The hike from Plan de Corones to Santo Stefano with return to Riscone is technically easy but considered of medium difficulty due to its length and elevation gain.
The route begins at the summit of Plan de Corones at 2,275 meters, accessible by cable car from the valley station in Riscone, and develops westward along trail no. 8, which initially descends steeply through alpine meadows. It then reaches a wooded ridge that remains flat for a long stretch, offering scenic views over the Puster Valley and the Dolomites, before resuming the descent to a panoramic clearing from which the Haidenberg Hotel can be seen. From here, the hike continues along a wide and well-marked forest road leading down into the valley. Shortly before Santo Stefano, signs direct towards Riscone, crossing the Weliserhof farmstead and cultivated fields, until returning to the valley station of the cable car.
The hike, which follows trails no. 8, 4, and 7, covers a total length of about 9 kilometers, with an average walking time of 4 hours and a significant elevation difference between the maximum altitude of 2,275 meters and the minimum of 953 meters, making it ideal for trained hikers seeking a varied itinerary among alpine panoramas, forests, and traditional farmsteads.
