Tre Cime di Lavaredo Loop Trail
The Tre Cime di Lavaredo — three colossal limestone pinnacles soaring above 2,900 metres — are arguably the most photographed mountains in the entire Alps, and walking the classic four-hour loop around their base is an experience that stays with you for life. The trail is accessible from the Rifugio Auronzo road and requires no technical climbing skills, just good boots and clear skies.
The Classic Circular Route
The 9.5-kilometre loop begins at Rifugio Auronzo (2,320 m) and circles all three peaks counterclockwise, passing Rifugio Lavaredo and the beautifully positioned Rifugio Locatelli, where the north faces of the Cime loom almost directly overhead.
The north-face section of the trail is the most dramatic — the sheer 500-metre walls are pitted with World War One fortifications and the scale is genuinely humbling, especially when you spot climbers on the vertical rock above you.
History Carved in Stone
The Tre Cime area formed part of the front line between Italy and Austria-Hungary during WWI, and the surrounding plateau is riddled with tunnels, trenches and gun emplacements that you can explore on short detours from the main path.
Rifugio Locatelli houses a small but fascinating display of wartime artefacts recovered from the glaciers and scree slopes, giving the walk an unexpected historical depth beyond its natural spectacle.
Getting There from Cortina
From Cortina, drive or take the summer shuttle bus northeast through the Misurina lake village and up the toll road (around €30 per car) to Rifugio Auronzo — the journey takes about 45 minutes.
Start walking by 7 a.m. in peak summer to have the trail largely to yourself; by 10 a.m. the path can feel uncomfortably busy, and afternoon thunderstorms are common in July and August.
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