Val Canzoi

Access: From Le Ave to Stua Lake, along the SC road (municipal road), with short lateral detours

A picturesque valley in the heart of the Park
Val Canzoi, archaic and picturesque microcosm originating from the confluence of a network of steep valleys crossing the southern slope of Cimonega group (Val di Neva, Val delle Grave, Val d’Alvis, upper Val Caorame, Val Slavinaz, Val Casole), is a valley system situated in the heart of the Park. The valley, very ancient, transversally crosses the whole stratigraphic series of Dolomiti Bellunesi, giving the opportunity to observe its main rocky formations, from Scaglia rossa (entrance of the valley) to Dolomia Principale. As it is often true for ancient valleys, it is a complex environmental system, whose morphological evolution depended on glaciers, watercourses, the slopes degradation processes (landslides and erosion) and, locally, karst corrosion. The glacial action of an inserted branch of the ancient Piave glacier during the climax of the glacial period can be recognized for the slightly U-shape of the transversal silhouette (rather large valley bottom and rather steep slopes). A narrow road enters the valley, giving the opportunity to explore interesting micro-environments by following short lateral detours:

• (a) S.Eustachio pond, set in a depression delimited by a sinuous detrital hill formed by glacial deposits (morainic bank)
• (b) Fraina bassa karst spring, whose waters, coming from the rocks of Dolomia Principale, slowly flow out forming a large pool (newts, frogs) and then flowing into torrent Caorame
• (c) Ponte Umin and La Stua gorges dug into the rocks of Dolomia Principale, deep gorges that torrent Caorame formed after the occlusion of the old valley by the torrential deposits of a lateral torrent (P.te Umin) and by the river-glacial deposits (La Stua) respectively
• (d) the giants kettles and Caorame small waterfalls, along the trail leading to Casera Cimonega.

Rocks, environments, and other features

Rocks: Scaglia rossa (Montagne, Ponte Serra); Biancone (Le Ave, S. Rosia small church); Gray Limestones (c/o locality “Lac”); Dolomia Principale (from P.te Umin to Stua Lake)
Landscape features:
Glacial features: morainic bank (S.Eustachio); glacial deposits (Altrin and Valloi de Caselle landslides)
Karst features: karst springs (Caoron, Fraina bassa)
Periglacial features: niches and shelters under the rock
River-torrential features: torrential deposits (Caorame shore); Ponte Umin and La Stua gorges (relatively recent passages that torrent Caorame created after the silting up of an old valley by the torrential deposits of a lateral torrent (P.te Umin) of by the river-glacial deposits (La Stua) accumulating in the late glacial period; giants kettles and/or small waterfalls (torrent Caorame bed c/o Ponte Umin and along the trail leading to Casera Cimonega)

Environment / Landscape

A very important valley
Among the important valleys of the Park, Val Canzoi distinguishes itself for the quality of its natural environments (woods, clearings, alluvial shores, karst springs), enriched by the sober presence of rural settlements (Montagne, Le Ave, etc.) and several evidences of past and recent human activities (trails, mule tracks, cultivated areas, rural buildings, casere, dry-stone walls, terraced areas, charcoal piles),

Notes:easy itinerary, with modest differences in height