Prato Piazza is a high plateau in the Fanes-Senes-Braies Nature Park. It lies at 2,000 m a.s.l. and is surrounded by Mt Croda Rossa, the Tofane mountain group and the Monte Cristallo. It can be reached from Ponticello/Braies by car (subject to a fee) until 10 am (no time limitation for the descent) or shuttle service. The traffic lights on the last section apply to cyclists, too.

Our hiking tour starts at the parking space in Prato Piazza. The early bird catches the worm - there are only few hikers on the way and we enjoy the tranquillity of the early morning. On a wide hiking path we hike towards south-east until we soon reach the Prato Piazza mountain inn with its nice small chapel. This is the starting point of many hiking tours leading to different peaks. Continuing our tour on trail n° 37, leading across beautiful alpine meadows, we enjoy breathtaking views of Mt Croda Rossa (3,146 m), the Tofane mountain group and the Monte Cristallo. After a short ascent, we finally reach the Vallandro mountain hut (2,040 m). There is an interesting old Austrian castle ruin near the hut.

We continue our hiking tour on trail n° 40A, leading slightly upwards along impressive rock walls. Soon afterwards a trail branches off towards Mt Specie. However, we stay on trail n° 40A. On our right we see the southwest flank of the famous Mt Vallandro, on our left the we look down to the Prato Piazza mountain inn. At the foot of Mt Vallandro the trail leads downwards again, passing the Hotel Hohe Gaisl and the mountain inn, finally reaching our starting point again.

Author: BS