Discover what to do in Ospitale di Cadore in Province of Belluno: the CAI 483 trail, Casera Val Bona, Bivacco Campestrin. Sentiero delle Casere. Want to know more? First of all…
Where is Ospitale di Cadore located?
The municipality of Ospitale di Cadore borders north with Valle di Cadore, to the northeast with Perarolo di Cadore, to the northwest with Cibiana di Cadore, to the south with Longarone, to the east with Perarolo di Cadore and Erto and Casso, to the west with Val di Zoldo.
Skirted by the winding course of the Piave river, the municipality of Ospitale di Cadore stretches across the splendid setting of Val Tovanella, enclosed between the snow-covered peaks of the Bosconero Group and Sasso di Toanella.
The CAI 483 trail
The starting point of the route to Bivacco Campestrin is the parking area by the football field in Via di Sopra (46.33182006224941, 12.323879142351029). Leave the entrance to the car park on your left and continue for about sixty metres southeast through the lovely mountain village, then keep right and carry on along Via di Sopra until you find the signs for the bivacco.
Following CAI 483, you immerse yourself in a lush forest brushed by icy streams until you reach a bridge from which you can admire a clear waterfall spilling between moss-covered rocks.
Casera Valbona
In just under an hour, the well-marked trail leads to Casera Valbona, a welcoming alpine shelter located at 1783 metres above sea level. Harmoniously set in Val di Gares in a bright meadow area surrounded by conifers, the casera was originally used during the seasonal mountain pasture move and today is a landmark for hikers heading to bivacco Campestrin.
Inside the shelter there are two tables with wooden benches, a sink, a large fireplace and a small stove. The upper floor is accessible via a wooden staircase. Outside there is a fountain from which crystal-clear, non-potable water flows.
Bivacco Campestrin
At this point, follow the signs for bivacco Campestrin along the forest trail. Initially the path is steep, but the incline gradually lessens in the second part of the route. Near the shelter, you pass alongside a woodshed, where there is a sign that reads: “Hi. I’m the wood that has to go to the bivacco, take me with you and I will know how to keep you warm like only I can!!!”.
Situated at 1658 metres above sea level, the enchanting stone shelter stands alone in a sunlit grassy expanse overlooked by the grand mass of Sassolungo di Cibiana and cima Sfornioi Nord. A white and light-blue decorated door gives access to the kitchen equipped with a small stove, a table with stools, shelves holding dishes, pots, pans and two moka pots. At the back of the room there are two bunk beds and a wardrobe with blankets. An elegant chandelier hangs from the exposed-beam ceiling.
Outside there is a barbecue area, tables with benches, a fountain carved from a log and a woodshed. To return to the starting point, simply retrace route 483 that we followed on the way there.
If you are wondering what to do in Ospitale di Cadore, the hike to Bivacco Campestrin is recommended for anyone who wants to immerse themselves in the heart of the Dolomites, explore ancient woods steeped in a fairytale atmosphere where peace and silence reign, and admire some of the most photogenic and captivating natural spots in the province of Belluno.
Free of technical difficulties, the route involves a vertical gain of about one thousand metres, but the effort of the hike is rewarded with landscapes of extraordinary beauty.
