Reaching the Pralongià Mountain Lodge, the starting point of this hike, is simple and enjoyable: from Passo Campolongo you can get there in about an hour on foot, while from Corvara, La Villa and San Cassiano you can comfortably ascend using the Col Alt, Piz La Villa or Piz Sorega lifts, arriving directly on the wide grassy plateau overlooking Alta Badia.
From here, the route heads east along the gentle ridge leading to the Settsass, a rocky crest rising like a stone horn above the pastures. You reach a junction at 2158 m, where trail no. 24 coming from Passo Valparola also arrives. The hike continues to the right along a well-marked path with two variants: a lower one that skirts the Sasso di Richthofen via the Selletta de l’Ombliè (2262 m), and a higher, more panoramic option often frequented by chamois. Both routes meet again on the Pale de Gerda, above the Ciastèl forest.
Trail no. 23 then climbs the rocky step of the Lastre, where several springs emerge, and leads to the charming Lake Valparola (2140 m) before reaching the Rifugio Valparola and the pass road.
From here, you follow trail no. 24, which skirts the Piz Ciampëi and moves onto the northern side, offering beautiful views over the Valparola and Val Badia. The nearly level path enters a small basin beneath the main summit of the Settsass and climbs a slope dotted with large boulders to reach the Pizzàde (2330 m). After crossing this ridge, you quickly return to the junction at 2158 m.
Those wishing to reach the highest summit of the Settsass can do so in about 25 minutes: the ascent is easy and the 360° panorama is one of the finest in the Dolomites. Alternatively, to descend to San Cassiano, you can leave the junction toward Störes: the trail crosses the pastures, enters the forest becoming a mule track, and emerges near Armentarola, just 2 km from the village (served by summer buses).
For hikers continuing toward the Col di Lana, from the Selletta de l’Ombliè the route follows the ridge southward, passing Passo Sief (2209 m) and Monte Sief (2424 m), then climbing a steep and rugged crest to the summit. The view of the Marmolada from here is exceptional. The descent follows the same route.
