Tre Cime di Lavaredo Hike in the Dolomites: Ultimate Hiking Guide
Tre Cime di Lavaredo is one of the most iconic hikes in the Dolomites and should be on every bucket list! The hike is in the northeastern section of the Dolomites near Cortina d’Ampezzo, with views of three distinct towering peaks. You can hike a shorter trail to an iconic viewpoint or a longer loop around Tre Cime di Lavaredo.
The very first time I researched the Dolomites, Tre Cime di Lavaredo was the first thing that came up, so it was the first hike I put on our itinerary. And let me tell you, it did not disappoint! The hike had breathtaking views of Tre Cime di Lavaredo and the surrounding mountains.
If you want to hike Tre Cime di Lavaredo when you visit the Dolomites, you are in the right place! This guide has everything you need to know about the Tre Cime di Lavaredo hike, including the best routes and viewpoints.
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How to Get to Tre Cime di Lavaredo
Tre Cime di Lavaredo is 45 minutes east of Cortina d’Ampezzo, and it requires some 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 the Tre Cime di Lavaredo trailhead, you need to get a parking reservation in advance. Each parking reservation is good for up to 12 hours, which is perfect if you plan to hike Tre Cime di Lavaredo and Cadini di Misurina.
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. I did not wait in line; instead, I enjoyed the views from various viewpoints along the trail.
By Bus
If you are unable to secure a parking reservation, do not worry, you can take a bus. Dolomiti Bus provides a direct service from Cortina d’Ampezzo to Rifugio Auronzo, making it easy for you to get there 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 Tre Cime di Lavaredo and Cadini di Misurina.
What to Pack for the Tre Cime di Lavaredo Hike
The mountain weather in Italy can be unpredictable, so it is crucial to pack the right gear and layers for the season you visit. When we were in the Dolomites, the weather could go from sunny to rainy in just a few hours.
This is a great baseline for what to pack, and you can adjust as needed:
- hiking boots
- moisture-wicking clothes
- hiking backpack
- food and water
- rain jacket
- fleece jacket
- insulated jacket
- sunscreen
Tre Cime di Lavaredo Hike Overview
You can choose from a few ways to hike to Tre Cime di Lavaredo. The first is a shorter out-and-back trail to the iconic viewpoint, and the second is a longer loop around Tre Cime di Lavaredo. No matter which hike you pick, you will fall in love with the area!
Tre Cime di Lavaredo Hiking Stats
If you want to hike the shorter trail to the iconic viewpoint of Tre Cime di Lavaredo, here are the trail stats:
Length: 3 miles (4.8 km)
Elevation gain: 760 feet (232 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: I used this webcam of Tre Cime di Lavaredo to check conditions before visiting.
If you want to hike the longer loop around Tre Cime di Lavaredo, here are the trail stats:
Length: 6.2 miles (10 km)
Elevation gain: 1,600 feet (488 meters)
Difficulty: 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: I used this webcam of Tre Cime di Lavaredo to check conditions before visiting.
Tre Cime di Lavaredo Trail Map
Tre Cime di Lavaredo Shorter Trail:
Tre Cime di Lavaredo Loop:
Guide to the Tre Cime di Lavaredo Hike
Tre Cime di Lavaredo has two popular routes: a shorter trail to the iconic viewpoint and a longer loop around its base. Both hikes offer stunning views of Tre Cime di Lavaredo and the surrounding mountains, so you really cannot go wrong with either. This guide will go over both trails.
Always remember to leave no trace. It is crucial to pack out what you pack in and leave no trash. Some of these spots have trash bins, so you can easily throw your trash away. If they do not have trash bins, you can throw your trash away once you reach a trash bin.
Rifugio Auronzo to Cappella degli Alpini
The Tre Cime di Lavaredo Trailhead is at Rifugio Auronzo, right next to the Cadini di Misurina Trailhead. The area has signs pointing you in the correct direction for each of the trails.
Once you walk by Rifugio Auronzo, the trail brings you to the base of Tre Cime di Lavaredo. The trail is relatively flat and offers incredible views as you approach Cappella degli Alpini.
After 0.6 miles, the trail leads to Cappella degli Alpini, a stunning and small chapel at the base of Tre Cime di Lavaredo. My favorite photo of the chapel was from the front looking toward Cadini di Misurina.
Side Hike to Monument View Point
Before you continue to the iconic viewpoint, I highly recommend adding a short side hike to Monument View Point. The trail begins just after Cappella degli Alpini and turns right to a small monument.
I would have skipped this if someone had not recommended it to me. And I am so glad I listened because the views of Tre Cime di Lavaredo are breathtaking! The monument also has incredible views looking into the valley below, but the real star of the show was the unique view of Tre Cime di Lavaredo.
The side trail to the monument adds about 0.4 miles to the hike, but the views make the extra mileage worth it!
Cappella degli Alpini to Forcella Lavaredo
The trail continues to round the base of Tre Cime di Lavaredo as it approaches Rifugio Lavaredo. Once the trail reaches the rifugio, you will likely see some cows, which are always fun additions to the hikes in the Dolomites!
If you want food or need to use the restroom, you can stop at Rifugio Lavaredo. When we visited, they were cash-only, so keep that in mind.
Once the trail passes the rifugio, it becomes steeper as it approaches Forcella Lavaredo. A few trails lead to the viewpoint, but I recommend taking the trail to the right to have a more gradual ascent. The trail to the left is steep and more direct, but we enjoyed the more gradual route.
Soon enough, you will arrive at a stunning viewpoint of Tre Cime di Lavaredo! This viewpoint was easily my favorite along the entire trail. The view of the three peaks was breathtaking!
We stayed here for a long time to enjoy the views. We began the hike around sunrise, so we were the only ones at this viewpoint for a while, which was so peaceful.
If you only want to hike the shorter trail, you can head back to the parking lot. If you plan to hike the longer loop, the rest of this guide will review what to expect!
Forcella Lavaredo to Rifugio Antonio Locatelli
After Forcella Lavaredo, the trail descends as it continues towards Rifugio Antonio Locatelli. The best views along this section are behind you, so do not forget to turn around and take in Tre Cime Lavaredo! The views of the mountains to the west are also stunning.
Once you arrive at Rifugio Antonio Locatelli, you will get another iconic view of Tre Cime di Lavaredo. You can walk around the property, grab a bite to eat, use the restrooms, or head out on a fun side quest. Also, keep in mind that when we visited, this rifugio only accepted cash.
If you want to add a fun side trail for more beautiful views, I recommend hiking to Laghi dei Piani! It will add about a mile to the hike, but the views of the lake and surrounding mountains are worth it.
Rifugio Antonio Locatelli to Rifugio Auronzo
Now it is time to head back towards the parking lot. The trail slowly descends for the next mile before gradually ascending for the rest of the hike back to Rifugio Auronzo.
The trail loses its view of Tre Cime di Lavaredo during the first section of the hike back, but do not worry! You will see it again soon. In the meantime, you can enjoy views looking west towards the surrounding mountains.
After about two miles, the trail passes another hut called Malga Langalm. Similar to the others, this only accepted cash when we visited. You can stop here for a quick break or continue to another side trail.
Just past the hut, a short trail to the left leads to small bodies of water. You will likely see photographers with tripods because they take beautiful reflection shots of Tre Cime di Lavaredo from this viewpoint.
Once you are back on the trail, the rest of the hike to the parking lot is a gradual incline. You will again lose views of Tre Cime di Lavaredo, just under a mile from the parking lot, but the views of the surrounding mountains make up for it.
Want to Hike More?
Since you are already in the area, I highly recommend hiking Cadini di Misurina as well! It is about 2.1 miles round trip and offers stunning views of the surrounding mountains. The iconic viewpoint will likely have a line, but you could skip it because the entire trail offers breathtaking views!
If you want to hike Tre Cime di Lavaredo, this guide is the perfect place to start planning. It has everything you need to know about the Tre Cime di Lavaredo hike to add it to your Dolomites itinerary!
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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