Full Guide: Hike to Lago Di Sorapis in the Dolomites

Hidden in the mountain peaks of the Italian Dolomites, you find the beautiful turquoise mountain lake of Lago di Sorapis. The crystal clear blue waters and towering cliffs create a breathtaking sight that you have to see with your own eyes to believe it is real. It is not without reason that it is known as one of the most beautiful lakes in the Dolomites. If you love adventure and natural beauty, hiking to Lago di Sorapis should be on top of your to do list. In this blog post, we tell you everything you need to know about the Lago di Sorapis hike.
46° 30′ N, 12° 13′ E​

Overview

Lago di Sorapis hike overview

General information

Lago di Sorapis or Lake Sorapis is a magnificent mountain lake at an altitude of 1925 meters above sea level. It’s a beautiful turquoise lake surrounded by sharp limestone peaks. The only way to get to Lago di Sorapis is to hike (and probably by helicopter as there is a helicopter platform). The hiking trail is about 6 km one way (so 12 km in total). It takes around 1,5 to 2 hours to reach the lake, making it the perfect day hike in the Dolomites.

If you’re still doubting if you should do this tough hike only to see the lake, we can assure you: that the hike is as impressive as the lake itself. You can make it a loop hike or you can hike back the same way as you got there. It’s quite a rocky hike with a few narrow ledges, metal stairways, and some slippery parts with cables to hold on yourself, but it’s perfectly achievable if you’re not afraid of heights. Besides that, you get those insane Dolomites views the whole way up.  

Sarah standing on a rock in the low blue water of Lago di Sorapis with a dramatic mountain peak in the background
Lago di Sorapis

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Lago di Sorapis guide

Lago di Sorapis Hike

The Lago di Sorapis trailhead starts on a gravel pine tree-lined path behind a barrier. The path to the lake is generally quite clear. There are a few intersections where you just have to keep following trail no. 215 to Rifugio Vandelli. The first part of the hike is really easy. After walking a while between the trees, you see more and more mountain peaks appearing between the treetops.

A gravel path leading into a pine tree forest in the background, which is the starting point of the hike to Lago di Sorapis
Starting point of the hike
The mountain trail in the forest to Lago di Sorapis
During the hike to Lago di Sorapis

At a certain point, you come across a big ‘river’ of white stones. Here, you have to stay left and cross the ‘river’ of white stones instead of going right and going up. This is the only point of the trail where we got wrong, just because we kept on following other hikers, instead of looking for the trail ourselves.

After a while, the forest path changes into a mountain path along the mountainside. This is where you start getting insane views over the Dolomites area but it also gets more tricky. The further you go, the more the path turns into a narrow ledge with a few small wooden bridges, cables to hold on to, rocks to climb over, and metal stairways. Finally, you turn right around the corner of the mountain. From here, it is straight on through the trees, over the roots, and over more rocks. After a while, you see Lago di Sorapis appear between the bushes. Sit back and take your time to enjoy this beautiful place and walk to the other side of the lake to get another point of view. 

Sarah hiking on a small trail on the mountain side on the way to Lago di Sorapis
Hiking to Lago di Sorapis
Metal stairs on the rocks to Lago di Sorapis
Stairs during the hike

We went back the same way we came, but you can also make it a loop hike. To do so, you continue to follow trail no. 217 along one of the most rugged and vertiginous mountain passes in the area. We haven’t done this trial yet but we’ve heard it’s quite hard. There would be some tricky sections and it would require scrambling on feet and hands in some places.

Views on the mountain peaks with a big pine tree forest in front during the Lago di Sorapis hike
Amazing view during the Lago di Sorapis hike

Best time to hike

Lago di Sorapis hiking season runs from the end of May to October. In summer you get the best weather but it can also get very crowded. Towards the end of summer, there is a chance that the water level will be very low as you can see in our pictures. So when weather permits, we recommend you go there in late spring or early summer when it’s less crowded.

It can get busy along the way especially at the lake so we recommend you to start hiking to Lago di Sorapis early in the morning and avoid weekends. This way you’ll avoid crowds and parking problems. It is better not to start walking between 8:30 AM and 3:00 PM because it will be too busy on the path.

Sarah standing on a rock in the low blue water of Lago di Sorapis with a dramatic mountain peak in the background
The water level of Lago di Sorapis in October
Sarah sitting on a rock in front of the blue water of Lago di Sorapis with dramatic mountain peaks in the background
Lago di Sorapis in September

How to get there

The Lago di Sorapis hike starts at Passo Tre Croci, where you can park your car. Here, you will see a barrier where a gravel pine tree-lined path begins. This is where you the hike to Lago di Sorapis. You can find the starting point on Google Maps here.

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Where to stay

There are two accommodations located right next to the trailhead of the Lago di Sorapis hike: B&B Hotel Passo Tre Croci Cortina and Una Perla a Cortina (apartments). 

However, we believe that the best place to stay to hike to Lago di Sorapis is Cortina d’Ampezzo. This charming but popular town is located 15 minutes away from Passo Tre Croc, where the hike begins. From Cortina, you can also explore other popular spots and hikes in the Dolomites such as Tre Cime di Lavaredo in Lago di Braies.

Hotels in Cortina d'Ampezzo

Discover the best places to sleep in Cortina d’Ampezzo and enjoy a comfortable night.

Tips and Safety

  • Lago di Sorapis is a very popular destination among tourists, so it will probably not surprise you that it can get very busy here. If you want to avoid the big crowds, we recommend you hike to Lago di Sorapis early in the morning.
  • Swimming in Lago di Sorapis is absolutely not allowed. This disrupts the lake’s ecosystem and causes it to lose its beautiful blue color. It is also better not to throw stones into the water.

Important hiking tips!

Wear proper hiking shoes as you have to hike up some slippery parts and rocks.
There are no facilities along the way, so bring enough food and water with you.
Sun protection is a must on sunny days, as you have to walk the whole hike without shelter.
The weather in the mountains can change quickly. Always check the weather forecast before you start hiking.
Leave nothing but footprints. Please don't litter, not along the trail, nor somewhere else.

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Last updated: August 10, 2024

Win-Win for everyone

Did you know that, if you buy or book something through our links, we receive a small commission?

However, you still pay the same and therefore have no extra costs! So a win-win for everyone. This way, we can continue to add even more travel inspiration and tips to this blog for your next adventure. Thanks a lot!

Last edited: 25/07/2023

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