Visiting Bivacco Monte Col Dolomites

The Bivacco Monte Col is a secluded and unforgettable mountain bivouac above Santo Stefano di Cadore in the Dolomites. It is always open and free to use.

Bivacco Monte Col: quick facts

• Elevation: 1840 m (6037 ft).
• Coordinates: 46.5409847, 12.5582819.
• Location: Comelico, Dolomites.
• Route type: walk-up.
• Elevation gain from the parking area: 930 m (3051 ft).
• Parking coordinates: 46.5558769, 12.5530578.
• Time needed to reach the bivouac from the parking area: 2.5–3 hours.
• Beds: four bunk beds, plus an attic with space for at least four more people. No mattresses are provided.
• Heating: wood-burning stove.
• Water: rainwater stored in a tank behind the shelter.
• Lighting: photovoltaic panel.
• Nearest place to buy supplies: Santo Stefano di Cadore.
• Useful map: Dolomiti di Auronzo e del Comelico, Tabacco 017, 1:25000.

Access roads and map

The interactive map below highlights the following key locations:

• Marker 1: Parking area at the trailhead.
• Marker 2: Location of Bivacco Monte Col.

Zoom in to explore the route in detail, or zoom out to see the main access roads leading to the area.

You will see this bivouac also under the names Bivacco Cialdon and Bivacco Al Cadon del Monte Col.

Route description

The parking area is on Via Lungopiave, along the south bank of the Piave River. It is easy to find, as it is located near the Monaco Sport Hotel, on the opposite side of the street. See the photo below.

This is a small, free parking area, and route 330 starts right next to it. From there, you simply walk uphill in a southerly direction.

The advantage is that the trail climbs continuously, with every step gaining elevation. The downside is that it is very steep, with no switchbacks in the lower section. This makes the hike quite demanding, much harder than the route to Bivacco Spagnolli, which is in the same area.

The route is easy to follow, but it is not well marked. You will walk for more than two hours without seeing any signs mentioning the bivouac.

At an elevation of around 1850 meters, the trail joins route 331, which comes from Campolongo. See the photo below. A few minutes later, you will see the first sign for the bivouac, but it is lying on the ground, so you can only guess which direction to take:

At this point, you should check your map if you have one. If not, make sure you pass the cave shown in the photo below. You will then notice a tiny path through the grass, which leads toward the bivouac, just a short distance away. All these details are visible on the zoomable map above.

You are now on relatively flat terrain, and the path even descends slightly through a pleasant meadow. Soon, the bivouac appears in front of you, as shown in the photo below:

The bivouac stands on a beautiful plateau, with open views to the west and a forest on the opposite side. As far as you can see, there is nothing but nature. You get a wonderful sense of complete isolation here, and the tranquility of the place is truly special.

Inside, you will find a good wood-burning stove, shown in the photo below, with firewood also available. There is a dining table in one corner and a set of bunk beds with sleeping space for four people in another.

Note that there are no mattresses or blankets. The interior is made entirely of wood and is in very good condition. There are no unpleasant smells, and the place looks very clean.

If more people need a place to sleep, there is also a spacious and very clean attic. Here is what it looks like:

Behind the building, there is a water tank containing rainwater, which you can use for washing yourself and doing the dishes.

My tour

I started my hike at 8:45 a.m. and reached the bivouac at 11:20 a.m. On the way up, I met an Italian couple who told me they had spent the night in the shelter. They described the bivouac as “molto bello” (very beautiful).

When I arrived, there was nobody around, so I enjoyed the place in solitude. Later, an Italian man arrived. He was a retired police officer from San Vito, and we had a pleasant chat, although he did not stay long.

Then two Italian girls arrived. They did not stay long either, so I was alone again enjoying the sun on one of the benches outside.

Reluctantly, after a couple of hours, I left the place. I must admit that it was really hard to leave. I cannot remember many bivouacs that have made such a positive impression on me.

I descended along the same route, without meeting anyone on the way down. As you can see, this is not a place overrun by tourists.

I documented the entire hike in my video. Have a look:

Alternative approach

If you look at the map above, you will see route 331 coming from Campolongo. This provides an alternative approach to the bivouac. The Italian man I met there had arrived from that direction.

I did not hike this route myself, so I cannot say much about it. However, it looks a little longer and is probably less steep. If you have more information, please use the comment section below to share your experience.

Gear, water & food

This is a standard walk-up route, so no technical equipment is required. A reliable pair of hiking boots is perfectly adequate. I brought trekking poles and used my daypack, along with my usual rain gear: a rain poncho, rain pants, and a rain jacket.

If you plan to stay overnight, bring a suitable sleeping bag and a sleeping pad.

There is a stream along the way up, so if you bring a portable water filter, you can refill your water supply and avoid carrying too much. As mentioned above, rainwater is also available at the shelter. As for food, make sure you stock up in Santo Stefano di Cadore before setting off.

Conclusion

Thank you for reading. Let me know if you have questions or comments; there is a comment section below. Check also my text about the nearby Bivacco Spagnolli.

This bivouac, together with more than 140 others, is included in my interactive map available here on the site, see it below. Note that I also have a book titled Dolomites Solo, so have a look if you plan to do some mountaineering tours in the area.