Tre Cime di Lavaredo Loop

The Tre Cime di Lavaredo loop is the signature day hike of the Dolomites, a roughly 10-kilometre circuit with around 400 metres of climbing that encircles the three vertical limestone monoliths the area is named for, in the Sexten Dolomites on the border of Alto Adige and the Veneto. The walk starts at Rifugio Auronzo at 2,320 metres, reached by the toll road that climbs from Misurina; in 2026 this road requires an advance online reservation and costs around 40 euros for twelve hours for a car, with a summer shuttle bus from Dobbiaco as an alternative for those without a car. From the refuge the path traverses below the towers' south faces to Rifugio Lavaredo, climbs gently to the Forcella Lavaredo saddle, and reaches the celebrated Rifugio Locatelli (Dreizinnenhütte), which frames the famous head-on view of the three peaks. The terrain is straightforward throughout, mostly wide gravel service tracks and clear rocky path well above the treeline, with no scrambling or exposure, which makes it accessible to most reasonably fit walkers and families with older children. Several refuges along the way serve food and drink and offer shelter if the weather turns, a real advantage on an exposed high route where afternoon storms are common. The circuit also passes WWI tunnels and trenches around Monte Paterno, a reminder that this front saw fierce mountain fighting, and the Cadini di Misurina spires provide one of the most photographed viewpoints in the range. Snow can linger on the shaded northern side into early summer, so the comfortable season runs from mid-June to early October. Because the loop is so popular, an early start beats both the crowds and the afternoon cloud, and clockwise walking saves the dramatic Locatelli view for the second half. The return descends back to Rifugio Auronzo to complete the loop. With its combination of accessibility, refuge support and some of the most spectacular rock scenery on earth, the Tre Cime loop is the essential introduction to hiking in the Dolomites.