Easy Hike for Hardcore Photographers - Access the Col Rodella 360° Viewpoint

Easy Hiking Trip for Hardcore Photographers – Access the Col Rodella 360° Viewpoint

Every professional or aspiring photographer knows the importance of a good vantage point, and how a mere changing of the position affects the entire shot. On Col Rodella 360° viewpoint, a popular hiking destination, it’s not so hard to get the best results possible, and here you will find out why.

At Col Rodella, the captivating 360° panoramic view leaves a lasting impression. A fascinating Dolomite mountain scenery with wide skies are just a few meters away from the Sella Pass and the cable car station of the same name. Especially late risers and less sporty photographers enjoy this rather unknown and equally easy to reach hill. 

The who’s who of the Dolomites line up here like a string of pearls: Puez-Odle group, Sassolungo group, Sella massif, Marmolada, Catinaccio, Sciliar and many more. If you feel a little more wanderlust, you can either tackle the Sassolungo circumnavigation after the sunrise shoot or before the sunset shoot.

Both tours together make for a jam-packed day of photo and hiking adventure.
Col Rodella is easy to reach from teh Sella Pass – the perfect ocation for an early morning pre sunrise photo shooting in the Dolomites. This tours can make for a jam-packed day of photo and hiking adventure. Hop on a photo-workshop with our pro-photo-guides and get the most out fo your Dolomites-holiday.

Directions for your Col Rodella hiking adventure

The starting point is the Sella Pass inn in the immediate vicinity of the Sella Pass. Behind the inn, climb up the narrow hiking trail in the direction of Kuschelweg/Friedrich-August-Weg to the west. The trail heads south slightly above the road and meets it at the Joch. 

The distinctive ski slope/driving path now goes uphill towards the Campitello – Col Rodella cable car. 

Outside the normal hiking hours you have to go by car to the starting point Sellajoch.
The starting point of Col Rodella hike is easy to reach by public transportation. Outside the normal hiking hours, you have to go by car to the starting point Sellajoch

At the Col Rodella hut and the cable car still go the last meters uphill. Now climb the hill with the hut and signal station (antenna) already visible from afar. For the way back you can take the same path. However, you can also choose the road (path no. 527) back to the Sella Pass. Finding the way is very easy. 

The photo point is just a few meters from the top station of the Campitello – Col Rodella lift. If you take the gondola (starting point Campitello in Val di Fassa), climb the hill directly to the left and after five minutes you will reach the viewpoint. Alternatively If you come from the Val di Fassa during the day, you are well advised to go up with the Col Rodella cable car.

Early morning at Col Rodella with a 360° Dolomite view – Sassolungo and Sassopiatto in the first light of the new day.

Photo tips that will make your Instagram pop – panorama shots and blue hour photography

Start at Sella Pass and its just a short hike to the viewpoint – even in wintery conditions on most days doable without dangerous conditions.

Sasso Piatto in the very first morning light on a snowy autumn day.

This photo spot offers a formidable 360° panoramic view. Here you can not only capture the panorama with a wide-angle shot, but also marvel at numerous dolomite giants. We additionally recommend a telephoto lens, especially here, in order to bring up the sun and cloud plays in the distance in their full glory. 

The proximity to the Sella Pass road, as well as some accommodations in the immediate vicinity, allows easy access here to impressive mountain photography also at the golden hour (sunrise and sunset) or at the blue hour from a bird’s eye view.

Even without spartan mountain overnights or long walking times in the dark, one catches here relatively easily impressive motives in the most beautiful light of the day.
Even without spartan mountain overnights or long walking times in the dark, one catches here relatively easily impressive motives in the most beautiful light of the day

Mountain Moments Photo Workshops provide Photo Tours for everybody, Alpine Experience for beginners and intermediate-level photographers with 3 to 6-hour routes, as well as Summit Experience for more advanced photographers and hikers. We have private workshops and group classes.

More information about your journey

How to get there by public transport: From Bressanone or Bolzano to Ortisei. From the end of June to the beginning of October buses run from here to the Sella Pass. 

How to get there  by car: From the Brennero freeway take the exit Gardena Valley (Val Gardena). Follow the main road to the Sella Pass.

Hike difficulty level: easy

Start/finish: Sella Pass (bus stop and parking lot) (geograf. 46.509256,11.757469)

Duration/distance: 2h, 4,5km

Ascent/descent: 300m/300m

Highest point/lowest point: 2484m/2176m

Meals: Col Rodella hut, Sella Pass house, Salei hut, Carlo Valentini mountain hut, Des Alpes hut.

Other tips: An overnight stay in one of the nearby mountain huts and shelters is especially rewarding for sunrises.

The most beautiful photo spots and hikes in the Dolomites – experience this hiking tour and 29 other exceptional trips in the Dolomites now.

Fancy more hikes in the mountains – and beautiful photos? Get out into nature! Experience the best hikes and locations with our new book: Alps – Photo and Hiking Guide. The 90 best Photo Locations and 30 most panoramic Hikes.

Here we have compiled the most beautiful locations and photo opportunities. 30 hikes with 90 photo spots are selected and described in such a way that you can easily experience these wonderful landscapes for yourself – including GPS tracks and hiking map and all other information.

You can take a closer look at the ebook here – why not give it as a gift to someone you want to visit and photograph these places with!

Of course, you will find all the information about this hike in the ebook. After registering, you will also receive the GPS track, so you are on the safe side and won’t get lost and will find all photo locations easily.

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