Step by step
The full description of the Alpe Adria Ultra loop and of the Jôf Trail course: CAI trails, mountain pastures, passes and hamlets between Val Saisera, Passo Pramollo, Val Alba and Val Dogna.
Kile Alpine Resort – Valbruna – Malborghetto – Passo Pramollo – Val Aupa – Val Alba – Dogna – Jôf di Dogna – Sella Bieliga – Rifugio Fratelli Grego – Kile Alpine Resort
This page tells the course step by step, in the order the runners meet it. Alpe Adria Ultra 120 covers the entire loop. Jôf Trail 31 runs its second half, from Dogna to the Kile Alpine Resort: you can find it further down. Montasio 55 follows the Jôf Trail course in its first part and then climbs to the Monte Santo Lussari.
The race course is marked by the organisation with tape, arrows, eco-friendly chalk and reflectors. Marking is reinforced at the main junctions and at changes of direction, while the reflectors make it possible to follow the route during the night hours as well.
The stages of the story
The Ultra loop — from Kile Alpine Resort to Dogna
The Jôf Trail — from Dogna to Kile Alpine Resort
The Alpe Adria Ultra loop
The Alpe Adria Ultra follows a great loop starting and finishing at the Kile Alpine Resort, in the heart of Val Saisera. The course links Val Canale, the eastern Carnic Alps, Val Aupa, Val Alba, the Canal del Ferro and Val Dogna, before returning to the Julian Alps through Jôf di Dogna, Sella Bieliga, the Sompdogna tarn and Rifugio Fratelli Grego.
It is a long, complex and extraordinarily varied alpine route, alternating forest roads, service tracks to the mountain pastures, old military mule tracks, woodland trails, high traverses, panoramic ridges, grassy slopes, scree gullies, rocky stretches and historic links between valleys that are rarely covered today in their entirety.
The loop crosses very different environments: the great woods of Val Saisera and the Tarvisio Forest, the mountain pastures of Val Canale, the Passo Pramollo area, the grassy basins of the Carnic chain, the isolated environments of Val Alba, the old hamlets of Val Dogna and the military mule tracks of Jôf di Dogna.
The race course is marked by the organisation with tape, arrows, eco-friendly chalk and reflectors, used differently according to terrain and visibility. Marking is reinforced at the main junctions and at changes of direction, while the reflectors make it possible to follow the route during the night hours as well.
01 From Kile Alpine Resort to Valbruna
The start is at the Kile Alpine Resort, in the lower part of Val Saisera, inside the great Tarvisio Forest. The initial stretch coincides with the Oitzinger route: it follows CAI trail 616 up the Val Saisera valley floor as far as the bridge crossing the streambed.
Beyond the bridge, the course continues on the valley's cross-country ski trails to the Great War Thematic Park, then joins the Resonance Trees Trail, which crosses the spruce woods on trails, mule tracks and short stretches of forest road.
At the Oitzinger refreshment point, a little past 7 km from the start, the course leaves the Oitzinger route and rejoins Valbruna along CAI trail 508a, connecting Camporosso, Valbruna and the Saisera valley floor.
The terrain is mostly runnable: compact gravel, short grassy stretches, woodland trails and wide forest tracks, with gradients generally moderate enough to settle progressively into the rhythm of the race.
The landscape is the typical one of Val Saisera: great spruce forests, clearings, streams and glimpses of the north faces of the Montasio group, as far as Valbruna, at about 800 metres.
Once in Valbruna, the course changes direction sharply and starts the first significant climb of the loop.
02 From Valbruna to Malga Rauna and Cappella Zita
From Valbruna you take CAI trail 607, at first on a forest road climbing through the wood in wide bends.
The first part of the climb runs on wide, even ground. Later the trail takes more direct lines that cut some bends of the forest road, and the gradient increases progressively.
The course crosses a mainly wooded environment of firs, beeches and clearings that open views over Val Canale from above. The surface alternates gravel, packed earth, roots and short steeper sections.
You then reach Malga Rauna, set in an open grassy hollow inside the wood. The pasture is one of the first panoramic points of the course and introduces a sector rich in historic traces of the military roads of Val Canale.
A little further on you pass close to Cappella Zita, a small religious building linked to the Austro-Hungarian presence in the area. The mountains between Valbruna, Malborghetto and Val Dogna still hold many roads, mule tracks, gun positions and buildings from the First World War.
Continuing on trail 607 you reach the junction with CAI trail 606. From here the course changes slope and heads for Malga Strechizza.
03 From Cappella Zita to Malga Strechizza and Malborghetto
The course reaches Malga Strechizza, at about 1,359 metres, through a sector alternating meadows, wood and forest roads.
From the pasture the long descent to Malborghetto begins on CAI trail 606. The route mainly follows a mule track and a forest road dropping into the Rio Ranco valley.
The surface is generally compact and fast on the wider stretches, but there are also loose stones, roots, drainage channels and steeper sections. The descent therefore calls for controlled running, especially after rain and in the shadier stretches.
Heading down to the valley floor, the wood becomes denser and the gradient gradually eases. The course finally reaches Malborghetto, a historic centre of Val Canale at about 715 metres.
Crossing the village marks the passage from the first big climb and descent of the loop to a long traverse towards Passo Pramollo.
04 From Malborghetto to Ciurciule
Past Malborghetto, the course takes CAI trail 503 and starts climbing the Malborghetto valley.
The climb runs through a secluded environment, first on a forest road and then on mule track and trail. The route follows the valley floor, crossing several gullies and secondary streams.
As you climb, the valley narrows progressively. The terrain alternates compact ground, stones, roots and sections shaped by running water. The vegetation is mostly woodland and provides long shaded stretches.
The course reaches the Ciurciule plain, at just over 1,000 metres. Here you cross the distinctive suspension bridge, one of the most recognisable passages of the whole route.
After the bridge you pass the Ciurciule forestry hut and reach the junction of CAI trails 503 and 504, at about 1,084 metres.
05 From Ciurciule to Sella Clinach
From Ciurciule the course takes CAI trail 504 and climbs a forest road towards Sella Clinach.
The climb is steady and runs mainly through the wood. The surface alternates forest road, natural ground, run-off channels and small gully crossings. The gradient allows a regular rhythm, even if the ascent goes on for several kilometres.
Sella Clinach, at about 1,441 metres, marks an important change of slope. The pass links the Ciurciule basin with that of Rio Bianco and opens the way to Malga Biffil and the Pramollo sector.
From the saddle the course leaves the wider forest road and traverses the slope, cutting across the wooded spur. The trail crosses several stream beds and has a narrower, more uneven surface, with roots, stones and short passages cut into the slope.
This section offers a particularly wild and silent environment, far from villages and main access roads.
06 From Sella Clinach to Rio Bianco
Past Sella Clinach, the course loses height towards Rio Bianco.
The descent runs on a woodland trail with marked gradients. The surface alternates earth, stones, roots and short smoother stretches. The vegetation stays thick and the setting keeps its isolated character.
The course reaches Ponte della Chiusa, at about 1,099 metres, where it crosses the Rio Bianco.
The stream is the lowest point between Sella Clinach and the following Malga Biffil sector. After the crossing a new, substantial climb begins.
07 From Rio Bianco to Malga Biffil
From Ponte della Chiusa the course climbs the opposite slope on CAI trail 504.
The climb first crosses the wood on steep gradients. The surface is natural ground, roots, stones and steeper sections where the trail gains height quickly.
Gradually leaving the wood, the route reaches the Malga Biffil plateau, at about 1,644 metres.
Arriving at the mountain hut opens a more panoramic part. The terrain alternates meadows, grazing tracks, mule tracks and short ups and downs. The view opens onto the surrounding ridges and the vast woodlands crossed earlier.
Malga Biffil is one of the highest points of the long traverse between Malborghetto and Passo Pramollo.
08 From Malga Biffil to Punta Lonas and Malga Cerchio
Continuing on CAI trail 504, the course passes below Punta Lonas towards Malga Cerchio.
The sector alternates open stretches and wooded sections. The surface varies between grassy trail, forest road, damp ground and outcropping stones. The many ups and downs break the continuity of running and make this section physically demanding even without concentrated elevation gain.
The passage below Punta Lonas crosses one of the quietest environments of the area, with wide pastures and a network of old roads once used for forestry and grazing.
It then reaches Malga Cerchio, at an altitude of about 1,639 metres.
From Malga Cerchio the trail climbs to a saddle at about 1,697 metres, one of the highest points of this part of the loop. Beyond the saddle the course starts dropping towards the forest road system leading to the Pramollo area.
09 From Malga Cerchio to Sella Carnizza
Past the saddle, the route continues on CAI trail 504 and shares a short stretch with CAI trail 501.
The course crosses the sector below Sella Carnizza, among woods, clearings and forest tracks.
The surface is mainly forest road and mule track, with short ups and downs and some smoother stretches. The gradients are generally moderate, but the constant changes of rhythm keep the physical demand high.
The Sella Carnizza area marks the approach to the Pramollo basin and to the alpine pastures along the border between Italy and Austria.
10 From Sella Carnizza to Casera For and Casera Auernig
The course reaches Casera For and then continues to Casera Auernig, at about 1,609 metres.
This section runs mainly on a wide forest road and mule track. The ground is more even than in the previous sections and allows more continuous running.
The environment alternates pastures, woods and wide views towards the Passo Pramollo area. The mountain huts bear witness to the old grazing activity that shapes the whole zone.
From Casera Auernig the course descends a partly concreted road, gradually reaching the pass area.
11 Passo Pramollo, the Pramollo tarn and Gallo Forcello
The course reaches Passo Pramollo, at 1,528 metres, an international pass between Italy and Austria.
Passo Pramollo is one of the best-known points of the whole route. The area is characterised by wide meadows, alpine tarns, pastures, ski runs and summits above 2,000 metres.
The route passes near the Pramollo tarn and reaches the Gallo Forcello area, where a refreshment point is set up.
After the long stretch between Malborghetto and the pass, the refreshment point is a key point for refuelling and race management.
From Gallo Forcello the course uses local trails and links leading to CAI trail 433 and the following traverse towards Sella Pridola.
12 From Gallo Forcello to CAI 433
Leaving the refreshment point area, the course moves away from the pass and reaches CAI trail 433.
The terrain alternates grassy trails, military roads, short wooded sections and stony ground. Progress is through open country, with wide views over the surrounding mountains.
CAI trail 433 crosses the slope of Monte Malvuerich on an old military mule track. The area still holds many traces of the works built during the world wars.
The military road offers several even stretches, broken by narrower sections and passages over exposed rock.
13 From Monte Malvuerich to Sella Pridola
The course continues along CAI trail 433 and reaches Sella Pridola, at about 1,644 metres.
Sella Pridola is a panoramic pass between the Pramollo sector and Conca di Pricot. Here the route crosses the CAI Pontebba high route.
The environment is mostly open, with wide views over the ridges of the eastern Carnic Alps.
The terrain alternates military mule track, grassy trail and stony ground. The gradient changes constantly, with short climbs and descending stretches.
From the saddle a descent begins, steeper at first and progressively more even as it approaches Conca di Pricot.
14 From Sella Pridola to Conca di Pricot
The course joins CAI trail 432, which links the Sella Pridola and Val Pontebbana sector with Conca di Pricot.
The descent crosses woods, clearings and old tracks. In places the trail is narrow and cut into the slope, while lower down it widens into a cart track.
The surface alternates earth, grass, stones and short stretches of forest road. The descent gradually loses height without losing the alpine character of the route.
The course then enters the wide Conca di Pricot, also known as Prihat Alm, at around 1,300 metres above sea level.
The basin is characterised by meadows, stavoli, old rural buildings and wooded slopes. The terrain becomes more even and runnable, alternating grassy tracks, cart roads and short gravel stretches.
15 From Conca di Pricot to the Cason di Lanza road
From Conca di Pricot the course continues on CAI trail 432 towards the valley floor.
The lower part of the route combines trail and cart track. The wood becomes denser again and the gradients turn moderate.
The route reaches the road to Passo del Cason di Lanza, near house number 64.
The road crossing is manned by the organisation. After crossing, the course enters the Studena Bassa sector.
16 From Studena Bassa to Casera Glazzat
From Studena Bassa the course starts climbing towards the Casera Glazzat complex.
The link uses forest roads, local roads and stretches of CAI trail 434. The surface alternates local tarmac, concrete road, gravel and forest tracks.
The climb is generally steady. Some sections of trail cut the bends of the road and are steeper, while the stretches on forest road allow a more continuous rhythm.
The course first reaches Casera Glazzat Bassa, at around 1,155 metres, and then continues to Casera Glazzat Alta, at about 1,350 metres.
The upper part crosses clearings and pastures. The landscape opens up progressively, with views over the mountains of Val Aupa and the ridges dividing this sector from Val Alba.
17 From Casera Glazzat to Frattis
From Casera Glazzat the course follows CAI trail 434 downhill to Frattis.
In its upper part the trail crosses the wooded Cuel des Jerbis, alternating forest track, path and grassy ground.
Lower down the gradient increases. The surface is earth, leaves, roots and stones, with sections that require a controlled descent.
The course reaches the locality of Frattis, at about 900 metres, passing near the building of the former alpine summer camp.
Val Alba Regional Nature Reserve
The course enters the Val Alba Regional Nature Reserve, a protected area established in 2006 and managed by the Prealpi Giulie Regional Nature Park Authority. Covering almost 3,000 hectares in the municipality of Moggio Udinese, the Reserve holds a particularly valuable position for nature, in the transition zone between the Alps and the Prealps and between the Carnic and Julian Alps. Rugged summits, deep valleys, rocky crests, crystal-clear water, beech and larch woods and alpine basins form a mosaic of environments that is still intact, silent and almost completely uninhabited. Its geographical position favours extraordinary biodiversity, with many plant and animal species typical of different alpine environments and the presence of birds of prey, ungulates and large carnivores. Part of the area also belongs to the European Natura 2000 network.
Crossing this environment is a privilege and calls for particularly responsible behaviour: you must follow only the course marked by the organisation, avoiding shortcuts and leaving the route; all waste, as required along the entire race course, must be carried by the competitor until the collection points or the finish, paying even greater attention in this area so that no wrapper, gel, tissue or food residue is left behind. Picking flowers, plants, rocks or other natural elements is forbidden, and unnecessary noise or any behaviour that may disturb wildlife must be avoided. Watercourses must not be contaminated with food, detergents or other residues. Every competitor is asked to cross Val Alba with respect, leaving intact a territory whose beauty lies precisely in its wild character, in the continuity of its natural environments and in their exceptional integrity. Official information and further details are available on the website of the Prealpi Giulie Regional Nature Park Authority: parcoprealpigiulie.it.
18 From Frattis to Forcella della Pecora
From Frattis the route enters the Gleris valley and starts one of the hardest climbs of the whole loop.
The course takes CAI trail 430, which links the Val Aupa and Gravon di Gleris sector with Forcella della Pecora.
The trail climbs from about 900 metres to the 1,827 metres of the pass, with almost 930 metres of ascent.
The first part of the climb runs through the wood on a narrow, steep trail. The surface alternates earth, roots, stones and a few smoother stretches.
As it climbs, the vegetation thins out and the ground becomes more open and scree-like.
The upper part follows a scree gully with a steep gradient. The surface is gravel, loose stones and debris, and demands a careful, steady rhythm.
Forcella della Pecora is a narrow notch between Cima del Muini and Cima della Pecora.
Reaching the pass means entering the heart of the Val Alba Regional Nature Reserve and one of the wildest sectors of the whole course.
19 From Forcella della Pecora to Casera Chiavals
From Forcella della Pecora the course follows CAI trail 425 along the high slopes of the Gleris, Russèi and Monte Chiavals groups.
The trail crosses grassy slopes, mountain pines, rocky outcrops and gullies, staying in an open, panoramic alpine environment.
The surface alternates grassy trail, natural ground and short rocky stretches. The succession of ups and downs calls for careful energy management.
The course heads for the Casera Chiavals basin, an old pasture area at the foot of the Val Alba mountains.
The basin is characterised by wide meadows and a completely isolated setting, far from roads and villages.
20 Casera Chiavals and Bivacco Giuseppe Bianchi
The course reaches Bivacco Giuseppe Bianchi, at about 1,712 metres on a small rise at the edge of the Casera Chiavals basin.
The bivouac was rebuilt in 2018 and is one of the main support points for traverses in the Zuc dal Bôr and Monte Chiavals groups.
Around the bivouac the terrain alternates alpine meadows, military mule track, earth trail and short rocky stretches.
The setting is open and spectacular, with views over the peaks of Val Alba and the deep valleys the course crosses.
Bivacco Bianchi is one of the most representative passages of the Alpe Adria Ultra, both for the isolation of the place and for the genuinely alpine character of the landscape.
21 From Bivacco Bianchi to Forcella Fonderis
From Bivacco Bianchi the course continues on CAI trail 425 towards Forcella Fonderis.
This is a long high-level traverse on old military mule tracks. The route alternates ups and downs, passages across the slope and gully crossings.
The ground is more technical than the forest tracks of the first part of the loop. Grassy traces, gravelly terrain, stones and water-shaped sections alternate.
The traverse runs through open country, with long stretches exposed to sun and wind.
Once at Forcella Fonderis, the course changes slope again and continues towards the Ricovero Sot Cretis sector.
22 From Forcella Fonderis to Ricovero Sot Cretis
Past Forcella Fonderis, the course continues on CAI trail 425 along a system of old military mule tracks.
The terrain alternates earth trail, gravelly sections, grassy slopes and short rocky stretches.
It then reaches Ricovero Sot Cretis, at an altitude of about 1,537 metres.
The building, of military origin, stands in an isolated position along the traverse between Val Alba and the Cueste Mauron sector.
The passage by Sot Cretis leads into a sector of wooded valleys, secondary ridges and old links between the stavoli of Val Dogna and the high basins of Val Alba.
23 From Ricovero Sot Cretis to Cueste Mauron
From Ricovero Sot Cretis the course takes CAI trail 425a.
The route first traverses and then reaches the Cueste Mauron crossing, at about 1,540 metres.
The terrain alternates traverses across the slope, wooded sections and short passages on uneven ground.
Cueste Mauron is a crossing point between the Val Alba sector and the Costa Sgueire valley.
From here the course gradually loses height, entering a wooded and secluded environment.
24 From Cueste Mauron to Forc Pedot
From Cueste Mauron the course enters the Costa Sgueire valley, alternating short climbs and descents.
The trail crosses a wooded environment on a surface of earth, stones, roots and sections shaped by erosion.
Following the ridge and the flanks of the valley you reach Forc Pedot, at about 1,230 metres.
The sector includes a steep stretch near the Rio Agar de lis Tais. The descent calls for attention: sloping ground, stones and uneven surface.
Forc Pedot marks the start of the descent to the stavoli and hamlets above Dogna.
25 From Forc Pedot to Rio Agar de lis Tais
From Forc Pedot the course continues downhill along CAI trail 425a.
The trail drops through the wood and reaches the Rio Agar de lis Tais.
The stream is crossed in a deep, shaded setting, with thick vegetation and natural ground.
Past the stream, the route joins CAI trail 427, also known as La Scjalinone.
26 From Stavoli di Sopra to Stavoli Marcon
Following CAI trail 427, the course reaches Stavoli di Sopra.
The terrain alternates old mule tracks, woodland trails and meadows around the stavoli. It is a cultural landscape typical of Val Dogna, made of small rural buildings, terraces and clearings once used for grazing and haymaking.
The route then continues to Stavoli Marcon, at around 1,000 metres above sea level.
This sector is a succession of short climbs and descents on natural ground, with wooded stretches and panoramic openings towards the valley.
27 From Stavoli Marcon to Case Trogul
From Stavoli Marcon the course continues to Case Trogul, following the local network of trails and mule tracks.
The terrain alternates meadow, woodland trail and forest road. The gradients ease progressively closer to the houses.
Case Trogul is one of the historic rural settlements on the northern slope of Val Dogna.
From here the course enters the final part of the descent to the valley floor.
28 From Case Trogul to Costa Molino
From Case Trogul the course continues on CAI trail 427 towards Costa Molino, also known as Costamolino.
The link crosses woods, clearings and forest roads.
The terrain becomes progressively wider and more even. Compact gravel, short concrete stretches and local roads alternate.
Costa Molino lies at around 800 metres and is one of the last settlements before the descent to Dogna.
29 From Costa Molino to Plagnis
From Costa Molino the course continues along a forest road with a few ups and downs.
The route reaches the hamlet of Plagnis, also set just below 800 metres above sea level.
This sector is mostly runnable, on gravel surface and stretches of local road.
From Plagnis the final descent opens up towards the valley floor and the village of Dogna.
30 From Plagnis to Dogna
From Plagnis the course drops towards Dogna on a narrow, steep local road.
The surface alternates tarmac and concrete. The gradient allows a fast descent, but calls for control in the bends and on the steeper sections.
On the way down the view opens onto the Canal del Ferro and the village of Dogna.
The course finally reaches the village centre, at about 430 metres above sea level.
Dogna is the link between the great loop of the eastern Carnic Alps and the second part of the course, which follows the Jôf Trail.
The Jôf Trail course
From Dogna the second part of the loop begins, coinciding with the course of the Jôf Trail 31 and it is also the first part of the Montasio 55.
01 From Dogna to Chiout Pupin
From Dogna the course takes CAI trail 602 and starts climbing immediately.
You leave the Canal del Ferro valley floor and climb to the small hamlet of Chiout Pupin.
The climb starts on an old mule track through the wood. The surface has natural steps, stones, roots and a few narrow passages.
The gradient is steep from the very first kilometres and quickly gains height above the village of Dogna.
The wood is mainly black pine, beech and spruce. A few openings in the vegetation reveal the valley floor and the mountains opposite.
02 From Chiout Pupin to Clap Forât
Past Chiout Pupin, CAI trail 602 continues towards Clap Forât.
The climb crosses a wooded, rocky sector. The trail uses old mule tracks, passages beneath rock walls and sections cut into the slopes.
Along the way you meet a metal footbridge, rocky outcrops and stretches close to the walls of Clap Forât.
The surface alternates earth, stones, roots and natural steps. The gradients stay steep and call for a steady rhythm.
As it climbs, the wood gradually changes and gives way to more open, panoramic areas.
03 From Clap Forât to Forcella Mincigos
Past the Clap Forât sector, the course continues on CAI trail 602 towards Forcella Mincigos.
The trail crosses a transition environment between the wood and the higher alpine slopes.
The surface is earth, stones and grassy stretches. The climb keeps a significant gradient.
Forcella Mincigos, at 1,488 metres, is an important crossing point on the northern ridge of Val Dogna.
At the pass you meet the junction with CAI trail 602a. The course instead stays on the main CAI trail 602 towards Cuel Formian and Jôf di Dogna.
04 From Forcella Mincigos to Cuel Formian
From Forcella Mincigos the course skirts Cuel Formian, a summit reaching about 1,627 metres.
The terrain becomes progressively more alpine. The wood thins out and gives way to grassy slopes, mountain pines, outcropping rock and old military mule tracks.
The trail alternates climbs, short traverses and passages on uneven ground.
The view opens onto Val Dogna, the Canal del Ferro and the surrounding mountains.
The passage by Cuel Formian leads into the highest and most technical part of the climb to Jôf di Dogna.
05 From Cuel Formian to Jôf di Dogna
The course continues on CAI trail 602 and climbs towards Jôf di Dogna.
The climb runs on alpine terrain, alternating steep grassy slopes, mountain pines, rocky steps and old military mule tracks.
The surface is uneven and calls for attention, with constant changes of gradient and short sections where the trail traverses the slope.
Jôf di Dogna, at 1,961 metres, is the highest point of the entire loop.
The summit offers a wide view over Val Dogna, the Canal del Ferro, the Carnic Alps and the main groups of the Julian Alps.
Crossing Jôf di Dogna is one of the most spectacular and technically significant moments of the Alpe Adria Ultra and of the Jôf Trail.
06 From Jôf di Dogna to the north-east ridge
From the summit of Jôf di Dogna the course follows CAI trail 602 along the north-east ridge.
The route reaches about 1,863 metres and follows a system of old military mule tracks.
The terrain alternates grassy stretches, rocky steps, mountain pines and traverses across the slope.
Progressing along the ridge offers constant views over the surrounding valleys and the mountains of Val Canale.
The course then passes below Monte Schenone, entering one of the most distinctive sectors of the traverse.
07 Below Monte Schenone
CAI trail 602 crosses the southern spur of Monte Schenone at about 1,807 metres.
The course follows a system of ledges and military mule tracks cut into the slope.
The terrain alternates grassy traverses, rocky steps, steep slopes and short passages among mountain pines.
Monte Schenone dominates the central part of Val Dogna and is one of the most recognisable summits of the ridge.
The route continues to the junction with CAI trail 601, at about 1,720 metres.
08 From the CAI 601 junction to Clap del Jovel
From the CAI 601 junction the course continues to the small saddle south of Clap del Jovel, at about 1,775 metres.
The route crosses the southern sector of the massif on the upper mule track and CAI trail 602.
The terrain alternates grassy trail, sections among mountain pines and stony ground.
The area preserves many military works, including remains of positions, shelters and roads built during the First World War.
Passing below Clap del Jovel closes the long high-level traverse begun on Jôf di Dogna.
09 From Clap del Jovel to Sella Bieliga
From the Clap del Jovel sector the course starts losing height towards Sella Bieliga.
The descent alternates woodland trail, meadows, mountain pines and stretches of military mule track.
Approaching the saddle, the terrain becomes progressively more open and even.
Sella Bieliga, at 1,479 metres, is a wide grassy hollow between Monte Schenone and Monte Sechieiz.
The saddle separates Val Dogna from Val Canale and is one of the main trail junctions of the ridge.
The area holds numerous remains of military works and old forest links.
10 From Sella Bieliga to Casera Bieliga
From Sella Bieliga the course begins the long descent into Val Dogna.
The route initially uses stretches of the forest road and of the network linked to CAI trail 603.
The surface is wide and generally even, alternating military road, gravel and short concrete sections.
The descent reaches the Casera Bieliga area, at around 1,400 metres above sea level.
From here the course joins CAI trail 601b and continues towards Chiout.
11 From Casera Bieliga to Chiout
CAI trail 601b links the Casera Bieliga area with Chiout, at about 838 metres.
The trail runs for about 4.7 kilometres and loses roughly 600 metres in height.
The surface is mainly forest ground, with stretches of military road, concrete ramps and mule tracks.
The gradient stays significant for long stretches. Where the trail cuts the bends of the road, the ground becomes steeper and more natural.
The descent crosses woods and clearings, with views over the inner part of Val Dogna.
The course finally reaches the hamlet of Chiout.
12 From Chiout to Pleziche
From Chiout the course follows local roads to Pleziche, at about 815 metres above sea level.
The surface alternates local tarmac, concrete and short gravel sections.
The gradient is moderate and allows a steady rhythm after the long descent from Sella Bieliga.
Pleziche is the gateway to an old link between the stavoli of Val Dogna and the Rio Montasio sector.
13 From Pleziche to Stavoli di Rio Montasio
At Pleziche the course takes a historic track, restored and made passable again by the organisation.
The trail crosses a little-frequented sector of Val Dogna, with woods, streams and old rural settlements.
The surface is completely natural: earth, roots, stones, short stream crossings and stretches through vegetation.
The course reaches Stavoli di Rio Montasio, an old rural settlement set along the slope.
The setting keeps the authentic character of the high hamlets of Val Dogna, once linked by a dense network of trails used for grazing and forestry.
14 From Stavoli di Rio Montasio to Stavoli Rive de Clade
From Stavoli di Rio Montasio the course continues towards Stavoli Rive de Clade.
The terrain alternates woodland trail, meadows, old mule tracks and short ups and downs.
The area is secluded and immersed in vegetation, with openings that reveal the slopes of Montasio and Jôf di Sompdogna.
Stavoli Rive de Clade is the last rural settlement before the final big climb of the loop.
15 From Stavoli Rive de Clade to CAI 651
Past the stavoli, the course links up with CAI trail 651.
The trail starts climbing towards the upper Val Dogna and the Sompdogna tarn.
The climb goes through beech, fir and larch woods. The surface is mainly forest ground — earth, roots, stones — with some steeper sections.
The gradient is steady and allows height to be gained progressively.
After the long descent from Sella Bieliga, this climb is the last big vertical effort of the whole course.
16 Climb to the Sompdogna tarn
Following CAI trail 651, the course reaches the Sompdogna tarn, at about 1,442 metres.
The tarn lies in a small basin surrounded by larches, just above Sella di Sompdogna.
The setting is one of meadows, sparse woods and wide views over the mountains of Val Saisera and Val Dogna.
Near the tarn there are remains of trenches, gun positions and military quarters.
The ground becomes progressively smoother, alternating trail, meadow and cart track.
Passing by the Sompdogna tarn is one of the most scenic moments of the final part.
17 From the Sompdogna tarn to Rifugio Fratelli Grego
From the tarn the course continues on CAI trail 651 towards Rifugio Fratelli Grego.
The hut stands at 1,389 metres, in a clearing on the eastern slopes of Jôf di Sompdogna.
The link between the tarn and the hut is short and runs on generally easy ground, alternating cart track, trail and meadows.
Rifugio Grego offers a spectacular view of the north faces of Jôf di Montasio and of the Val Saisera peaks.
After the long traverse of Jôf di Dogna and the climb back from the valley floor, the hut introduces the final descent to the finish.
18 From Rifugio Fratelli Grego to Val Saisera
From Rifugio Grego the course takes the direct descent into Val Saisera on CAI trail 611.
The so-called direttissima drops through the wood on a steep gradient.
The surface is natural, alternating earth, roots, stones and natural steps.
The descent demands attention, especially after many hours of racing, but drops quickly to the valley floor.
The wood is dense and shaded. Approaching Val Saisera the gradient eases and the trail joins the forest road network.
The course reaches the valley floor near Malga Saisera, at about 1,004 metres above sea level.
19 From Malga Saisera to Kile Alpine Resort
Once on the valley floor, the course joins the forest tracks and local paths of Val Saisera.
The terrain becomes progressively wider and more runnable. The surface alternates compact gravel, short grassy stretches and service roads.
The last part crosses the great forest environment of Val Saisera, leading the runners back to the Race Hub.
The walls of Montasio and Jôf Fuart dominate the landscape, while the course follows the valley floor to the Kile Alpine Resort.
Passing under the finish arch closes the great Alpe Adria Ultra loop.
The route has crossed woods, mountain pastures, old hamlets, alpine basins, military roads, valleys, passes, scree slopes and panoramic ridges, joining Val Saisera, Valbruna, Malborghetto, Passo Pramollo, Val Aupa, Val Alba, Dogna and the Jôf di Dogna ridge in a single course.
A complete journey across the eastern Carnic Alps and the Julian Alps, built along historic trails and different landscapes, joined by one continuous, demanding line that is deeply representative of the Alpe Adria region.