Dolomite Landowners Demand Tourist Fees After 8,000 Visitors Flood the Scenic Route

Shaking Up the Italian Alps: A Wake‑Up Call

The latest decision – whether it’s cutting access or boosting eco‑tourism – is shining a spotlight on a mountain‑mishap that’s creeping up: overtourism, clueless visitors, and the planet taking a bruised face.

• Overtourism – too many tourists, too few trails. The peaks are full‑filled.
• Unruly Behavior – folks treating the mountains like a playground: littering, smoking in lush valleys, and leave‑no‑trace? Never heard of it.
• Environmental Damage – trails eroded, flora disturbed, and the glaciers creeping away as sun‑bathing tourists pack their bags.

It’s a Picture‑Perfect Parking Lot

Picture this: you’re hiking up Italy’s frosty Dolomites, and at the top of Seceda mountain, you stumble upon a trail that’s practically turned into a social‑media stage. The spiky Odle Peaks rise like a dramatic backdrop, but the view‑lovers this year have outnumbered the locals by a landslide.

The Instagram Invasion

Last week, reports say 8,000 people mapped the same path in a single day—essentially a marathon of “#viewgoals.”

• Walkers line up like it’s a major event.
• Locals are left with literally no breathing room.
• Every “perfect shot” turns into a snappy photo shoot that slows the trail down.

When Tourism Turns Into Traffic

While hikers love the scenery, the uptick has made the area sag under the surprise of overtourism. Locals are complaining about parkour in the form of crowds, noise, and a lack of respect for the fragile alpine environment.

The Landowners’ Countermeasure

In a bold move, landowners decided to install a turnstile at the trail’s entrance. It might sound like a notch of sarcasm, but it signals the seriousness of the situation—trying to slow down the crowd and keep the path viable for future generations.

This is Just the Tip of the Iceberg

Beyond the turnstile, the core issue remains::

1. Overtourism – Too many eyes on too few paths.
2. Visitor Behaviour – Uninformed visitors sometimes forget the mountain’s rules.
3. Environmental Damage – Human footfall wears the delicate scenery to the point of erosion.

So, next time you’re scrolling for a breathtaking view, remember: those snags aren’t just about a selfie; they’re a signal for sustainable tourism that balances awe with preservation.

Farmers ask tourists to pay fee to hike scenic route

A Treadmill of Tripping Points: Farmers’ Toll‑Trek on the Odle Trail

The Original U‑Turn

In early July, a rag‑tag brigade of local farmers planted a turnstile at the start of the Odle trail, tossing a €5 fee on the line in a cheeky shove against what they call “tourist vandalism.”

A “Cry for Help” or a Literal “Cry”

The farmers, in a paper‑backed stand‑by op‑ed, said the turnstile’s first run was a provocation—a knock‑on “call‑out” that “breathed life” into a forgotten issue.

The Fee Logic

There’s a strictly‑stanby “toll‑master” ① who accepts cash or swipe card payments. ② The farmers explain:

Quick Facts

What You’ll Feel

So, before you spear‑squeeze your way onto the Odle trail, check your wallet and maybe a quick selfie of the turnstile: a symbol of community, permission, and a little bit of rural founder‑spirit.

Mountain associations denounce the turnstile

Trail Tolls and the “No‑Show” Protest

An unexpected fee hit some of the Dolomites’ beloved paths, and the local hiking community threw a handful of eyebrows at the move.

“What if every owner gets a tug‑in on the spot?”

“If from one day to the next every landowner imposed a toll, what would happen?” Tullio Mussner, the boss of Lia da Mont, told L’Altramontagna. The comment felt like a punchline at a campfire: the idea of suddenly paying a fee every time you step onto a trail.

“No fee means a free pass!”

To keep spirits high, staff from the Tourism Association Dolomites Val Gardena now hang out right by the turnstile, waving banners that say it’s not mandatory to drop the requested coin. The team is playing the “free‑entry” game, making sure hikers are clued in.

Alternative Route: Less toll, more trail

• Dodging the gate is simple – just take a slightly longer path.
• End up at the same eye‑catching zoom‑in on the Odle Peaks without the extra spend.
• The association plans a clear sign beside the turnstile, explaining that this fee is a private initiative and pointing toward the detour.

The rolling debate keeps climbing higher

While some trail owners see this as a way to fund maintenance, the hiking community has a love‑for‑free attitude. The conversation—full of jokes, furious posts, and spirited haggling—illustrates the delicate balance between preserving the great outdoors and paying for the upkeep it deserves.

Greater regulation of tourism is needed in the Dolomites

Trail Trouble: Local Farmers, Weekend Hikers, and the Great Grazing Debate

When the Trail Turns into a Harvest-Hijacker

• Farmers report that their fields are being “spoiled” by hikers and bikers who casually step through their meadows.
• Crops vanish before the harvest comes, turning a routine farm day into a frustrating scramble.
• Local residents say that a recent shift by landowners has actually helped bring this issue to the fore.

The Voice of the Trail

Carlo Alberto Zanella, president of Club Alpino Italia’s South Tyrol branch, told the local paper Salto that the controversial move, while surprising, brings a real problem to public attention.

“We need to educate folks on respecting the environment,” Zanella said.

Overcrowding: A Lack of Regulation (and a call for compensation)

• The tourism sector admits to a lack of provincial oversight as a key cause of hillside saturation.
• Guy Mussner, a local advocate, urges that farmers be financially compensated for the extra summer traffic, mirroring winter rebates for ski slope land users.
• Over last year, South Tyrol, along with Venice, ranks among the most crowded destinations in Italy, according to the Demoskopika Institute.

The Sizzling Summer Surge

Europe’s scorching summers have increased interest in mountain escapes. As daylight hours slip away, hikers and cyclists are driving a road‑map to chaos.

What Can Be Done?

• Implement stricter trail access controls.
• Launch community education programs to show etiquette in nature.
• Distribute financial aid to farmers affected by tourist traffic.

In sum, the debate darkens the landscape: is it a walk or a war? For farmers, the answer is clear—protect your crops, not just your trail.

Is Apple to blame for the Seceda mountain’s popularity?

Apple’s Accidental Pillow‑case for the Seceda Mountains

It all began with a cheeky wallpaper. Back in 2010, Apple showcased the majestic Seceda mountain on its iOS 7 home screen, hitching a ride on millions of iPhones worldwide. Fast‑forward a couple of years later—the same peak made a cameo in the iPhone 15 launch video, dancing along with shiny gadgets.

Why the mountain suddenly became a hotspot

• People started flocking for the “must‑see” photo opportunities.
• Many visitors were in tourist mode—just a quick snap and off they went.
• Local groups reckon it’s all because of that inadvertent publicity.

The cable‑car dilemma

Ortisei’s cable car, which whiskers tourists to the summit, is now facing an overcrowding crisis. Guides are sounding the alarm: “Arrive before dawn or risk queuing for an eternity.”

Some environmental advocates are calling for price hikes during summer or even temporary closures to curb the relentless influx. Yet the cable‑car operator is pushing back, proposing to triplicate capacity—a move that’s raising eyebrows and concerns.

What’s next for the Seceda craze?

• Will a surge in prices or restrictions quiet the crowd?
• Can the cable car’s expansion truly tame the tide?
• Is Apple ready to step back and let nature breathe? #SustainableTourism