E-bike in the Dolomites: 11 routes from Selva di Cadore, near Cortina d'Ampezzo
Selva di Cadore is a great base for exploring the Dolomites by e-bike: from Santa Fosca, home of Hotel Ca' del Bosco, you can ride to Passo Giau, Passo Staulanza, Monte Fertazza, the Cinque Torri and the villages of Val Fiorentina, Colle Santa Lucia and Alto Agordino. In this guide we have gathered in one place the e-bike routes we have described on our blog over the years: 8 summer rides and 3 winter fat e-bike routes, from the easiest to the most challenging.
At a glance
Starting point: almost all routes start from Santa Fosca, Selva di Cadore, in Val Fiorentina.
Easy routes: the villages of Colle Santa Lucia, Laste and Caprile; Strada de la Vena and Andraz Castle; in winter Staulanza – Palafavera and Vodo – Rifugio Talamini.
Moderate routes: Monte Pore and Melei loop; 360° panorama from Monte Fertazza; Serenissima trails between Alleghe and Sottoguda; Pecol – Monte Fertazza in winter.
Challenging routes: the Great War loop (Giau, Cinque Torri, Falzarego, San Cassiano) and the Cortina d'Ampezzo loop via Croda da Lago.
Season: June to September for summer rides; on groomed snow, from December to March, for fat e-bikes.
Good to know: rental and guides are not hotel services, but the hotel has a supervised bike room with a socket to charge your e-bike; lifts, mountain huts and museums have seasonal opening times to check before you set off.
Why choose an e-bike in Selva di Cadore
Pedal assistance lets you ride long distances and climb big height differences without arriving exhausted: the battery of a modern e-bike usually lasts a full day out, if you manage the assistance level well.
Val Fiorentina sits at the heart of a network of forest roads, Great War mule tracks and quiet minor roads linking Pelmo, Civetta, Marmolada and the mountains of Cortina d'Ampezzo.
For a full overview of what to do in the valley in summer and winter, read also Summer and winter holidays in Selva di Cadore.
Summer e-bike routes
1. Monte Pore and the Melei meadows loop
Difficulty: moderate. Start and finish: Santa Fosca. Don't miss: the view over Selva di Cadore from Melei and a stop at Andraz Castle.
From Santa Fosca you ride towards the hamlets of Zardin and Posalz, follow the Triol de Siori and climb to Rifugio Fedare, on the Passo Giau road. From here the old Great War mule track leads to the Melei meadows, with a magnificent view over the whole of Val Fiorentina. You descend towards Livinei to the Strada de la Vena and follow it to Andraz Castle, then return via Colcuc and Canazei di Colle Santa Lucia to Santa Fosca.
2. The villages of Colle Santa Lucia, Laste and Caprile
Difficulty: easy, suitable for everyone. Start and finish: Santa Fosca. Don't miss: the small rural villages and Andraz Castle.
The ideal ride for first-time e-bikers who want to discover the lesser-known, still authentic villages of the Dolomites. From Santa Fosca you climb to Canazei di Colle Santa Lucia, take the Strada de la Vena towards Colcuc, enter Larzonei and descend to Cernadoi and Aga as far as Andraz. You continue through the village of Davedino towards Malga Laste and Rifugio Migon, then Ronch and Laste di Sopra; you cross the Digonera road, descend to Caprile and return to Santa Fosca along the Rovei trail.
3. Strada de la Vena: Vittorino Cazzetta Museum and Andraz Castle
Difficulty: easy. Start and finish: Santa Fosca. Don't miss: the Mondeval Man and the medieval castle.
A cultural route to learn about the history of our valleys. You start from the Vittorino Cazzetta Civic Museum of Val Fiorentina in Selva di Cadore, which houses the Mesolithic burial of the Mondeval Man (see our guide to the Mondeval plateau) and a replica of the Pelmetto dinosaur footprint boulder. You then ride through Zardin and Posalz and follow the Strada de la Vena, the ancient iron road, for a long stretch to Andraz Castle in Livinallongo del Col di Lana, now a museum. The castle is owned by the Veneto Region and between 1454 and 1460 it was the residence of Cardinal Nicholas of Cusa.
Check opening times: the Cazzetta Museum opens at weekends; Andraz Castle from June to October. Always check the latest opening times before you set off.
4. 360° Dolomites panorama: Monte Fertazza, Col dei Baldi and Palafavera
Difficulty: moderate. Start and finish: Santa Fosca. Don't miss: the great Civetta wall seen from Col dei Baldi.
From Santa Fosca you climb towards Rifugio Fertazza and Rifugio Belvedere on Monte Fertazza, then descend towards Col dei Baldi, facing the great wall of the Civetta. You continue to Palafavera, at the head of Val di Zoldo, as far as Malga Vescovà; the loop carries on via Malga Fontanafredda and Rifugio Salander and returns to Santa Fosca from Pescul. Palafavera is also the start of the trail to Lake Coldai, to hike on foot on another day.
5. The Great War loop: Passo Giau, Cinque Torri, Falzarego and San Cassiano
Difficulty: challenging, full day. Start and finish: Santa Fosca. Don't miss: the Cinque Torri trenches and the Passo Valparola museum.
A historical route through the places of the First World War. From Santa Fosca you climb on tarmac towards Passo Giau as far as Rifugio Fedare; the chairlift takes you to Rifugio Averau and from there you ride to Rifugio Scoiattoli, descending to the Cinque Torri to visit the open-air trenches. You continue to Passo Falzarego, at the foot of the Lagazuoi, and to Passo Valparola, with its trenches and war museum; you descend towards San Cassiano via Malga Valparola and Sciarè, overlooking the Armentarola. From San Cassiano the lift takes you up to Piz de Sorega; you then descend towards Renaz and Caprile, climb back to Rovei di Colle Santa Lucia and return to Santa Fosca.
This ride uses several lifts: before setting off, check that they are open and carry bikes on the day you choose.
6. The Cortina d'Ampezzo loop: Forcella Ambrizzola and Croda da Lago
Difficulty: challenging, for experienced riders. Start and finish: Santa Fosca. Don't miss: Lake Federa below the Becco di Mezzodì and the Cinque Torri.
One of the most thrilling rides around the queen of the Dolomites. From Santa Fosca you head towards Passo Staulanza and follow the trail to Rifugio Città di Fiume, at the foot of the Pelmo; you climb via Malga Prendera and Col Duro to Forcella Ambrizzola, one of the most panoramic saddles in the Dolomites, with views of Pelmo, Civetta, Marmolada, Cristallo and Antelao. You descend to Rifugio Palmieri at Croda da Lago, on Lake Federa, and then towards Campo and Cortina d'Ampezzo, with a stop in Corso Italia. The return climbs towards Pocol on a gravel road, reaches Rifugio Bai de Dones and, by chairlift, Rifugio Scoiattoli at the Cinque Torri; from Rifugio Averau you descend to Rifugio Fedare and Passo Giau, towards Santa Fosca.
Some sections are busy hiking trails: always respect bike bans, give way to walkers and, if a section is closed to bikes or too steep, get off and push.
7. On the trails of the Serenissima: from Alleghe to Bramezza and Sottoguda
Difficulty: easy to moderate. Start and finish: Alleghe. Don't miss: the villages of Bramezza and Caracoi and the Serrai di Sottoguda gorge.
From Alleghe an easy cycle path leads to Santa Maria delle Grazie and Bramezza, a village with architecture unusual for these mountains. According to local tradition, after the Battle of Lepanto in 1571 the Republic of Venice sent Turkish prisoners here to work in the iron mines and in the forests that fuelled the foundries; the names of Caracoi Agoin and Caracoi Cimai, the nearby hamlets, are also said to be linked to this story. You continue via Pezzè and Sorarù to Sottoguda, where it is worth stopping for the Serrai di Sottoguda gorge, and return to Alleghe passing, if you have time, through the village of Rocca Pietore.
8. E-bike and zipline: from Selva di Cadore to San Tomaso Agordino
Difficulty: moderate. Start: Selva di Cadore; finish at San Tomaso Agordino. Don't miss: the zipline flight.
For those looking for a little adrenaline: from Selva di Cadore you ride towards Alleghe and Cencenighe, climb through the Valle del Bois to Forcella Lagazzon and, after crossing Forcella San Tomaso, reach the start of the San Tomaso Agordino zipline. According to data published by the Veneto Region, the zipline is 1.6 km long, with the hook-up 160 metres above the ground and a 260-metre drop; in summer it runs every day in July and August, and by booking in the other months. Plan your return to Selva di Cadore in advance.
Looking for another great classic? Read our account of the Tre Cime di Lavaredo e-bike ride.
Fat e-bike routes on snow
In winter, fat e-bikes with their wide tyres let you ride on packed snow. Ride only on groomed tracks and roads where bikes are allowed, never on ski slopes open to skiers, and wear clothing suited to the cold.
9. Passo Staulanza loop: Palafavera, Malga Vescovà and Malga Fontanafredda
Difficulty: easy. Start and finish: Selva di Cadore.
A simple loop: from Selva di Cadore you climb to Passo Staulanza and descend to Palafavera; the return passes the charming Malga Vescovà on a groomed track, then Malga Fontanafredda and back to Passo Staulanza, for a spectacular descent to Selva di Cadore.
10. Val di Zoldo: from Pecol to the top of Monte Fertazza
Difficulty: moderate. Start and finish: Pecol, Val di Zoldo.
From Pecol you ride to the top of Monte Fertazza on trails with Dolomite views, passing the historic architecture of the Val di Zoldo villages along the way. In autumn it is an e-bike ride; in winter a fat e-bike ride, only where the lift operators prepare a groomed track open to bikes.
11. From Vodo di Cadore to Rifugio Talamini
Difficulty: easy, uphill all the way. Start and finish: Vodo di Cadore.
From Vodo di Cadore, in the Boite valley, you climb gently towards Ciandolada and Rifugio Talamini: a steady but easy ascent, perfect for trying a fat e-bike on snow.
How to dress for winter fat e-biking
Layers: a technical base layer that wicks sweat away from the skin, a gilet or light fleece, and a windproof outer layer such as a soft-shell. To see why cotton is a bad idea, read our guide to the hiking T-shirt.
Waterproof shell in your backpack: jacket and, if possible, trousers.
High boots above the ankle, covered by your trousers, to keep the snow out.
Windproof gloves not too thick, plus a spare pair.
Helmet liner in microfibre and a neck warmer covering you from collar to nose.
Rich cream on your face against the cold wind.
Tips before you set off on an e-bike
Always wear a helmet, even on easy rides, and lights if you return late.
Battery: start fully charged and use maximum assistance only on steep climbs.
Weather: in summer thunderstorms often arrive in the afternoon; start early and check the forecast.
Lifts, huts and museums: they have seasonal opening times; check that they are open and that lifts carry bikes.
Trails: respect bike bans, give way to walkers and stay on the tracks.
Rental: if you don't have your own e-bike, book in advance with a local rental shop, especially in August.
If the weather turns, there are plenty of alternatives in the valley: here are our ideas for a rainy day in Val Fiorentina. And after a day in the saddle, dinner awaits you in the evening at our restaurant in Selva di Cadore.
Frequently asked questions about e-biking in Selva di Cadore
Which are the easiest e-bike routes from Selva di Cadore?
The easiest are the villages loop through Colle Santa Lucia, Laste and Caprile, the cultural ride along the Strada de la Vena to Andraz Castle and, in winter, the fat e-bike loop Passo Staulanza – Palafavera – Malga Vescovà. They are also suitable for first-time e-bikers.
Which are the most challenging e-bike rides?
The Great War loop via Passo Giau, Cinque Torri, Falzarego and San Cassiano, and the Cortina d'Ampezzo loop via Forcella Ambrizzola and Croda da Lago. They take a full day, good downhill technique and a charged battery.
Can you go e-biking in winter too?
Yes, with fat e-bikes, whose wide tyres are suited to packed snow. This guide includes three winter routes: Passo Staulanza and Palafavera, Pecol and Monte Fertazza in Val di Zoldo, Vodo di Cadore and Rifugio Talamini. Ride them only on groomed tracks and roads where bikes are allowed.
What should I bring for an e-bike tour in the Dolomites?
Helmet, gloves, layered clothing with a windproof and waterproof jacket, water, a snack, sun cream and a charged phone. Before setting off, check your battery charge, the weather and the lift timetables if your route uses them.
Does Hotel Ca' del Bosco organise guided e-bike tours?
No. The routes in this guide are for information only: rental, guides and bike transport on lifts must be arranged independently with local operators. Our hotel in Santa Fosca is a convenient starting point for almost all the rides.
Is there a bike room at Hotel Ca' del Bosco, and can I charge my e-bike?
Yes. Hotel Ca' del Bosco has a secure, supervised storage room for bikes, e-bikes and skis. Inside there is a power socket to charge your e-bike battery: bring your bike's charger with you.
Where to stay in Selva di Cadore for an e-bike holiday
Hotel Ca' del Bosco is in Santa Fosca, Selva di Cadore, the starting point of almost all the routes in this guide. Dinner is included in your stay, to recharge your energy before the next day's ride.
Supervised bike room and e-bike charging
If you arrive with your own bike, Hotel Ca' del Bosco has a secure, supervised storage room for bikes, e-bikes and, in winter, skis too. Inside there is a power socket you can use to charge your e-bike battery between rides: remember to bring your charger.
Guide updated on 22 October 2026. The routes are described for information only: trail conditions, bike bans and opening times of lifts, huts and museums may change.
Sources: Veneto Region, Veneto Around Me (San Tomaso Agordino zipline); dolomiti.it (Andraz Castle and Vittorino Cazzetta Civic Museum of Val Fiorentina).
M.D.C.
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