How to Hike Cadini di Misurina Trail in the Dolomites
If you have the Dolomites on your bucket list, you likely want to hike to Cadini di Misurina. This viewpoint is one of the most iconic and popular in Italy because of its stunning views. Many people plan an entire trip to the Dolomites around the hike!
Cadini di Misurina was one of the first hikes I added to our Dolomites itinerary because it is always mentioned as one of the best hikes. And let me tell you, the views did not disappoint! But the iconic viewpoint was crowded with a long line, so I skipped that and enjoyed other viewpoints with similar views.
If you want to hike the Cadini di Misurina Trail, you are in the right place! This guide has everything you need to know about visiting the iconic Cadini di Misurina viewpoint and other viewpoints, in case you do not want to wait in line. Get your hiking boots and cameras ready!
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How to Get to Cadini di Misurina
Cadini di Misurina is about 45 minutes east of Cortina d’Ampezzo and requires a bit of planning. The trailhead is at Rifugio Auronzo, and you have two options: getting a parking reservation in advance or taking a bus.
By Car
If you want to drive yourself to hike Cadini di Misurina, you need to get a parking reservation in advance. Each parking reservation is good for up to 12 hours, which is perfect if you want to hike Cadini di Misurina and Tre Cime di Lavaredo.
Parking reservations are limited and sell out quickly, especially during peak season. I recommend getting it as soon as possible and picking an early time slot. Because the two trails at Rifugio Auronzo are among the most popular in the Dolomites, they become crowded quickly.
We arrived just after sunrise and were able to hike the trails with only a few people. I hiked Tre Cime di Lavaredo first, so by the time I arrived at Cadini di Misurina, the iconic viewpoint had an hour wait. If you do not want to wait in line, the earlier you can start the hike, the better.
By Bus
If you are unable to get a parking reservation or do not have a car, you can take a bus from Cortina d’Ampezzo. Dolomiti Bus provides a direct service from downtown Cortina d’Ampezzo to Rifugio Auronzo, making it easy for you to get to Cadini di Misurina without a car.
I recommend getting an early bus to enjoy the trails with fewer crowds and have more time to hike! Trust me, you will want to spend most of the day here to hike Cadini di Misurina and Tre Cime di Lavaredo.
What to Pack for Hiking Cadini di Misurina
Hiking Boots: If you want comfort and support on your trip, hiking boots are the go to.
Hiking Socks: Having moisture-wicking and comfortable hiking socks are just as important for exploring.
Hiking Backpack: You need something to carry all your food, clothes, and anything else you need while adventuring, so having a supportive hiking backpack is crucial.
Hydration Reservoir/Water Bottles: While hiking or just exploring, it is important to have enough water! I always pack a hydration reservoir.
Jackets: The weather is unpredictable, so I always pack a rain jacket and insulated jacket.
Ten Essentials: The Ten Essentials are crucial for hiking!
Cadini di Misurina Trail Overview
Although the Cadini di Misurina Trail is short, it has some steep sections. It makes you work for the views, but trust me, they are worth the effort!
Hiking Stats
Length: 2.1 miles (3.4 km)
Elevation gain: 700 feet (213 meters)
Difficulty: Easy/Moderate
Best time to hike: Summer (June through September)
Facilities: Rifugio Auronzo has toilets (cash only to use)
Food: You can purchase food at Rifugio Auronzo
Webcam: Although there is no webcam of Cadini di Misurina, Tre Cime di Lavaredo has one. I used this webcam of Tre Cime di Lavaredo to check conditions before visiting.
Trail Map
This map shows the Cadini di Misurina Trail with all the viewpoints in this guide.
Hiking to Cadini di Misurina
Cadini di Misurina is one of the most popular trails in the Dolomites, for good reason! The views of the surrounding mountains are breathtaking.
Not only does the trail have views of the jagged mountains looking south, but it also has 360-degree views of other mountains, including Tre Cime di Lavaredo.
The Cadini di Misurina Trail is an out-and-back trail with many viewpoints. The iconic viewpoint is at the end of the trail, but you can enjoy views from various viewpoints along the way.
Starting at Rifugio Auronzo
The Cadini di Misurina Trailhead is at Rifugio Auronzo, right next to the Tre Cime di Lavaredo Trailhead. The area has signs pointing you in the correct direction for each of the trails.
The trail immediately descends for the first 0.3 miles before ascending steeply for 0.4 miles. As you are descending at the beginning of the Cadini di Misurina Trail, you will see the steep ascent ahead of you.
This portion of the trail has beautiful views looking east into the mountain layers that seem to go on forever. And if you turn around, you can get a view of Tre Cime di Lavaredo.
Once you reach 0.3 miles, you begin a steep ascent for the next 0.4 miles. Although this trail is short, the steep sections are leg burners, making it seem longer than it is!
Once you reach the top of the steep section, you can take a break and look back towards Tre Cime di Lavaredo. This viewpoint was stunning, with a unique perspective of the iconic mountains.
Hiking to the Iconic Cadini di Misurina Viewpoint
Once you arrive at the top of the steep section, you will notice a few trails. To head to the iconic viewpoint first, you will follow the right-most trail for about 0.2 miles before reaching another intersection. Two trails continue straight ahead of you, and you want to take the left trail to the iconic viewpoint.
The trail immediately descends steeply towards the viewpoint, following along a steep drop-off on one side. This is where you will likely find a line. The viewpoint is small, and everyone waits their turn to go up to it.
I passed someone on the trail who said the wait was over an hour, so I skipped it, but you can see the line of people in the photo below.
I had heard that the line takes longer than it appears, so even if there are only 20 people in front of you, you may be waiting over an hour. I also heard that people take 15-20 minutes at the viewpoint, and I can confirm I saw someone up there for as long as I was hiking to other viewpoints, which was about 20 minutes.
Do not get me wrong, the iconic viewpoint is stunning, but the entire trail has breathtaking views. You do not need to go to the iconic viewpoint to experience the views. Since I did not wait in line, I explored other parts of the trail, and I will go over each place I visited.
Other Viewpoints along the Cadini di Misurina Trail
Once you visit the iconic Cadini di Misurina viewpoint or if you decide to skip it, it is time to explore the rest of the trail. And trust me, the views will take your breath away at the other viewpoints!
From the iconic viewpoint, you will head back to the intersection and turn left to hike to a viewpoint above. This short trail ends at a cliff and offers similar views to the iconic viewpoint, but without the line. It also has beautiful 360-degree views, making it worth the visit.
Once you are finished here, you will head back to the intersection and turn right to follow a trail below what the trail map shows as Monte Campedelle. This section of the trail has some steep drop-offs before bringing you to my favorite viewpoint on the hike.
I sat at this viewpoint for so long and only saw about five people. Most people only hike to the iconic viewpoint, so it was nice to enjoy the views with fewer crowds.
When you are done enjoying the views, you will continue on the trail back towards the trailhead. You will pass by the intersection you first took before continuing straight towards Rifugio Auronzo.
Want to Hike More?
Since you are already in the area, I highly recommend hiking Tre Cime di Lavaredo as well! You can hike a fun 6.1-mile loop around it or a shorter 3-mile round trip hike to an iconic viewpoint.
Tre Cime di Lavaredo is breathtaking, and I recommend at least hiking the shorter trail to experience it. It was one of my favorite hikes in the Dolomites!
If you want to hike to the iconic Cadini di Misurina viewpoint, you are in the right place. This guide has everything you need to know to plan a hike to Cadini di Misurina in the Dolomites!
Hey, I’m Nichole!
I am the creator behind Nichole the Nomad, the home of my explorations around the world, mountain hikes, and beautiful pictures taken along the way. I have a deep passion for capturing the world in a beautiful light and sharing my experiences.
I created this blog to share my travels, show how beautiful the world is, provide tips and tricks for traveling, and encourage you to explore. Whether you want to travel across the world or explore what’s in your backyard, I hope this blog inspires you to get outside and find your adventure!
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