Tre Cime di Lavaredo

Tre Cime di Lavaredo, also known as the Three Peaks of Lavaredo, is one of the most iconic landmarks in the Dolomites, Italy. These three massive rock formations are recognized worldwide for their unique beauty and dramatic presence. Located in the northern part of the Dolomites, they rise to elevations of about 2,999 meters (9,839 feet) and are part of the UNESCO World Heritage site. The peaks—Cima Grande, Cima Ovest, and Cima Piccola—draw visitors from all over the world, particularly hikers, climbers, and nature lovers.

Tre Cime has a rich history, both geological and cultural. The peaks were formed around 230 million years ago, with layers of dolomitic limestone giving them their striking, pale color. The area around Tre Cime was a battleground during World War I, and remnants of trenches, tunnels, and fortifications are still visible today. This historical aspect adds a unique dimension to any visit, as you can hike through areas where soldiers once fought.

Visiting Tre Cime di Lavaredo is a must for hikers and outdoor enthusiasts due to its unparalleled beauty and accessibility. The views from the base of the peaks are breathtaking, with the jagged rock formations rising dramatically from the alpine meadows below. During the summer months, the area comes alive with lush greenery and wildflowers, providing a perfect contrast to the rocky backdrop. The hike around Tre Cime offers panoramic views of the surrounding Dolomites and is relatively accessible to hikers of varying skill levels.

As for me, I visited in August where I spent 4 days hiking various parts of the Dolomites.

Hiking Options

One of the most popular hikes in the Dolomites is the Tre Cime Circuit (Covered in this article) — a loop trail that circumnavigates the three peaks. This trail is about 10 kilometers (6.2 miles) long and takes approximately 5-6 hours to complete, depending on your pace and stops for photos. The trail is well-marked and relatively moderate in difficulty, making it suitable for hikers of all levels, including families (I saw a few fathers hiking with their toddler resting in carrier-like bags).

Via Ferrata at Tre Cime

For more adventurous visitors, Tre Cime offers the opportunity to conquer its peaks via a via ferrata—a protected climbing route that combines hiking with rock climbing. The Via Ferrata Innerkofler, named after the famous Austrian alpinist Sepp Innerkofler, is one of the most well-known routes in the area. This via ferrata begins near Rifugio Locatelli and takes climbers through tunnels and along ledges, offering spectacular views and an adrenaline-pumping adventure.

Via ferratas are equipped with steel cables, ladders, and iron rungs fixed into the rock, providing a safe way for climbers to navigate steep and exposed sections. It’s important to have the proper gear, including a helmet, harness, and via ferrata set with carabiners. While some experience is recommended, guides are available for hire to assist less-experienced climbers on these routes. Completing a via ferrata is a thrilling way to experience the Dolomites' rugged terrain and towering cliffs up close.

Getting There

Tre Cime can be easily accessed by car or bus from nearby towns like Cortina d’Ampezzo and Misurina. Rifugio Auronzo, the starting point for the Tre Cime Circuit, is accessible via a toll road from Misurina, although the hefty toll is approximately €30 for cars. For those without a car, shuttle buses run from Misurina to Rifugio Auronzo during the summer season.

Hikers can also reach Tre Cime from Dobbiaco (Toblach) by taking public transport to Lago di Misurina and then continuing by shuttle or on foot. The Dolomites' well-connected trail system allows for flexibility in planning your journey. As for me, I parked at Lake Antorno (2km away from Lake Misurina) the day before and made a 2 hour hike up to Rifugio Auronzo.

The Hike

The Tre Cime loop typically starts from Rifugio Auronzo, and offers incredible views of the surrounding mountains, valleys, and other Dolomites peaks.

Towards Rifugio Locatelli

Along the trail, you’ll encounter several mountain huts, or rifugios, where you can stop for refreshments and take in the stunning views. Rifugio Lavaredo and Rifugio Locatelli are two popular stops along the way. The route also provides glimpses of World War I relics, including trenches and tunnels that add a layer of historical intrigue to the hike.

The loop is typically taken in an anti-clockwise direction, so you'll head off towards the west direction first. The trail begins flat along the base of Tre Cime with great views all around. On google maps, this portion of the trail is labelled as "Sentiero Rifugio Auronzo-Rifugio Lavaredo (bl)".

Along this portion of the trail, you can already get some shots of Tre Cime upclose if the weather is good and views are unobstructed.

Continue along the path to reach Rifugio Lavaredo. If you'd like, you can stop to rest or snap a few photos, else continue along north with some elevation gain towards Forcella Lavaredo. From here, you can get great views of the landscape towards the northwest.

Proceed north along Drei Zinnen Blick. The stretch has many opportunities for nice photos so snap away.

The path leads to Rifugio Locatelli where you get a great view of Laghi dei Piani - Spend some time to soak in the great views there.

Rifugio Locatelli

I spent around an hour here to recharge and munch on a few pre-prepped sandwiches. It was also a pleasant surprise to see birds (I'm not sure what kind) all the way at this altitude.

This spot branches off to many parts of the Dolomites, but for the Tre Cime circuit, this marks the u-turn point. Head back south west and descend down the trail to get nice views of the landscape and Tre Cime rock face from the other side.

Some mountain cows were also spotted chilling along the way -

Descend until you reach a level plain, then continue on the path towards a visible uphill. Get in some elevation gain once again and you're back along the outline of the Tre Cime mountain.

Once you're back up, look back and be amazed at how far you've covered from Rifugio Locatelli!

After the uphill, you can take the chance to rest and admire the views of other Dolomite ranges ahead.

Continue along the trail to reach Forcella del Col de Mezzo with great unobstructed views of Tre Cime and is probably the best distance you can be to get great pictures. The skies cleared up just in time for us to get a great shot of Tre Cime:

Back to Rifugio Auronzo

Continue along the trail and take more photos to get some shots of Tre Cime from different angles. There will be a small lake (labelled on google maps as Sorgenti Fiume Rienza Rizenquelle) which comes shortly after Malga Langlam cabin. The lake has a nice turquoise tone to it which adds some vibrancy if you take some shots here.

Continue along trail and will lead you to some parts which are rather exposed - Admire the scenery but take some caution while doing so.

The path continues east back towards Rifugio Auronzo with great views of the Dolomites range ahead

Eventually, you will make it back to the Rifugio Auronzo carpark and that concludes the Tre Cime Circuit! It was time to take a quick drive over to Cortina d'Ampezzo where I will be taking a quick hike to the scenic Croda da Lago (Lago Federa).