Tre Cime di Lavaredo (Drei Zinnen in German) are three free-standing dolomite towers on the border of South Tyrol and Veneto: Cima Grande (2,999 m), Cima Ovest (2,973 m) and Cima Piccola (2,857 m). Their north faces drop sheer for more than 500 metres — that is the side everyone knows from photos. The good news: you don't need to be a climber to see them up close. The classic loop around the massif is one of the most accessible high-mountain walks in the Alps.
Getting to the start
Almost every loop starts at Rifugio Auronzo (2,320 m), a large hut with a car park at the southern foot of the peaks. You reach it on a toll road from Lake Misurina: about 40 minutes from Cortina d’Ampezzo, about 45 from Dobbiaco.
- By car. The toll is charged per car per day. In high season entry works with an online time-slot booking — without one you may be turned around at the barrier. The rules and price change almost every year, so check the current conditions before you go.
- By bus. In summer seasonal buses run from Cortina and from Dobbiaco straight to Auronzo. Far cheaper than the toll, but the first buses arrive when the day is already busy.
- On foot from below. From Val Fiscalina (Fischleintal) or from Lake Landro you climb to Rifugio Locatelli with 800+ m of ascent. Long, but free and almost empty until the top.
The loop, step by step
Walk it anticlockwise — the big view then comes in the middle, not at the end when you're tired.
| Section | Time | What's there |
|---|---|---|
| Auronzo → Rifugio Lavaredo (2,344 m) | ~30 min | Wide gravel track, almost flat, the Alpini chapel on the way |
| Lavaredo → Forcella Lavaredo pass (2,454 m) | ~30 min | The only real climb; from the saddle you first see the north faces |
| Forcella → Rifugio Locatelli (2,405 m) | ~40 min | A traverse with the best view of the three peaks; the Piani lakes by the hut |
| Locatelli → Malga Langalm (2,283 m) | ~50 min | Down below the north faces, meadows, the small Langalm lakes |
| Langalm → Forcella Col di Mezzo → Auronzo | ~1 h | Up to a saddle and back down to the car park along the west face |
In total about 10 km and 3.5–4 hours with photo stops, no technical sections. Footwear: proper trail shoes or boots — the path is rocky in places. Short version: walk to Forcella Lavaredo and back the same way — 1.5–2 hours, and you still get the main view.
When to go and what time of day
Season runs from late June to early October: huts are open and the trail is free of snow. In June snowfields still linger on the passes; in October some huts close, but the air is often the clearest of the year. Month by month: best time to visit the Dolomites.
Time of day matters most. By 10 am the car park is full and the trail gets busy. Two good windows:
- Sunrise. Empty, cool, soft light over the valleys. You need to be at the barrier before the road opens, or sleep up top.
- Evening. After 4 pm the buses leave and the sunset turns the peaks orange. Plan your descent before dark.
Staying in a hut
The strongest experience is to stay up there. A night at Rifugio Locatelli or Rifugio Auronzo gives you sunset and sunrise by the peaks without a single bus, and at night the Milky Way rises above the walls. Locatelli beds for July and August go months ahead — book as soon as the season opens. It is usually half board in shared rooms, with limited water and showers; bring a sleeping-bag liner.
Good to know
- Weather. Summer afternoons often bring thunderstorms. Start early and leave the passes at the first thunder.
- Altitude. 2,300–2,450 m — altitude sickness is rare, but the sun is strong: sunscreen, sunglasses, a cap.
- Drones. Tre Cime is inside a nature park; flying without a permit is forbidden.
- Food. Every hut on the loop has a kitchen — canederli, polenta and strudel, no need to carry lunch. Cash is useful.
- Nearby. Lake Misurina and little Lake Antorno on the way up, and Lago di Braies about an hour away — easy to combine in one day.
FAQ
How long is the Tre Cime loop?
The full loop from Rifugio Auronzo is about 10 km and takes 3.5–4 hours at an easy pace with stops.
Is it suitable for beginners and kids?
Yes. About 400 m of ascent and no technical sections. Kids who already hike 3–4 hours in the mountains do the loop comfortably.
Can I do it without a car?
Yes — in summer seasonal buses run from Cortina and Dobbiaco to Rifugio Auronzo. Or hike up from Val Fiscalina.
Season, budget, packing, safety and photo tips — one printable page. Get it by email.