Cascate Del Pisciadu Hike: Map, Pictures, Videos & Surprise!

Hiking to the Cascate del Pisciadù in the Dolomites is a pleasant and relaxing experience. It’s just a really easy walk from the trailhead through a field on a gravel path to the waterfall – which you can actually see from most of the trail.

We hiked in June 2024 after lots of fresh snow had fallen and was, obviously, melting, so there was a lot of water in the waterfall. And it had actually been raining, which made the Cascate del Pisciadù even fuller!

As an added bonus, you can easily walk from Cascate del Pisciadù to a waterfall that flows through Val di Mezdi! It’s also quite a nice one.

So, in this article, I’ll give you more info on the Pisciadù waterfall, how long the hike is, a thorough description (with pictures!) of the trail, and some other things.

Enjoy!

This post might contain affiliate links, which means that if you purchase anything via them, we might earn a small commission – at no extra cost to you. Check our disclaimer policy for more information.

Plan Your Trip With My Favorite Resources!

– Best accommodation site: Booking.com
– Best tours and activities: GetYourGuide or Viator
– Travel Insurance: AXA

What Are the Cascate del Pisciadù?

A tall, narrow waterfall cascades down a steep, rocky mountain surrounded by dense green pine trees and a wooden shed in the foreground.

Cascate del Pisciadu is a waterfall hidden in the crevices of the Sella group. It’s in Alta Badia, not so far from the Gardena pass and Val Gardena. And actually, the trailhead is at one of the best budget-friendly hotels in Alta Badia – Hotel Luianta!

The waterfall tumbles down some 80m meters, over rocks and inside cliffs. Usually, there’s not too much water in it, but when we visited in the middle of June, it was roaring!

Since Cascate del Pisciadu is not the most known waterfall in the area, it’s usually quite calm there. And just by the falls, there are picnic tables and a small clearing for rest. And even a toilet!

Quick Trail Overview: To Cascate del Pisciadù

A person wearing a maroon jacket checks their smartwatch, displaying hiking stats: 23:02 duration, 1.40 km distance, 1723 m elevation, 122 m elevation gain, and 139 bpm heart rate. Another hiker walks ahead on a rocky trail.

Key details:

Trailhead: Hotel Luianta in Colfosco
Length: about 3km round trip
Level: easy
Elevation gain: 122m
Time: less than 30 minutes one way

The trail is a wide, gravel path, suitable for strollers and bikes, except the last part to the waterfall, where there are stone steps and the path is very narrow.

Add-on to Val di Mezdi – including the stats from Cascate del Pisciadù

Trail length: 4.7km
Time: less than 2h, even including rest and photography
Elevation gain: 200m
Terrain: mostly a wide gravel path, but the climbs up to the waterfalls and the valley are not suitable for strollers

Cascate del Pisciadu hike: Step by Step guide

A scenic view of a small village nestled in lush green hills under a cloudy sky. A dirt path winds through grassy fields on the left, and there are distant mountains partially obscured by clouds.

The trailhead to the hike is at the hotel Luianta. There are two parking lots just by the hotel and restaurant.

A tall, rocky mountain with patches of snow and a narrow waterfall cascading down the center, bordered by a green forest and a striped barrier in the foreground.

The trail is a wide gravel path almost the whole way, and it’s well marked. And you can see the Pisciadù waterfall, as well as other smaller ones, almost the whole way.

Wooden signposts with trail directions stand in a green meadow with wildflowers, in front of tall pine trees and rocky mountains under a cloudy sky. A narrow path leads toward the mountains.

At the trailhead, follow the signs for Cascate del Pisciadù. After a couple of minutes, you’ll pass by the Funivia Prats funicular.

A smiling woman in a pink jacket and a man in glasses and a light green shirt take a selfie outdoors, with green trees and rocky mountains in the background.

A green meadow with wildflowers, scattered wooden cabins, and tall pine trees, set against a backdrop of rugged mountains under a cloudy sky.

Two small wooden cabins stand on a green grassy field with yellow flowers, set against a backdrop of dense pine trees and a tall rocky mountain with patches of snow.

Just keep following the trail (and taking pictures) until you go to a bridge crossing a little stream – it’s the Rio Pisciadù, or Pisciadù river, which actually comes from the waterfall Pisciadù.

What you need for hiking in the Dolomites

A wooden footbridge crosses a small stream in a forested area, surrounded by lush green trees and rocky terrain. A dirt path leads onto the bridge, with mountains visible in the background.

From the bridge, you can already see the bottom part of the waterfall and the picnic area.

A fenced area with wood shavings on the ground opens to a grassy clearing surrounded by dense green trees, with several benches and picnic tables scattered throughout the scene. — Entrance to the picnic spot and the last part of the trail

Just before the picnic area, there’s a fence with a gate. At this part, bicycles are not allowed anymore.

A rustic wooden trough sits under a tree with exposed roots and a large rock behind it, surrounded by grass, dirt, and scattered stones. A wooden bench and trees are visible in the background.

Once you get to the rest area, you’ll see a huge boulder – the last part of the trail, to get close to the water, is right there behind it.

A winding gravel path leads through a lush green forest with tall trees and dense undergrowth, creating a peaceful and inviting natural scene.

A rocky, uneven hiking trail winds through lush green forest and bushes, with large stones embedded in the dirt path and tall trees surrounding the area.

A dirt hiking trail with wooden log steps leads upward through lush green bushes and trees in a forested area. The path is surrounded by dense vegetation and natural greenery.

In less than 5 minutes, avoiding branches and climbing some stones and stairs, you’ll reach the “official” waterfall spot.

A scenic forest trail with a rocky path beside a rushing stream. Lush green plants and trees surround the area, and a wooden fence with a sign marks the trail near the water’s edge.

A fast-moving mountain stream flows over rocks and logs surrounded by lush green vegetation and trees in a forested area.

If you’re feeling adventurous (we were!), look up toward the mountain and you’ll see a tiny trail in-between the bushes. It’s very much not stroller friendly, though.

A rocky hiking trail winds uphill through dense green vegetation and bushes, with tree roots exposed along the path and a rocky cliff face visible in the background.

A rocky, uneven dirt trail surrounded by lush green plants and shrubs, with several large stones and tree roots scattered across the path in a forested area.

If you follow this trail, you’ll get an even more beautiful view.

A man in a green shirt and black shorts sits on a rock by a cascading mountain stream surrounded by lush green trees and bushes, with misty mountains in the background.

A rocky stream with clear, rushing water flows through lush green bushes and trees, with stone and greenery surrounding the area; distant rocky cliffs rise in the background.

If you decide to not go to the Val Mezdi, but return to the starting point, just follow the same trail back to the hotel Luianta.

Optional (amazing) add-on – Val di Mezdi

A stunning waterfall flows down a rocky mountainside surrounded by lush green trees and towering peaks. The water cascades over large boulders, creating a picturesque and serene natural scene. — Val di Mezdi

Instead of going back to the parking, we decided to check out what’s there when you continue on the trail.

A dirt path winds through a lush green forest with tall pine trees, a small gravel clearing, and a metal trash can on the right side under cloudy daylight.

So basically, we turned right on the road by the picnic area. The road is called “Tru dles Cascades”. Here, you pass by many smaller waterfalls and cross the Rio Pisciadù again.

A small wooden trough channels water from a mountain stream surrounded by lush green plants and rocks in a forested area.

There are even places where you can get water to drink.

A dirt path curves through a lush, green forest with tall pine trees on both sides. The sky is overcast, and rocky cliffs are visible in the background. The scene looks peaceful and inviting for a walk.

A gravel path curves through lush green trees, leading to a small wooden bridge with rocky hills and tall cliffs in the background under a cloudy sky.

After about 10 minutes of walking, you’ll come to a bigger bridge which goes over the torrential stream coming from the Val Mezdi. We went on the rocky riverbank to explore the water a bit more.

A person wearing a backpack hikes on rocky terrain near a flowing creek. Tall trees and steep, rugged cliffs are visible in the background under a cloudy sky. — Checking out the river

You get quite amazing views of the Sassongher from the trail.

A rocky foreground leads to a small wooden bridge over a stream, surrounded by dense pine trees and green hills, with tall, rugged mountains in the background under a cloudy sky.

After continuing on the road, we noticed a trail sign pointing up to the valley – showing that there’s a trail to the Pisciadù hut (Rifugio F. Cavazza) and the Boe hut.

Wooden trail signs with red and white markings point in multiple directions among tall green trees, indicating hiking routes and distances in a forested mountain area.

We decided to explore the trail a bit, knowing that we won’t have an opportunity to do any of the hikes noted. First of all, they are too long, and second, you need to be an expert hiker. There’s also a via ferrata there – one that is level hard.

A hiker in a red jacket walks along a rocky trail surrounded by green trees and bushes, with steep, rocky mountains rising in the background under a cloudy sky.

Anyways, we’re happy that we went up the trail!

The Val di Mezdi looks really amazing. There was also a nice torrenty waterfall.

Mountain landscape with rocky peaks in the distance, lush green forest in the foreground, and scattered patches of grass and small buildings nestled among the trees under a cloudy sky.

A rocky mountain trail winds through green pine trees with steep, rugged cliffs rising in the background under a cloudy sky.

And the view of the Prati di Colfosco and Passo Gardena was incredible.

Once you return to the road, go towards the bridge to cross the Pisciadù river again.

A gravel hiking path winds uphill through a lush green forest. Tall pine trees line the trail, and one tree on the right has a red and white trail marker painted on its trunk. Sunlight brightens the path ahead.

A wide green meadow with wildflowers leads to a cluster of pine trees and a small building. Rocky mountains rise in the background under a cloudy sky.

Continue over the field to return to the initial trail and back to hotel Luianta.

Best time to visit

Although the Pisciadù waterfall can be visited at pretty much whenever, the best time to visit it is in late spring or early summer – that’s when the water flow is the highest.

Getting There

Cars parked near a modern ski lift station, with dramatic rocky mountains and green forests in the background under a partly cloudy sky.

For visiting the waterfall, Colfosco is the most convenient place. As I’ve mentioned already, the trailhead for the Cascate del Pisciadù walk is at the hotel Luianta, which is located on the edge of Colfosco.

You can get to the trailhead by driving or taking the bus.

The bus stop is either right by Hotel Luianta or by restaurant/bar Mesoles (buses #460, #466, #472, #473 or #N460).

If you drive, there are two parking lots by hotel Luianta. One is paid (between hotel Luianta and pension Sellablick). Or, on the other side of Hotel Luianta, by restaurant Mathiaskeller, there is a free parking lot.

If you stay in Colfosco, you can hike the whole way from the town to the waterfall on the Tru dles Cascades road.

You can even walk there from Corvara! Just park by the Boe cable car, and go on the Tru dles Cascades road – it begins in Corvara.

Here are the best budget places to stay in the Dolomites

Family-Friendly Aspects

Two people walk on a dirt path through a green meadow with wildflowers, surrounded by tall pine trees and dramatic rocky mountains under a cloudy sky.

As far as family-friendly hikes go, this might actually be one of the friendliest. There’s barely any altitude gain, the path is wide, and you’re going through meadows – what can be better for kids?

Wildflowers, streams, bugs, mountains, and even paragliders are ready for spotting.

There’s even a toilet by the end of the hike!

Most of the trail is also accessible for strollers for the little kiddos who might get too tired to run.

Only the last part, where you need to climb a bit to access the waterfall itself, is not stroller-friendly. And it’s not exactly the best idea to let smaller children go close to the waterfall, especially when it’s full. Slippery rocks, torrential waters, and little kids do not go well together.

Cycling to the Waterfall

A rustic wooden sign with flowers stands in a grassy field near a yellow info board, a green post, and a gondola; forested mountains and a ski lift are visible in the background.

It’s perfectly possible to bike to the Cascate del Pisciadù. Actually, the trail is part of the Sellaronda bike path!

The only place where you cannot bike is the last part just by the waterfall where the picnic area is.

What to Bring & Safety Tips

A couple takes a selfie near a rocky waterfall. The man wears a light green shirt and a backpack, holding a camera. The woman is in a pink jacket. Lush greenery is visible in the background. They both smile at the camera.

You don’t really need anything special to bring to the hike. Some water, snacks, and maybe a first-aid kit is a good idea.

I used my microfibre towel – we cooled down a bit with the stream water, so it was nice that we could dry our hands and feet.

And of course, your camera – it’s a beautiful place certainly worth many pictures.

As for the safety precautions – just use common sense. It’s never safe to hike during storms so check the weather forecast. When we hiked, there was a bit of rain in the beginning, and it was ok.

Don’t risk your safety by walking or climbing off trails. And if you go up the Val di Mezdi, make sure that you have proper equipment (proper hiking shoes for the part that we did, climbing and via ferrata equipment for the further parts), as well as safety equipment, enough water and food.

Here’s a full packing list – plus a pdf printable (free!)

Nearby Attractions & Things to Do

view of alta badia from passo gardena in the dolomites in june with high mountains in the background

Cascate del Pisciadù are located in the Alta Badia region, which is basically in the center of the Dolomites UNESCO World Heritage Site, so there are a ton of things to do around.

These few are my favorites:

Passo Gardena

A scenic view of the Dolomites with rugged mountain peaks under a partly cloudy sky. A small building sits on a green hill with a winding path surrounded by lush grass and vegetation in the foreground.

Arguably the most beautiful mountain pass in the Dolomites. The views from it are incredible, and there are multiple trailheads for nice hikes there. One of the best ones is Cima Pisciadù (Pisciadù Peak) Hike.

Val Gardena

A picturesque mountain village surrounded by green hills and forests under a bright blue sky with fluffy clouds. Wildflowers, including yellow blooms, dot the lush foreground meadow, while scattered houses sit nestled in the valley.

The Gardena valley boasts great views and beautiful towns. Visit Ortisei, Selva, or Santa Cristina – explore the picturesque towns. From Ortisei, other places such as Alpe di Siusi or Seceda are easily accessible by cable cars.

Other hikes and via ferrata

A scenic view of towering rock formations in a mountainous landscape under a blue sky with clouds. A winding dirt path leads through green grass towards the rocks, with a few scattered trees along the way. — Cinque Torri

There are multiple other hikes not far from Cascate del Pisciadù. Some examples would be Cinque Torri, the classic Sella group hikes (Piz Boe, Sella circuit, etc.), Lake Boè, Colfosco High Trail, Sass Ciampac…

Trail 645 from Colfosco to Ütia Crëp de Munt is a 5 km trail that starts in Colfosco and leads you along the foot of the Sella Group’s impressive cliffs, offering stunning views over Sassongher and the village of Corvara.

As for via ferratas, one of the most famous ones is Brigata Tridentina (Pisciadù) via ferrata offering a challenging and rewarding climbing experience with spectacular views.

Best EASY hikes in the Dolomites

Explore Colfosco and Corvara

A picturesque scene of Corvara, Italy, featuring a large wooden sign reading "CORVARA" on the left, lush green grass, a cobblestone path, and a wooden bench. In the background, houses are nestled among dense forests with towering jagged mountains under a partly cloudy sky.

Colfosco is the highest village in Val Badia, known for its Ladin traditions, Gothic church (dating to 1420), and picturesque setting at the foot of the Sella massif.

There’s also the Colfosco Adventure Park here, which features high-rope courses and obstacle trails for all ages – a great option for families with children. Or go to the animal park, where kids can interact with local farm animals and learn about regional agriculture.

Where to stay nearby

A modern wooden hotel with the name "Kolfuschgerhof" on the facade. There's a large golden deer statue on a rock near the entrance, with outdoor seating and mountains visible in the background.

Alta Badia is actually one of the best areas to stay in the Dolomites, so you have a large number of choices for accommodation.

If you’d like to stay really close to Cascate del Pisciadù, here are my favourite choices:

Hotel Luianta – a budget friendly hotel which is actually the trailhead to the Pisciadù waterfall.
Kolfuschgerhof Mountain Resort&Spa in Dolomites Colfosco – Corvara – an incredible spa hotel with great reviews. You get a view of the Cascate del Pisciadù from it.
Hotel Cir – located on the Gardena pass. You have views of Sassolungo from it!

FAQ: Cascate del Pisciadu

Is the waterfall large or dramatic?

No, it’s not, but at the correct time, it is also not the smallest one.

Is the hike suitable for all fitness levels?

Yes, it is! It’s pretty much completely flat most of the time so it’s suitable for everyone, from children to the elderly.

Can you visit year-round?

Yes, you can! The best time to visit is end of May and June, but you can visit the area anytime. It’s a beautiful and calm place.

Conclusion

A lush, green valley with pine trees, rocky outcrops, and a small stream in the foreground, nestled beneath rugged, towering mountains under an overcast sky. Small houses are scattered in the valley.

Cascate del Pisciadù offers a perfect blend of natural beauty, accessibility, and tranquillity in the heart of the Dolomites.

With its easy trail, stunning alpine views, and proximity to other attractions, a visit to Cascate del Pisciadù is a rewarding addition to any Dolomites itinerary.

Do you have any questions? I’ll be happy to answer them here or in our facebook group!

Hiking To The Cascate Del Pisciadù In The Dolomites: Plus a Surprise Waterfall!

Plan Your Trip With My Favorite Resources!

What Are the Cascate del Pisciadù?