Description

Given its ease of access from the village of San Martino di Castrozza, from which it is possible to gently climb up along the gravel road that leads to the hut, Malga Crél is today one of the most popular destination for hikers during the summer season, also thanks to its beautiful pasture located at almost 1,600 m asl providing excellent natural balcony on the south-western side of the Dolomites of the Pala Group.

The climb that leads to Malga Crél from Maso Raris is just over three kilometers long. The route, completely immersed in the forest until it reaches the large pasture of Malga Crél, runs along a wide path of the Italian Alpine Club (CAI) in its first part, passing by the Vivaio Forestale (tr. forestry nursery), and then continues on the flat road towards San Martino di Castrozza which leads directly to the hut .

From Maso Raris (1,154 m asl), leave the Maso ground at the end of the upper parking lot and cut across under the forest. After 50 m you will reach a grass field with the neighboring houses visible looking down, on your right. Keep going at the same altitude until the end of the grass field, then continue uphill in the forest. After a first stretch of 150 m between the trees, you get in front of a short but steep slope, which you climb up while keeping the same direction. Once up the slope, you will see on the right a white house with a so-called Vivaio Forestale (tr. forest nursery) next to it. Once reached the Vivaio Forestale (1,220 m asl), you continue going up towards W along the trail of the Signpost No. 359 towards Pian del Tèrmen / Malga Crél / San Martino di Castrozza. The track, sometimes steep but always wide and well marked, goes up the eastern slopes of Mount Bedolé leading to the crossroads in the location of Pian del Tèrmen (1,400 m asl).

From the crossroads, you shall proceed along the gravel road towards Malga Crél, along the Signpost No. 377, which gradually climbs into the forest until it reaches the lower edges of the pastures of Malga Crél. Once by the large meadow, you can go up along the numerous tracks that start from the gravel road or continue on the main road, which runs along the pasture and leads to the intersection with the driveway that, on the left, leads directly to the hut. The family-run hut serves as a restaurant during the tourist season.