Lago della Stua e Malga Erera – loop in the Parco Nazionale delle Dolomiti Bellunesi

It was born a bit by chance given the invitation of a friend, I have to say that this tour and the panorama of the eternal plains surprised me. I didn't expect so much beauty, so much panorama, so much green, so much life but above all so much beauty in a tour like this that in the end doesn't touch any peak but leaves you with an indelible memory. We started from the bar below near the Lago della Stua (spectacular lake to see, it has an indescribable color, like all in the Belluno area) you really have to experience it to understand the emotion and see the beauty. The road that arrives up to the eternal plains and took us to the Malga where we had lunch is a constant continuous climb (it never seriously gives up) until the arrival at the plans, I do not recommend it to those who are not trained, non-trivial slopes, in fact tough, put me to the test, I'm honest. The return we closed with a circular tour that passes through the truly spectacular woods, I didn't think it would give me so many emotions so I was really impressed and I recommend it.

Departure: Stua lake, Val Canzoi, Cesiomaggiore Travel time: 5 hours A decidedly challenging excursion only for the difference in altitude, but which leads to little-known and uncontaminated places: the Erera plains, better known as Piani Eterni, boundless pastures, framed by the Vette Feltrine. At Stua lake, take the CAI 806 path which initially runs alongside the lake, until you come to a fork, where you take the 802 towards Malga Erera. The path, long, very steep and tiring, is almost entirely a forest road, which then turns into a thick forest in the Porzil area, until you reach your destination. For the return, from the mountain hut follow the 851 for a few metres and then leave it immediately, as soon as you cross the dirt road on the right, which first leads to the crossroads encountered on the way out with signs for Malga Erera/Pinea, and which steeply leads back to Lake Stua.

And this year too, a nice cheese slice was brought home. 🤗 The tour was a classic one, and the view is always worth the effort. We also stopped for a delicious plate of schiz, polenta, and mushrooms. Too bad the storm arrived on the way back, and the storm itself, forecast between 3:00 PM and 4:00 PM. Anyway, we were lucky ☺️💪

The excursion starts from Lago della Stua, located in the Canzoi Valley, in the Dolomiti Bellunesi National Park, between the municipalities of Feltre and Cesiomaggiore. Following paths 806 and 802 you reach a wonderful plateau nestled between some of the peaks of the Vette Feltrine, called Piani Eterni. The arrival point is the Erera mountain hut, from which you can see curious reddish limestone reliefs to the north, the unmistakable rocky profiles of Monte Pizzocco-Tre Pietre to the south, while to the east you can see the Prabello-Agnelezze. For the return, from the Erera mountain hut I preferred to follow the forest road to reach the Pinea hut and then path 802 again. At the height of Lago della Stua, I walked along the Sentiero Natura Val di Canzoi. For most of the excursion you walk under the woods, so I recommend it even in summer.

Today we are in the Dolomiti Bellunesi national park and more precisely in Val Canzoi. Today's goal is to go beyond the artificial lake of Stua, climb the very steep forest road that, through numerous hairpin bends, leads to the crossroads at 1400m. altitude, where on the left you take the path called "il Porzil". This detour into a wooded canal significantly shortens the approach to the destination, and with a further 300m. of altitude difference leads to the threshold of the "Piani Eterni". Pleasant and solitary plateau located at 1700m altitude. The view of the plateau is exciting for those who reach the end of the climb of the "Porzil". We chose to climb further to reach the top of Col del demonio, 1919m. Today the adverse weather did not give us any hope, however, once we climbed to altitude the Sun and the clear sky filled us with joy. Once you reach the top, the emotion is great for the panoramas that open up to the view, in this very particular place. The Dolomiti Bellunesi National Park, is an area with a high rate of wilderness, entering it, requires experience, patience and training in sustaining strong differences in altitude to reach the peaks, on wild and little-frequented paths. But, it offers unique views, and excites those who frequent the park, in places where the power of nature reigns supreme.

Departure: Stua lake, Val Canzoi, Cesiomaggiore Travel time: 5 hours At Stua lake, take the CAI 806 trail that runs along the lake, until you reach the fork for 802 in the direction of Malga Erera. The trail, long, very steep in some places and tiring, is mostly a mule track that climbs in hairpin bends, until the Porzil fork, where you take the trail that branches off to the left and goes into a small canal immersed in the woods. The view of the large clearing of Piani Eterni, which you find in front of you, once you leave the woods, is incredible and unexpected. Return via the same route as the outward journey. Despite last week's snowfall, walking was quite easy, without snowshoes, as the trail was already beaten. There must have been barely 30 centimeters of snow in places where it had not been trampled Fun fact: somewhere, hidden in the fir and mountain pine forest that stands out in front of Malga Erera, lies the deepest abyss in the Dolomites, a cave that descends for over a kilometer in depth.

Parked at the Alpino Boz hotel (closed), take path 806 along the Stua lake until you cross path 802 after a quarter of an hour. The climb is steep to very steep and never gives you any respite. At about 1400m there is a fork where on the left you take the Porzil path that leads to the entrance of the Piani Eterni - Errera, while going right along the forest road you still get to Malga Errera with a slightly longer tour. Any effort is worth the paradise that awaits once you reach the top. Today 2 February: used crampons after the fork at 1400m and up to the top, then snowshoes from Malga Errera along an unbeaten path towards Forcella Pelse.