La Val Canali

Extraordinary Dolomitic valley surrounded by mountains characterized by a series of very suggestive towers such as the Cima Canali (2900 meters), the Sasso de le Lede (2580 meters) and the Cima d’Ostio (2405 meters) between Val Pradidali and Vallon delle Lede, and the Cima dei Lastei (2846 meters) between Vallon delle Lede and Val Canali.
The “organ pipes” of Cima Canali are striking; a mountain “with a very beautiful and marvelous shape … tall and swift as a construction of the Gothic order” (Brentari). Also striking is the high glacial circus of Vallon delle Lede, suspended on the Val Canali. The junction point of Val Pradidali with Val Canali is in the locality Cant del Gal, whose name refers to the capercaillie crowing arenas. Here you will find a large parking area and refreshment points. The boundary of the park is just below, at the Piazmador bridge. From the bridge to Malga Canali, the road crosses a spruce forest with white fir. From time to time beech trees of considerable size make a fine show and in some points – near Prà dell’Ostio, for example – some larger groups offer an undergrowth characterized in particular by the white sedge (Carex alba).
A sight not to be missed, in late March – early April, before the leaves appear, is the flowering of the undergrowth with the colors of the starry onion (Gagea lutea), the Corydalis cava and the nine-leaved toothwort (Cardamine enneaphyllos). The smooth pastures with alpine bluegrass (Poion alpinae) and fescue (Festuca rubra) in the Malga Canali area are also pleasing to the eye.