An easy alpine hike through the Pale di San Martino group near San Martino di Castrozza to the remains of Ghiacciaio Fradusta
Image gallery: Mountain tour Pale di San Martino - Fradusta glacier
The Fradusta glacier with the eponymous glacial lake is the final destination of this hike. This small glacier is expected to disappear completely within a few years. In San Martino di Castrozza we take the Colverde cable car and continue with the Rosetta cable car to Cima Rosetta (2,650 m a.s.l.). From here, a comfortable path takes us near Rifugio Rosetta from where a route through the rocks of the high plateau in the [Pale di San Martino group](https://www.trentino.com/en/highlights/nature-and-landscape/mountains-in-trentino/dolomites/pale-di-san-martino/) begins. We follow signpost 707 and the white-red marks on the stones - without them, this route would be barely visible.
Even if this is an easy alpine hike, starting at an altitude of 2,650 m a.s.l. and arriving at a maximum altitude of 2,700 m a.s.l., we need to tackle an overall climb of 780 m as the route is characterised by alternating up-and downhill sections among rocks. After less than two hours, we reach the glacial lake. We meet hikers climbing Cima Fradusta (2,900 m a.s.l.), but they won't have the normally spectacular view of the summit. For our return we take the same path. We descend to the valley by cable car with unforgettable memories of one of the most spectacular and enchanting places of the Dolomites, the Pale group.
Author: AT
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- Starting point:
- mountain station of the Rosetta Cable Car (San Martino di Castrozza)
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- Overall time:
- 03:15 h
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- Total route length:
- 8,7 km
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- Altitude:
- from 2.536 m to 2.671 m
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- Altitude difference:
- +232 m | -232 m
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- Signposts:
- SAT 707, Fradusta
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- Destination:
- Laghetto della Fradusta lake
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- Resting points:
- Rifugio Rosetta Giovanni Pedrotti mountain hut
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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:
- Mountain tour Pale di San Martino - Fradusta glacier
If you want to do this tour, we suggest you to check the weather and trail conditions in advance and on site before setting out.
