Tre Cime di Lavaredo
Rising like stone cathedrals from the Sexten Dolomites, the Tre Cime di Lavaredo are arguably the most photographed mountains in the Alps. The classic 9.5 km loop trail circles all three summits and delivers jaw-dropping angles at every turn.
The Classic Loop
Start from Rifugio Auronzo (2,320 m), reached by a toll road from Misurina, and head anti-clockwise so the north faces — the steepest, most dramatic walls — greet you early in the hike. The path is well-marked and largely flat, making it accessible even for casual walkers with sturdy shoes.
At the Rifugio Lavaredo saddle, pause to look back: the three towers of Cima Grande (2,999 m), Cima Ovest and Cima Piccola line up like a geological triptych that no camera filter can improve. Early morning light turns the limestone a molten amber that photographers chase from across Europe.
Beyond the Loop
A short detour up to Forcella Col di Mezzo adds a bird's-eye perspective that most day-trippers skip entirely, rewarding you with a panorama stretching into Austria on clear days. The rocky path takes roughly 20 extra minutes and the solitude up there is startling given the crowds below.
Overnight at Rifugio Locatelli (2,405 m) to catch the peaks at sunset and sunrise when the tour buses are long gone. The hut serves hearty Südtirol staples — speck, Graukäse and barley soup — and the star-gazing at this altitude is extraordinary.
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