This hike will take you through snow-covered meadows and forests from Armentarol/San Cassiano to the Malga Valparola Alp, an historic site, where the mineral extracted here, was transported, underwent smelting and transformed into iron. The ruins of the smelting furnaces are now abandoned and in pieces. 

Today, only the hut’s name (Hut of the Iron Furnaces in German) serves as a reminder of the economic prosperity, now long gone, once enjoyed by this extraordinarily picturesque place.

The Valparola hut is closed in Winter.

Take trail nr. 18, going south, from Hotel Armentarola, crossing the river close to the Hotel Gran Ancëi. Go straight on (dirt road), through the beautiful Pre de Costa meadows, coming to a junction at the edge of the wood. Pass this by, still following trail nr. 18, on a slight incline, right in the middle of extremely lovely woods and meadows (50min.).

Moving on from the "malghe", climb up keeping to the left, still through the wood, coming next to the provincial road from San Cassiano to Passo Valparola. Another 600 metres and you bear left, then right but always following the signs for Passo Valparola, passing a small war cemetery, and in a short space of time, coming out once more on the provincial road which, in just a few minutes, brings you to Passo Valparola and the bus stop.

Follow the SS244 Val Badia road towards La Villa and continue on road SS37 to San Cassiano.