(photo by: PN Dolomiti Bellunesi)
It is a large silver fir wood (full name: “abieteto esomesalpico submontano”, that is pre-mountain fir tree formation situated in the outer section of the Alps and the middle sections of the alpine valleys), with specimens of great beauty for height, diameter, and bearing. It can be visited by following the asphalt road along Val del Grisol at first, and then entering the lower section of the basin where the lateral valleys of Costa Granda, Val dei Ross, and Val dei Nass meet, at altitudes between the 600 and 1,000-1,100 meters. Herbaceous species include the several fern species. The presence of mosses and liverworts witnesses a cool microclimate, while other plants highlight the great fertility of the soils deriving from the disintegration of rocks with a high content of marly fractions (Formation of Soverzene, Formation of Igne).
Municipality/ies: Longarone
Access: Soffranco. From the end of Val del Grisol you can choose different CAI trails: no. 513 of Costa dei Nass or no. 520 of Val dei Ross. From these valleys you can leave for longer and more demanding tours.
Difficulty reaching and moving about in the area: intermediate. Walking time variable according to the chosen itinerary.
Floristic-vegetation features
The most interesting aspect as far as vegetation is concerned is represented by the abundance of noble broadleaf trees: Fraxinus excelsior, Acer pseudoplatanus, Acer platanoides, Ulmus glabra, Tilia platyphyllos, Tilia cordata. Also Euonymus latifolius and Taxus baccata are worth a mention. Herbaceous species include several fern species (some of them rare like Dryopteris remota or not very common like Polystichum braunii and Matteuccia struthiopteris, or widespread but ecologically very typical like Phyllitis scolopendrium), Lunaria rediviva, toothworts, Asarum europaeum, Actaea spicata, Aruncus dioicus. The presence of mosses and liverworts witnesses a cool microclimate, while other plants highlight the great fertility of the soils deriving from the disintegration of rocks with a high content of marly fractions (Formation of Soverzene, Formation of Igne).
Wildlife features
Wildlife characterizing conifer woods: Western Capercaillie, Hazel Grouse, Black Woodpecker, Goshawk, Sparrowhawk, Tengmalm’s Owl, Crested Tit, Eurasian Treecreeper.
Further features
Wonderful gorges dug by the torrents, creating very charming settings.
- Recommended time of year: From spring to late autumn.
- Equipment: Hiking clothes, trekking shoes, binoculars.
Notes: Besides the great floral richness, it is a forest with extraordinary features, unique in Europe, as already stated by Mayer and Hoffmann (1969). Also in the volumes dedicated to the forest typologies of Veneto, such uniqueness has been highlighted.
Municipality: Longarone (BL)