rather easy and after about 18 km we reach Passo Cimabanche (1,529 m a.s.l.) which separates the municipalities of Dobbiaco in South Tyrol and Cortina d'Ampezzo in Veneto. The pass also marks a linguistic border. German is the predominant language in Dobbiaco, whereas the inhabitants of Cortina d'Ampezzo are Ladin speakers. This area is characterised by three nature parks. On the left extends the Three Peaks Nature Park, on the right the Fanes-Senes-Braies Nature Park and the Dolomiti d'Ampezzo nature park in the south. From here on the path slightly descends along an ancient railway line. We cross dark tunnels and pass abandoned railway stations and wonderful viaducts. The railway which connected Dobbiaco, Cortina and Calazo was in use from 1921 to 1964.
Having passed several tunnels and a bridge, we reach the typical moonscape-like landscape of the Dolomiti d'Ampezzo characterised by dolostone on both sides. The paved route runs along the outskirts of the city. As this section is used by pedestrians as well, we recommend caution. If you have time you shouldn't miss a stroll along Corso Italia in the city centre. After lunch we return to Dobbiaco and admire this stunning alpine landscape. The pass can be tackled also by less-trained mountain bikers and even children.
Please note: We recommend caution on the Venetian side as the bridge and the slopes are poorly secured. If you don't feel like covering this stretch by bike you can take a shuttle bus instead. Bike rentals are available in Dobbiaco, Cortina and on the pass. 90% of the track is unpaved and therefore unsuitable for racing bikes.
Date of the MTB tour: 8 July 2009
Last updated in: 2026
Author: AT
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- Starting point:
- Dobbiaco, railway station
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- Overall time:
- 03:55 h
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- Total route length:
- 60,4 km
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- Altitude:
- from 1.209 m to 1.535 m
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- Altitude difference (uphill | downhill):
- +649 m | -649 m
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- Route:
- Dobbiaco - Dobbiaco Lake - Val di Landro - Lake Landro - Cimabanche Pass - Cortina d'Ampezzo - Dobbiaco
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- Destination:
- Cortina d'Ampezzo, corso Italia
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- Track surface:
- Gravel 90%, asphalt 10%
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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:
- MTB tour from Dobbiaco to Cortina d’Ampezzo
We highly recommend checking the weather and trail conditions in advance and on site before starting this tour.
