Overview
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Tre Cime di Lavaredo Loop Hike
To have the full experience of everything the Tre Cime area has to offer, you can do the Tre Cime di Lavaredo Loop hike. It is a long but easy hike with breathtaking views the entire way. The whole loop is about 10,3 kilometers with an elevation of approximately 400 meters. It takes around 3 to 4 hours to complete this hike. There are a few short and steep inclines but in general it is quite an easy walk. You’ll be rewarded with some of the most beautiful views in the Tre Cime national park. You can do this hike in both directions as it is a loop hike. We recommend you going counter clockwise as it will give you the best views.
About the hike
This trail starts at Rifugio Auronzo, but you can start the hike just from the parking lot. When facing the three peaks, you walk to the left side of the parking lot where you can see the path begins. You follow this path, keeping the three peaks on your right side. When you pass the Forcella la Col di Mezzo, you turn right at the junction, following path 105 in the direction of Rif. Locatelli. After a few hundred meters, the path becomes a bit rougher. Then the path will start to descend strongly until you reach the lowest point. This is where the toughest part of the walk begins. In a fairly short distance, you have to ascend about 250m until you arrive at Rifugio Locatelli, where you can rest for a while. Only a few hundred meters away from this rifugio, you find the famous Tre Cime caves, which are remains of the Wold War I.
When you leave Rifugio Locatelli, you continue your way on the wide gravel path back into the direction of three peaks. After a while you reach Rifugio Lavaredo. Here, you find a junction with different paths coming together. Take the right track to complete the loop around Tre Cime and arrive back at Rifugio Auronzo.
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Cadini di Misurina Hike
There’s another, shorter, hike that will reward you with one of the most beautiful views in the Dolomites. On this hike you won’t have views on the Tre Cime but on another mountain range called Cadini di Misurina. This hike is about 4 kilometers in total with an elevation of around 110 meter. It takes around 1,5 to 2 hours to complete this hike. It is a little more tricky than the loop hike as you go over some slippery gravel paths, along some small ridge lines next to a ravine. Especially to reach the little summit you see in the picture, you have to cross a really small ridge. We do not recommend you going there on foggy or rainy days when the trail is slippery. The ridge goes along a deep ravine and it’s not worth taking the risk to slip and slide all the way down, so please be careful!
About the hike
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When to visit Tre Cime di Lavaredo
Looking at the weather conditions the beste time to visit and hike at Tre Cime is from the end of May to October. During the summer months, you’ll get the best weather, but unfortunately also a lot of other hikers, as it is one of the most popular hikes in the Dolomites.
In addition to the weather, you should also keep in mind that most rifugios are only open from mid-June to the end of September. The toll road that leads to Tre Cime is open from end of May until the end of October.
Therefore we recommend you to visit the Tre Cime in June or September as it will be less crowded and rifugios will still be open. Unless you don’t mind the rifugios being closed, you can also go in October if the snow doesn’t come too early. As the hike only gains popularity over the years, we recommend start hiking as early as possible.
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How to get there
By car – To get to Rifugio Auronzo, where you start the hikes, you’ll have to take a 7-kilometer long toll road (€30 for cars, €45 for campers). The toll booth is open from 7am to 7pm. From here you drive along a scenic route up to Rifugio Auronzo.
By foot – If you prefer, you can also hike from Lago D’Antorno up to Tre Cime. It’s quite a tough hike and will take you about 1,5hours.
By bus – During the summer months there are different shuttle busses from Cortina, Dobbiaco or Missurina to Tre Cime di Lavaredo. The prices for a round trip vary between €8 and €16, depending on where you take the bus.
Tip
Stay the night on the parking lot at Rifugio Auronzo, watch the beautiful stars at night and wake up in a breathtaking landscape. Your toll ticket is valid for 24hrs!
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Tips and Safety considerations
Tre Cime di Lavaredo is a very popular destinations 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 to start hiking early in the morning.
Important hiking tips!
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2 Responses
HEY
I liked your view
I wonder weather is it reasonable to do it on 07 APRIL?
If not do you have any other recommendations on APRIL?
Hey
At the beginning of April there can still be snow on the hiking trails and the toll road to the beginning of the hike is closed during the winter months. Usually the hiking season in the Dolomites runs from late May to early October, depending on weather and snow conditions. When the toll road is closed, you can only get to the beginning of the hike by foot and probably only with snowshoes. The road opens at the end of May, depending on the snow and weather conditions. You find more information about this road on this website https://www.south-tirol.com/useful-information/toll-road-auronzo-hut
So we recommend you to go there early June, to be sure the toll road is open and that there is no or not too much snow left.
Enjoy your trip!