Circular hike to the Stevia Hut

The Stevia (aka Monte Stevia) is a mountain in Val Gardena and an extremely rewarding destination for experienced hikers. It's located in the Puez-Odle Nature Park and is thus part of the Dolomites UNESCO World Natural Heritage site. The ascents to the Stevia are steep and quite demanding from all sides, but once you reach the top you are rewarded with a first-class view. Furthermore, the Stevia Hut is located in the middle of the unique alpine pasture, inviting you to enjoy a well-deserved snack.

Coming from the Brenner motorway (A22), drive through Val Gardena (SS242) before you reach Selva. Immediately after the Hotel Alpenroyal, turn left at the crossroads and then towards Daunëi, a fraction above Selva. Park here at the pay and display car park.

Val Gardena is also easily accessible by public transport. Line 350 runs every half hour from Ponte Gardena or Chiusa to Selva. Get off at the Oswald stop in the centre of the village. Then take the city bus up to Daunëi or extend the hike a little and start directly from Selva (approx. 30 min longer).

The hike starts along the road at the end of the car park above Selva. After about 150 metres, turn right onto the wide path (marked trail no. 3). This winds pleasantly up through the forest to the Juac Hut. The hike continues along trail. No. 17 in the direction of the Forcella San Silvestro. However, if you would like a quick coffee before the steep ascent, the Juac Hut is just the right place.

To reach the Forcella San Silvestro, the trail is initially moderately steep through the forest to the foot of the rock walls, where it becomes increasingly steeper. However, the path is very well laid out and winds up between steep rock faces to the Forcella San Silvestro (2,280 m) where you can admire the high pasture of Stevia for the first time.

To get to the Stevia Hut, you must first hike downhill for about 50 metres, where you meet trail no. 17A. This leads up below rock walls and a final climb takes you to the Stevia Hut. It's the perfect place to get a well-deserved refreshment after the strenuous ascent, where you can enjoy the view and relax. The surrounding meadows also invite you to unwind and are ideal for sitting on the grass, resting and enjoying the sun. The Stevia high alpine pasture is also used as a pasture for sheep.

As beautiful as it is up there, you'll unfortunately have to come down eventually from the Stevia pasture. It's worth hiking down via the "Palota". This descent is not long but quite steep and requires surefootedness. From the Stevia Hut, hike back to the crossroads below the Forcella San Silvestro. Here you won't go up, but rather continue across trail no. 17A, which leads to a flat meadow. Here you'll find a distinctive dead tree, which is popular with photographers.

The view over Val Gardena and the Alpe di Siusi all the way to the Sciliar is unique, but the view down to Selva is also impressive because at the edge of the meadow, steep rock faces drop down to the Vallunga. Fortunately, this trail is also well laid out and deftly winds down. However, you should be surefooted and have a head for heights for this descent. After the first stretch, the path continues less steeply through the forest and shortly returns to the car park at Daunëi.

• Because this hike is relatively easy to reach from Daunëi, it is often done as a half-day tour and is also possible on days with a somewhat uncertain weather forecast to take advantage of a short window of good weather.
• The Stevia is also popular for watching the sunrise and sunset. The viewpoint on Steviola, where the signature dead tree stands, is best for this. For these activities, however, you should be up to the hike and be able to manage the ascent quickly.
• Due to the moderate altitude and the southern exposure, this hike is usually free of snow early in the year and still easily walkable late in autumn. However, you should always check the exact conditions, with local mountain guides or tourist associations.