Tre Cime di Lavaredo loop is an excellent day hike in the Dolomites with stunning views of jagged limestone peaks, top-quality rifugios and awesome photo opportunities. Here’s everything you need to know.
By: Paul Healy | Last Updated: | Jump to Comments
In the southeast corner of the Alps, the Dolomites are a spectacular landscape with jagged peaks, vertiginous slopes, and high alpine meadows.
Tre Cime di Lavaredo is a day hike that circles 3 impressive peaks; in our opinion, it’s the best of the best. Although it’s busy, we believe this hike is unbeatable in the area.
The scenery is mesmerising, and the hike is achievable, but it is still a challenge.
The path is easy to follow, so it’s a great hike for inexperienced hikers who want spectacular views.
As of the 2025 summer season, you need to book parking online in advance to visit Tre Cime. We have updated this guide with all the necessary information below.

SUMMARY
DISTANCE
10.3-kilometre round trip
TIME
3 hours, 20 minutes
ELEVATION
400 metres (+/-)
DIFFICULTY
Easy to Medium
TRE CIME OVERVIEW
WHAT IS THE TRE CIME DI LAVAREDO HIKE?
The Tre Cime di Lavaredo hike is a trail in the Italian Dolomites that circles three iconic peaks: Cima Piccola, Cima Grande, and Cima Ovest, collectively known as Tre Cime di Lavaredo or Three Peaks of Lavaredo.
It’s one of the most popular hikes in the Dolomites and typically takes around 3.5 hours to complete.
Throughout the hike, you are rewarded with panoramic views of dramatic cliffs, rugged valleys, and serene alpine lakes.

WHAT’S IT LIKE?
From the beginning of the trail, a series of jagged peaks loom over the horizon, resembling a crumbling forest of rocky skyscrapers.
The play of light on the immense sandstone monoliths of Tre Cime di Lavaredo fills the scene with an enchanting glow.
The trail gently dropped below the Croda Passaporto and Monte Paterno summits to Rifugio Locatelli (Dreizinnenhütte), strategically positioned in front of the three towers.
After passing Rifugio Locatelli, the trail descends briefly, then ascends again, guiding you along a narrow rocky ledge.
On one side, a steep drop reveals sweeping panoramic views of the surrounding landscape, while on the other side, the path clings closely to the base of the three towers.
The trail eventually rises to Forcella Col di Mezzo Ridge where a verdant meadow transforms the hike into an idyllic alpine scene.



TRAIL CONDITIONS AT TRE CIME
From the Rifugio Auronzo car park, the trail can be completed in either direction, but we recommend walking anti-clockwise, keeping Tre Cime di Lavaredo on your left. The views are better.
The path around Tre Cime is straightforward, although rocky in places, and easy to follow.
Several different trails traverse the area, so pay attention to the signs to ensure you stay on the correct path. Our detailed route description is below.
The Tre Cime towers should always be on your left-hand side so it will quickly become clear if you go wrong.
The 10.3-kilometre loop has 400 metres of ascent/descent and a nice mix of up and downhill sections. There are no particularly tricky places, and no special equipment is needed.
The most challenging section is the drop from Rifugio Locatelli down the valley and back up the other side. But it is not too difficult, and anyone with a reasonable fitness level should have no problem.
If you need a rest, there are many great rifugios in which to recharge.



TRE CIME DI LAVAREDO TRAIL ROUTE
The trail begins at the car park at Rifugio Auronzo.
Follow the wide gravel track (path 101) that starts from the car park and heads east past the rifugio. Keep the three towers on the left.
The path gently descends to a wayside chapel and then to Rifugio Lavaredo.
A number of paths meet here, but turn left and remain on path 101 to ascend to the Forcella Lavaredo ridge for a great view. Keep following the wide track (101) as it drops down the other side, passing under the peaks of Croda Passaporto and Monte Paterno.
Then, continue on the short climb up to Rifugio Locatelli (Dreizinnenhütte).
Leaving Rifugio Locatelli – via the church tucked behind it – take path 102 which makes a small clockwise loop before zigzagging down the rocky valley. This is the steepest and hardest part of the walk, but it’s not too difficult.
Upon reaching a junction of trails, take path 105, heading southwest, rising up the other side of the valley, past Malaga Langalm and up to Forcella Col di Mezzo ridge.
Follow path 105 as it bends around Tre Cime and drops gently back to the car park.
The paths are well-signposted and clearly shown on Google Maps.
HIKE DISTANCES
RIFUGIO AURONZO TO RIFUGIOO LAVAREDO
30 minutes | 1.7km
RIFUGIOO LAVAREDO TO FORCELLA LAVAREDO
15 minutes | 0.6km
FORCELLA LAVAREDO TO RIFUGIO LOCATELLI
45 minutes | 2.2km
RIFUGIO LOCATELLI TO MALGA LANGALM
1 hour | 3.2km
MALGA LANGALM TO RIFUGIOO AURONZO
1 hour | 3.2km


HIKE MAP
Although the paths are well marked and clear, it’s a long walk, and the clouds can come in quickly, so take a map.
A handy book to take with you is Shorter Walks in the Dolomites, which has good maps and details of Tre Cime and other great walks in the area.
USING OUR MAPS. Click on the top right corner to open in the Google Maps app. Click on the star to save to your Google account.
WHEN TO HIKE TRE CIME DI LAVAREDO?
The best time to hike the Tre Cime loop is late July or early September.
Any snow will have gone, the crowds will be a bit lower, and the cable cars and rifugios in the region will still be running.
Generally, the hiking season in the Dolomites roughly runs from late May to early October, depending on the weather conditions and the height of the walks you want to undertake.
The best weather is in the summer months, but August is also the busiest time,e and this is a popular walk.
Many cable cars and rifugios in the Dolomites only open from mid-June to the end of September, with only a few remaining open until early October.
The views at Tre Cime are great at all times of the day, but make sure you leave early enough so you don’t have to rush, and in peak season, it will help you beat the crowds.


GETTING TO THE TRAIL HEAD AT RIFUGIO AURONZO
The Tre Cime di Lavaredo hike begins from Rifugio Auronzo (2320 metres), which is 23 kilometres from Cortina d’Ampezzo (40 minutes drive) and 23 kilometres from Dobbiaco (35 minutes drive).
RIFUGIO AURONZO PARKING
Access to the car park at Rifugio Auronzo is via the 7-kilometre (very scenic) paved toll road that leaves the SP49 near Misurina, northeast of Cortina.
The toll gate is just past Lago d’Antorno.
There have been some changes to parking at Rifugio Auronzo and you now need to book and pay for your parking online in advance. Here is the key information:
- Parking is €40 per car, per day (€26 for motorcycles; €60 campervans).
- You need to book online here and register an account.
- You can cancel with no cost up to 5 days before your selected date.
- You need to provide a car registration, which you can update 1 day before you arrive. (Please note: you can only change the car registration once).
- The permit is for 12 hours.
- The permit is for a single entry only.

RIFUGIO AURONZO BY BUS
Cortina to Rifugio Auronzo — To get to the car park at Rifugio Auronzo from Cortina, you have a choice of taking the 445 and changing onto the 444 or the 030 and changing onto the 031. Both routes take about 90 minutes.
Dobbiaco to Rifugio Auronzo — Alternatively, if you are coming from Dobbiaco, there is a shuttle bus (444) which runs regularly from June to mid-October. It takes 45 minutes.
Booking Bus Tickets — Bus trips must be booked in advance if you are visiting between 10 July and 10 September. All other times, tickets can be purchased on the bus.

WHERE TO STAY
The best place to stay to do the Tre Cime di Lavaredo hike is Cortina, which is 23 kilometres from Rifugio Auronzo. It’s a charming town with a good range of facilities and public transport connections.
The other option is to stay in Dobbiaco which has a little less going on than Cortina, but it does have a more direct shuttle bus to the trailhead at Rifugio Auronzo.
- Al Larin Hotel (Cortina) – A Simple but clean budget hotel just one mile north of Cortina.
- Hotel de Len (Cortina) – Rural contemporary hotel with a minimalist design and strong sustainability credentials. There’s a wellness centre and excellent restaurants.
- Hotel Rosengarten (Dobbiaco) – Family-run property in the centre of Dobbiaco with a traditional restaurant and excellent views.

GETTING TO THE DOLOMITES
The Dolomites is a large mountain range in northeastern Italy. As a popular location for both skiing and summer hiking, there are plenty of good options for getting to the Dolomites.
BY AIR
Several international airports serve the Dolomites. Venice and Innsbruck are closest to Cortina.
BY TRAIN
Unless you are already in Italy, getting to the Dolomites via train is unlikely to be a good option. However, if you are arriving from within Italy, the train station at Calalzo di Cadore is 35 kilometres to the south of Cortina.
Read our complete guide to visiting the Italian Dolomites for further information about getting to and around the area.

WHAT TO TAKE ON THE HIKE
01 – The Tre Cime di Lavaredo loop is a medium-length walk and the path is sometimes rocky, so decent hiking boots are best. We use something like these. Hiking poles can also help to bypass some of the strain from your legs to your arms.
02 – The hike is well-marked and straightforward, but if you’re anything like us, a physical map is nice to have. The one you need for Tre Cime is the Cortina Tobacco Map.
03 – There are plenty of refreshments on the route in the well-placed rifugios which all sell food and drink, but we recommend lunch at Rifugio Locatelli.
04 – Weather conditions on the walk can change dramatically. Always take a waterproof and some warm clothes. Every 1,000m you rise the temperature drops about 5 degrees and if the clouds come over and the wind picks up it can get cold quickly. Similarly, clouds can clear quickly. Even if it looks overcast before you set off, the sun could be shining in no time. So pack a hat and/or sunscreen.
05 – If you want to up your photography game, we highly recommend investing in good-quality ND Filters, they’ll really make your images pop. To use the filters, you’ll need a decent tripod, the Ultralight SIrui is the best we’ve come across.

MORE DOLOMITES GUIDES
- Here are all our favourite places to visit in the Dolomites.
- Put your trip together with our Dolomites road trip itinerary.
- Hike to the beautiful Lago di Sorapis.
- Try one of our favourite hikes in the Dolomites.
- The Sassolungo Circuit is one of our favourite walks in the world.
- Take on one of the most popular hikes in the Dolomites – Tre Cime di Lavaredo.
- Visit the beautiful Lago di Braies.

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Thanks for your support. Paul & Mark
Poor Mark! There should be laws against not having spare tyres in rental cars!
What do you mean poor Mark? I was stranded there too! Yes I know, they should have spare tyres and those foam things are an embarrassing waste of time.
My hubby says he’s going to have ‘there’s plenty of room on my side’ put on my gravestone – it seems we are from the same camp Mark and I! I am so glad I stumbled across you this evenign as we are off to the Dolomites in 5 weeks so I’m saving your posts for later.
I’m actually jealous you’re off to the Dolomites. We were just saying the other day that another dose of the Dolomites is needed soon. Seriously, our favourite place for an alpine hiking trip. Let us know if you have any questions.
You can’t go there before 8.00 am? I read people getting there earlier? I wanted to be there around 7.00 am?
Hi Joelle – the toll gate and entrance to the main car park opens at 8 am. You can walk up from the small car park at Lago d’Antorno but it takes around 90 minutes to get to the start of the hike from there.
Oh I am sorry that you had a little car mishap and had to wait for 6 hours for someone to help you! But glad that you finally found a friendly Italian chap who took you to his home and fed you 🙂 Italian Dolomites look so amazing, I’ve always wanted to go there. You seemed to have found the perfect spot with breathtaking views! I’d love to hike around, and the routes you’ve suggested aren’t too long and don’t sound too tough either!
Hiking in the Dolomites is amazing! The views and incredible and most of the hikes are not too long. Plus there are excellent huts all the way around serving tasty pasta. What more could you ask for? Thanks for stopping by Medha!
Wow, these impressions! Such amazing shots that you made there, very well done. I always planned to visit the Dolomites since I live in Switzerland since couple of years but now I even feel urgently to make a hike in this landscape. Such a pity to hear that with the tyre, but yeah – unfortunately such things happen, waiting for 6 hours must have been very exhausting.
Yes things do happen, all part of the joys of travelling. Thanks for the nice comments and yes, we highly recommend the Dolomites, its a fantastic area for hiking.
Oh no! it sucks you got a flat tire!
But it seems you handled it well.. good thing you know how to fix a flat tire!
I wouldn’t even know what to do with myself!!! The Austrian man would’ve had to come and change it for me for sure!!
your experience with him on the phone.. I too have felt this way traveling far to many times!
Glad everything got sorted out in the end.. and it makes for a great story too!
Thanks for sharing!
– Paige xx
Yes it did suck! But, the joys of travelling hey! Those views made it all worthwhile!
Dolomites look so amazing, I would live to visit but never tried hiking personally. It’s seems to have started well apart from the car mishap and a long wait. The plane you had luck is amazing and great views. Must say I would live to try it some and and the post is inspirational. Thanks for sharing it
Thanks very much, glad you like it. The Dolomites are indeed amazing.
Well, travel is always an adventure and you did get a good story out of it! Those photos are gorgeous, and if you have to wait around to get help, at least you had some beautiful scenery to look at!
Exactly, I could think of worse places to be stuck waiting for help to arrive. Anything for a good story!
First things first ! The pictures are just fantabulous, and you have literally captured the essence of the place. Sorry to hear about your misadventure, but have been through such kind of misadventures many a times, and no matter how careful you are, misadventures still do happen.
Agreed they do! And sometimes it makes you appreciate things even more. Plus a good story is always good. Thanks for your comments about the photos, it’s a very photogenic place!
Hiking along the limestone peaks at Italy’s Dolomites must be a beautiful experience. Though you had a flat tire and wasted 6 hours waiting for help but then also the beauty of the surroundings and that hiking experience must be a memorable one. Having Lunch at Rifugio Locatelli (Dreizinnenhütte) with splendid views must be another great thing to do there.
Hiking in the Dolomites is an amazing experience, flat tyre or no flat tyre. Thanks for stopping by Yukti.
OMG! That is disastrous! I can’t much relate to this as I don’t do much road trips! Coming from a country that drives in the other side of the road, I’m comfortable ‘not driving’, esp in a foreign country, that too when I don’t know the language.
That said, the views are indeed splendid.
Yes, the views are incredible. We also come from a country where we drive on the other side of the road! But, it’s not too bad, you’ll find you adjust very quickly.
Are these photos in March? We are wondering whether it is hikeable at that time of year.
Hi Rachel, These photos were taken in June. I think March would be a bit too early for Tre Cime, you’d need to check the conditions before you go to make sure the paths are open.
Hiking through the best walks in Italy’s Dolomites give you an exceptional experience and instantly fills up your modd with joy and adventure. Though getting a flat tire could have spoiled your whole vacation, your love for nature kept it going seemlessly.
Hi Mark and Paul!
Extremely nice and helpful post you guys have here! Your photos are also amazing! I was just wondering if the same trail would be open in mid November? It seems like everyone finishes their hikes by Sept and I’m starting to worry that we’ve chosen the wrong time to visit Dolomiti! Would appreciate any information you guys might have! Thank you!!
Hi Amanda,
Thanks very much, glad you liked the post. It really depends on the weather. I’m pretty sure the trail stays open, however, if there has been snow it might be difficult to do the hike. Most of the rifugios stay open until the end of November, so it really will just depend on the weather when you are there.
Paul.
Thank you Paul! In that case we shall keep our fingers crossed! ? looking forward to see more adventures from you guys!
Probably the best strategy! Have a great time, Amanda.
Great story!
Thanks Kevin.