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Hiking in Selva Val Gardena

Are you interested in hiking in the Dolomites? If so, there are plenty of day hikes to do throughout the region. The Selva Val Gardena day hike we did also came with an IVV stamp…bonus!


There were two primary reasons we were heading to the Dolomites during the first week of October. The first was that we wanted to attend as many Italian cow festivals as we could find. We’d done cow parades in Switzerland, Germany, and Austria, and they are all amazing cultural events. I couldn’t wait to add Italian cows to my list.

Secondly, we wanted to do a permanent hike (IVV) in Italy, and they are far and few between, so our very first stop was Selva.

So, Day 1 of our Dolomite road trip, we headed out to the hike. I wanted to do it first in case, we had to come back and do it another day for some unforeseen reason. Luckily, we were able to do it.

Capella di San Silvestro is located in the Parco Naturale Puez Odle in Selva Val Gardena, which is the perfect place to do a day hike in the Dolomites.

Why Selva Val Gardena?

On our first official day on our Dolomites Road Trip, we were in Selva Val Gardena. We had one reason for coming here and one reason only. I wanted to do an Italy volksmarch. It was the only place in Italy I could find with a permanent IVV walk. I desperately wanted my Italy stamp.

I had tried many, many years ago to do an IVV event in Italy not far from Vincenza. We were staying at an Army campground, and by the time we arrived at the start hall, it was closed down. I think it was 9:30. We found out later that the events in Italy always start early so you can finish before it gets too hot. Who knew? It took me twenty years to try again. Twenty years.

Quirky statues and magnificent views of the Dolomites greeted us on this Selva Val Gardena day hike.
Wooden sculptures was one of the many themes as we walked on this day hike in the Dolomites.

Our Goal – Hike Selva Val Gardena for an IVV Stamp

Hiking in the Dolomites is one of the main reasons people from all over the world visit. Their hikes are stunningly beautiful, and there are tons of them. We started at the tourist office in Selva, and there were plenty of pamphlets and maps detailing the many walks in the area.

The Partenza hike start sign in Selva Val Gardena.
A statue outside the tourist office in Selva Val Gardena.

Luckily, when we asked for the permanent walk start cards, we were given them without hesitation. We asked what their hours were so we made sure we could come back and get our stamps. When doing permanent walks, we’ve found that knowing the hours of operation is a must. So many places just shut down for lunch for a couple of hours in the middle of the day, and yes, Selva does too. Timing is everything, right?!

Selva Val Gardena a great place to do a Dolomite day hike.
Sheep greeted us on our Dolomite day hike in Selva Val Gardena.

It was a cool, overcast day, and we hadn’t really checked the forecast because it just didn’t matter. It was the only day we could walk, and we weren’t going to miss it.

Our Dolomite Road Trip Looked like this:

Download a snapshot pdf of our Dolomite road trip for further planning.

The Partenza Hike in Selva

The walk we did is a walk that anyone can do, you don’t have to be part of the IVV, and it’s well, well worth it!

We started off walking through some of the town. Tourist office walks typically send you past things you might not otherwise visit. In this case, the main attraction was the sports complex. Every city has them, a place to play soccer and sometimes other sports.

What was unique about this complex is that there is a walking path that highlights the athletes that have come from the region. Pretty cool.

Small huts decorating the ski hill in Selva.
The ski gondola in Selva Val Gardena.

Further on, we walked under a ski gondola and then out of town into a park. The first place we walked through was a quirky little path through a number of wooden sculptures celebrating the life of Oswald von Wolkenstein, a one-eyed knight, poet, and all-around good guy. The sculptures all had plaques telling about his life.

This is the site of a military shooting range in Selva Val Gardena.
Count Oswald von Wolkenstein's story in wooden sculptures was one of the highlights on our day hike in Selva, Italy.

Then we walked through on a path past a military shooting range that has been around since 1890. It was a neat little area, but really, what was impressive was that the views were getting more and more amazing with each step.

This led us into the Parco Naturale Puez Odle, where the majority of the hike took place. We opted for the 10 Km version, but if you go on the 20 Km, you go further into the valley. I wish we’d done that.

A view of the Oswald monument in Selva Val Gardena, the Dolomites.
The first amazing view of the Dolomites on our hike in Selva.

There is a car lot for the park, and right there was a little café. It had been drizzling and was a bit cold, so we stopped at the Jauestation for hot chocolate and the local cake. While we were there, the rain turned into sleet and snow.

Jauestation is a great place to take a break on our day hike in the Dolomites.
Jim trying the local cake and some yummy hot chocolate.

We had plenty of walk to do, so we kept going and visited the quaint Capella di San Silvestro, oohing and aahing at the frescoes and, of course, signing the visitor’s book. It was small, beautiful, and well worth a few minutes.

Capella de San Silvestro interior, one of the highlights on our day hike in Selva Val Gardena.

That’s when we turned caught up on our path again and walked past the Stations of the Cross sculptures and eventually back into town.

IVV directional sign in Paco Naturale Puez Odle.
Corky braving the snow and sleet on our Dolomite day hike.

When I say, eventually, it took us…forever! Why, because even though we found some directional signs, we were afraid we missed our control point and kept doubling back. If you view our walking map, it’s pretty hilarious.

Alas, we finally gave up and figured if they challenged us, we’d show our photos and map to prove that we’d done the 10 Km…which had turned into much longer than that.

A view of Selva Val Gardena from our day hiking path.
The last downhill path back into Selva Val Gardena.

The last downhill track heading back into Selva was the absolute worst terrain. It was not paved, which is okay, but it had huge rocks and many things to watch out for, so you didn’t turn an ankle. For my bad knees, it was an absolute killer.

At any rate, we made it back to the tourist office, got our much sought after Italy stamp, and looked for a place in town for lunch.

Our Rating

4 Star Activity Rating.

Would I recommend this walk? Absolutely!

Why did I only give it 4 stars? Mainly because of the loss of directional signs towards the end. As I said, it was confusing and a bit frustrating. However, following Google Maps, we knew how to get back and eventually got back on the trail.

A cute little wooden hedgehog sculpture we saw on our Dolomite road trip.
Castle Wolfenstein in Selva Val Gardena, Italy.

One thing I’ve found is all the hikes from a tourist office usually include the absolute best of the surrounding area. The designers of the walk typically will include places to eat, playgrounds for the kids, sculptures, buildings, and other things that highlight the personality of the town, and, of course, they include the prettiest places. No matter where I’ve gone, I’ve always been pleasantly surprised.

One of the many small details that welcome you to Selva Val Gardena.

The hike was gorgeous, though, and yes, even with the rain, snow, and sleet, we had a fantastic time. We were glad, at the time, that we didn’t do the 20 Km. But if we go back in summer, we would definitely do it.

Conclusion

On any trip to the Dolomites, Selva Val Gardena should be on the itinerary. However, to really get to know the area and the majesty of the mountains, do a hike. You will love it!

This was only Day 1 of our Dolomite road trip, go here for Day 2!

Embark on an unforgettable hike in Selva, Val Gardena, Italy, where breathtaking scenery awaits at every turn. Immerse yourself in the majestic Dolomites, where misty mountains rise dramatically against the sky. Discover the area's unique alpine personality as you wander through lush trails and vibrant meadows. Join the volksmarch and connect with fellow nature lovers while enjoying stunning panoramas that rejuvenate your spirit. Experience the magic of the mountains and create lasting memories!

Author Bio: Corinne Vail is a travel photographer, food lover, and a perpetual traveler who has been travel writing for over 14 years. For many years she lived overseas in Germany, Japan, Turkey, South Korea, and the Netherlands teaching the children of the US. military. She’s visited over 90 countries, and she’s not stopping anytime soon.