Cirspitzen

The Cirspitzen are part of the Puez group in the Dolomites and are known for their incomparable panoramic view.

However, only the Große Cirspitze and the Kleine Cirspitze with hiking trails and via ferratas are accessible to hobby hikers. The other peaks require good knowledge of alpine climbing.

The race for the highest peak is won by the Große Cirspitze, which at 2,592 meters overlooks all the others. You can also enjoy this view yourself. A normal route, which does not require great difficulties and also does not require climbing experience, will take you to the summit in about 1.5 hours. The starting point is the parking lot of the Grödner Joch (2,137 meters), where also bus lines stop. Past the Hotel Cir, you simply continue along the road. Once you have reached the scree field, you are on the right path. The route continues over a gully and along the rock face. The ascent is partly secured with wire ropes. In the end, you reach the stoic summit cross, which consists of several stacked rocks and withstands all weather conditions. The best time for hiking is from late May until the onset of winter.

The Kleine Cirspitze (2,520 meters), located east of its larger sister, is only slightly smaller, but the path to the summit (about 1 hour) is much more demanding. The ascent via the via ferrata, which is well developed, requires a bit more skill. The adventure also starts at the Grödner Joch parking lot. Along a gravel road, you hike towards the mountain station of the Dantercepies cable car. Shortly before the station, head towards the grassy ridge (sign "via ferrata") and hike along a groove to the entry point of the via ferrata. Here it gets a bit trickier, as the further path is via a ladder. Later, you will need to tackle a few more steps until the following scree path leads you just below the mountain peak. The final stretch is a bit more challenging, as the incline suddenly increases. But soon you will be rewarded with the unique view of the Cirspitzen. Just like from the Große Cirspitze, the view extends over the Langkofel, the Sciliar, the Rosengarten to the Puez group, Geisler group, Tofana group and the Sella group.

Since the ascent of both peaks does not take much time, both can also be completed in half a day. Fortunately, there is a connecting ridge between the two peaks.

For those who want to break in their hiking boots for longer, they can do so by circling the Cirspitzen (about 3.5 hours): From the Grödner Joch past the Hotel Cir, onto the Puez trail and further to the Jimmyhütte (2,220 meters) below the Cirspitzen and near the Dantercepies cable car mountain station, where regional dishes are artfully arranged and even Reinhold Messner has stopped by. Above the hut, you turn towards the Cirjoch and enter the quaint Chedultal north of the mountain group with its scree gullies and forests. You continue into the Langental to the St. Sylvester Chapel and finally to Wolkenstein, where the valley station of the cable car is located.