The three great rock towers of the Tre Cime di Lavaredo are the most famous mountain silhouette in the Dolomites. The classic shot is from the Rifugio Locatelli on the far side, with the trio glowing red at sunrise or sunset.
The Tre Cime di Lavaredo (Drei Zinnen), three colossal parallel rock towers in the Sesto Dolomites on the northern edge of South Tyrol, form the most famous and most photographed mountain silhouette in the entire range. The defining image is the trio of sheer towers, the Cima Grande flanked by the Cima Ovest and Cima Piccola, seen from the north so their vertical walls line up dramatically, most classically with the Rifugio Locatelli (Dreizinnenhütte) and the small Laghi dei Piani tarns in the foreground. Reaching this viewpoint requires a hike: most photographers drive the toll road to the Rifugio Auronzo car park, then walk the well-trodden trail of about an hour and a half around the south side to the Locatelli hut, from where the north faces reveal themselves. Because those north faces catch warm light at both ends of the day, the towers glow red and orange with the enrosadira alpenglow at sunrise and again at sunset, when the rest of the scene falls into cool shadow, and these are the prime windows; the full loop around the Tre Cime, around 10 kilometres, also offers strong compositions from several angles. A wide-angle lens takes in all three towers with the rifugio or tarns as foreground, while a tripod is essential for the low-light golden-hour and blue-hour frames. The toll road and car park carry a fee, and to be in position for sunrise or sunset many photographers either start in the dark with head torches or stay overnight at one of the mountain huts, which also allows the magical light without a night descent. The area sits above 2,300 metres and the weather changes fast, so warm layers, sturdy boots and a check of the forecast are essential, and afternoon storms are common in summer. The season runs from roughly late June, once the snow clears, to October; the toll road closes in winter, when the peaks are reached only by ski tour or snowshoe. For the strongest image, be at Locatelli for first light, frame the three towers above the tarns, and capture the moment the alpenglow ignites the north faces.
Shooting notes
- Equipment
- Wide-angle for the three peaks and rifugio; tripod for low light
Location
Tre Cime di Lavaredo / Drei Zinnen, Auronzo / Dobbiaco, 39034 (BZ), Italy
46.6181, 12.3056 View on map
Highlights
- Three sheer parallel towers, the Dolomites' defining silhouette
- Rifugio Locatelli and the Laghi dei Piani tarns as foreground
- Enrosadira alpenglow on the north faces at sunrise and sunset
- Strong compositions all around the 10 km loop trail
Tips for visiting
- Hike from the Auronzo toll road to Rifugio Locatelli for the iconic north-face view
- the peaks catch alpenglow best at sunrise from the north side
When to visit
Hike to Rifugio Locatelli for sunrise or sunset between late June and October; the north faces ignite with alpenglow, and staying at a rifugio lets you work the light without a night descent.
Accessibility
Reaching the iconic Locatelli viewpoint requires a mountain hike of around an hour and a half each way over uneven alpine terrain above 2,300 metres, so it is not accessible to those with mobility limits. The toll road reaches the Auronzo car park, which offers more distant views.
Frequently asked questions
How do photographers reach the classic Tre Cime view?
By driving the toll road to the Rifugio Auronzo car park, then hiking about an hour and a half around to the Rifugio Locatelli, from where the three north faces line up dramatically.
When do the peaks glow?
At sunrise and sunset, when the north faces seen from Locatelli catch the warm enrosadira alpenglow and turn red and orange while the rest of the scene sits in cool shadow.
How can I shoot sunrise or sunset there?
Either start the hike in the dark with a head torch, or stay overnight at one of the mountain rifugi near the viewpoint, which avoids a night descent and puts you in position for the best light.
When is the area accessible?
Roughly late June to October, once the snow clears; the toll road closes in winter, when the peaks are reached only by ski tour or snowshoe. The area is high, so warm layers and boots are essential.