Hiking around Cortina d’Ampezzo is like hiking in a massive open-air museum. The Cortina mountains are steeped in history, harboring the relics of the First World War around every corner.
Hailed the Queen of the Dolomites, Cortina d’Ampezzo benefits from an advantageous and impossibly gorgeous location in Ampezzo Valley ringed by the craggy peaks of the Sorapiss, Cristallo, Tofane, and Croda da Lago mountain groups in the Veneto province of Belluno.
Kati and I’ve had the great fortune of hiking in Cortina d’Ampezzo for ten years. Here are my favorite hikes in Cortina, the eternally-reigning Queen of the Dolomites.
- Location: Belluno, Veneto, Northern Italy
- When to Hike: Summer (late June – late September) or Fall (late September – late October)
- Where to Stay in Cortina d’Ampezzo: Hotel Meuble Oasi (2-star), Baita Fraina (3-star), Hotel Villa Alpina (3-star), Ambra Cortina Luxury&Fashion Hotel (4-star, Camina Suite & Spa (4-star), or HOTEL de LËN (4-star)
- Closest Airport: Marco Polo International Airport, Venice, Italy
- Transit to Cortina: Venice Airport – Cortina d’Ampezzo Shuttle
- Trail Map: Tabacco 03 Cortina d’Ampezzo
- Recommended Itineraries: 5-Day Dolomites Road Trip, 7-Day Dolomites Road Trip, and 10-14 Day Dolomites Road Trip
Cortina d’Ampezzo Hiking Map
1. Tofana di Rozes Circuit Trail
Starting at Rifugio Dibona, an exciting hiking trail wraps around Tofana di Rozes (3,244 m) in the Dolomiti D’Ampezzo Natural Park, one of the most recognizable mountains in the Ampezzo Dolomites. The trail initially crosses the southern slopes of Tofana di Rozes and then ascends gently to the Forcella Col dei Bos saddle.
Next, the path continues towards the remote Travenanzes valley and then steeply ascends the rugged Majarié glacial cirque to Rifugio Giussani. From the Giussani mountain refuge, the circular route descends back to Rifugio Dibona along World War 1 paths.
This is a quiet, varied, and absolutely riveting hike in Cortina d’Ampezzo. Please don’t miss it – it’s my personal favorite.
Trailhead | Rifugio Dibona
Distance | 11.9 km circuit
Time Needed | 5:30 hours
Difficulty | Moderately Difficult – Difficult
Trail Guide: Tofana di Rozes Circuit Trail
2. Lago di Sorapis
Lago di Sorapis, nestled in a natural amphitheater of the Sorapiss Group, captivates with its milky-turquoise waters and majestic mountain setting.
The easiest way to get to Lake Sorapis is from the Passo Tre Croci mountain pass, located about halfway between Cortina d’Ampezzo and Lake Misurina.
From Passo Tre Croci, follow trail 215 in the direction of Rifugio Vandelli. After following a wide, level path for about an hour, the trail becomes increasingly steep and narrow. Along the way, there are some exposed sections around a ledge, which are secured with cables and ladders.
Most hikers will return to Passo Tre Croci along the same route. However, there’s an exciting alternative route via the Forcella Marcuoira saddle. This route is best undertaken by experienced alpine hikers, who are confident in steep rocky terrain.
Due to the popularity of Lake Sorapis, it’s best to hike this trail during shoulder-season.
Trailhead | Passo Tre Croci
Distance | 13.2 km circuit
Time Needed | 5:10 hours
Difficulty | Difficult
Learn More: Lago di Sorapis Trail Guide
3. Passo Giau to Monte Mondeval
Mondeval is a bowl-shaped plateau in the Dolomites UNESCO System Pelmo – Croda da Lago. I love hiking across this plateau, because it affords staggering views of the Monte Pelmo, Lastoni di Formin, and Croda da Lago mountains.
Mondeval also harbors many treasures including the archaeological burial site of Mondeval de Sora, the tiny Lago delle Baste lake, and the Monte Mondeval panoramic peak. The Passo Giau-Mondeval lollipop-circuit trail takes you to all the best places atop Mondeval, starting at the strikng Passo Giau mountain pass.
Trailhead | Passo Giau
Distance | 12.8 km lollipop-circuit
Time Needed | 5 hours
Difficulty | Moderate
Trail Guide: Passo Giau to Monte Mondeval
4. Croda da Lago Circuit Trail and Lago Federa
The unmissable circuit trail around the Croda da Lago, a sawtooth-shaped mountain chain, is filled with captivating scenery and varied terrain.
This hike begins at Ponte di Rocurto trailhead along the SP638 road, between Pocol (Cortina d’Ampezzo) and Passo Giau.
Trail 437 ascends through spruce and larch forest to Lago Federa and Rifugio Croda da Lago, one of the best places to experience sunrise, especially in mid-late October. The first light of the day sweeps across the alpine landscape, flushing the golden larches and the solitary spire of Becco di Mezzodi.
The trail continues to Forcella Ambrizzola saddle, the gateway to the sprawling Mondeval pasture. Next, the Croda da Lago circuit veers towards the mammoth Lastoni di Formin massif and steadily ascends to Forcella di Formin, the highest point of the hike.
From the Formin saddle, the trail leads you down a field of boulders to Val Formin valley. Extra caution is required here. The Val Formin path rejoins trail 437 back to Ponte de Rocurto.
Reverse the route, if you want to ascend the trickiest section.
Trailhead | Ponte di Rocurto
Distance | 13.1 km circuit
Time Needed | 5 hours
Difficulty | Moderately Difficult
Trail Guide: Croda da Lago Circuit Trail
5. Tre Cime di Lavaredo Circuit Trail
Tre Cime di Lavaredo (Drei Zinnen in German) refers to the trinity of peaks in the Sexten Dolomites: Cima Grande (2,999 m), Cima Occidentale (2,973 m), and Cima Piccola (2,857 m).
The easy-to-moderate loop trail around the Three Peaks delivers an unbroken sweep of dramatic Dolomite landscapes in every direction.
The trail begins at Rifugio Auronzo, which you can reach via a toll road that must be booked in advance. The trail unfolds more beautifully going clockwise, so I recommend follow trail 105 to Langalm first.
Before, or after the hike, take the short detour to the Cadini di Misurina Viewpoint.
Insider Tip | Though this is a unforgettable hike, those who wish to avoid crowds and the hassle of pre-booking the toll road can instead approach Tre Cime from the north. My favorite ascent route is Torre dei Scarperi circuit starting near San Candido, followed by Val Fiscalina.
Trailhead | Rifugio Auronzo
Distance | 9.7 km circuit
Time Needed | 4 hours
Difficulty | Easy – Moderate
Learn More: Tre Cime di Lavaredo Circuit Trail
6. Sentiero Bonacossa North Trail
Sentiero Alberto Bonacossa is an exhilarating secured hiking trail that runs through the dramatic Cadini di Misurina mountain group, connecting Rifugio Col de Varda with Rifugio Fonda Savio and Rifugio Auronzo.
This challenging trail guides hikers along narrow, exposed ledges and steep rocky valleys. A climbing helmet is essential.
It can be hiked in its entirety, or sectioned off in loops. We hiked the northern route (Rifugio Fonda Savio to Rifugio Auronzo) on one trip and the southern route (Misurina – Rifugio Col de Varda – Rifugio Fonda Savio) on another trip.
One of the most popular destinations along the Sentiero Bonacossa trail is the famous Cadini di Misurina viewpoint.
Trailhead | Rifugio Auronzo or Lago d’Antorno
Distance | 12.5 km circuit
Time Needed | 6 hours
Difficulty | Demanding
Trail Guide: Sentiero Bonacossa North Trail
7. Crepe de Zumèles
Crepe de Zumèles forms part of Pomagagnon, the Cristallo mountain chain which borders Cortina to the northeast.
The Crepe de Zumèles circuit trail is a quiet, little-known hike, which starts at the Rio Gere car park, between Cortina d’Ampezzo and Passo Tre Croci. From Rio Gere, follow trail 211 through the Larieto larch forest to El Brite de Larieto, an acclaimed mountain pasture hut serving gourmet regional dishes.
Continue on trail 211 in the direction of Rifugio Mietres. Trail 211 skirts the hut, but feel free to make a quick detour to this scenic refuge.
Next, the path continues along the forest road and then makes a sharp right on trail 204. It’s a steep ascent up the crumbling slopes of Crepe de Zumèles to Forcella Zumèles. At Forcella Zumèles, views open up to the Cristallo Massif, which stands north of Val Padeón, the valley which separates the Pomagagnon and Cristallo massifs.
The way leads east on a level forest trail (trail 205) down to Passo Són Fórcia and between Pomagagnon and Cristallo (trail 203) to Passo Tre Croci. From the Tre Croci mountain pass, follow trail 209, which runs parallel to the road, down to Rio Gere.
Trailhead | Rio Gere
Distance | 10.6 km circuit
Time Needed | 4 hours
Difficulty | Moderately Difficult
8. Alpe di Sennes Circuit
The Alpe di Sennes circuit links together four mountain huts in the Dolomiti d’Ampezzo and Fannes-Sennes-Braies Nature Parks, traversing rugged karst landscapes, meadows, and forests.
Most of the refuges along the route are open until late October, which makes this a great autumn hike. We hiked this route on an overcast day, so our views were mostly obscured, but we enjoyed stretching our legs and covering a lot of ground.
This trail begins at Rifugio Malga Ra Stua, which you can drive to in June, September, and October. However, in July and August, the refuge access road is closed to private traffic. If you visit during peak summer months, park at the Sant’Uberto car park, just off the SS51 road, and take the shuttle to Ra Stua.
From the car park at Rifugio Ra Stua, follow the gravel road north (trail 6) in the direction of Ciampo de Crósc/Cianpo de Croš. The road leads through the lightly forested Valon Scuro along a stream to the meadow of Ciampo de Crósc. The mountains flanking the northeast side of the valley are called Crepe de Socroda.
When you reach the Aghes de Ciampo de Crósc (1750 m) trail junction, head right on trail 26 in the direction of Lago di Fòses and Rifugio Biella. The trail crosses the meadow and then enters a fir and larch forest, beneath the Crepe de Socroda.
Trail 26 steadily ascends and ultimately crosses Crepe de Socroda. The path leads north through a desolate valley at the foot of Piccola Croda Rossa/Kleine Gaisl to Lago di Fòses, a lake set beneath Remeda Rossa/Rote Wand.
Side Note: On the other side of the Croda Rossa d’Ampezzo/Hohe Gaisl massif, there’s a wonderful trail which runs from the Prato Piazza plateau to Malga Rossalm called the Gaisl High Trail.
The way to Rifugio Biela/Seekopfehütte is harder than expected, because of the uneven, rugged karst terrain. Rifugio Biella (2327 m) marks the halfway point of this day hike. The Alpe di Sennes circuit follows the Alta Via 1 trail to Rifugio Sennes (2176 m). Here, you have the option to descend Val Salata back to Ra Stua (trail 6A).
The better option is to press on to Rifugio Fodara Vedla (1966 m), a hospitable refuge surrounded by a cluster of timber huts (trail 7). They serve heartwarming South Tyrolean food throughout the summer season (late May – late October/early November).
From Rifugio Fodara Vedla, trail 9 leads to Lago de Rudo and then zigzags down to the valley. Return to Ra Stua on the familiar track.
Trailhead | Malga Ra Stua
Distance | 17.1 km circuit
Time Needed | 5:30 hours
Difficulty | Moderate
9. Rifugio Nuvolau and Cinque Torri
Rifugio Nuvolau is a rustic mountain refuge planted on the summit Monte Nuvolau at 2575 meters.
A few years ago, we overnighted here when we trekked the Alta Via 1 long distance trail. But, there’s no need to embark on a multi-day hike in order to visit this iconic Rifugio.
Given it’s proximity to the Cinque Torri chairlift, Rifugio Nuvolau is relatively easy to get to.
However, a more interesting approach starts at Col Gallina, near Passo Falzarego. This short circuit trail links together some of the most popular destinations in the Averau-Nuvolau Group including Lago di Lìmedes, Rifugio Averau, Rifugio Scoiattoli, and the Cinque Torri rock towers.
Cinque Torri is also an open-air museum, where you can walk through a maze of restored trenches and shelters dating back to the First World War.
Trailhead | Col Gallina
Distance | 9.6 km circuit
Time Needed | 4 hours
Difficulty | Moderate
Learn More: Rifugio Nuvolau and Cinque Torri Trail Guide
10. Multi-Day Treks around Cortina d’Ampezzo
I would be remiss not to mention that Cortina d’Ampezzo serves as a popular starting point for hut-to-hut hikes, with many trekkers beginning and ending their Alta Via 1 North journeys here.
In How to Book the Alta Via 1, I summarized how to book this trail independently, or with a self-guided or guided hiking operator.
If you want to link Tre Cime di Lavaredo and Lake Sorapis in a hut-to-hut hike, take a look at this 4-day Best of the Dolomites East Route that follows sections of the Alta Via 4 and 9, starting in Cortina d’Ampezzo, or the 5-Day West Best of the Dolomites, which follows sections of Alta Via 1, 2, 3, and 9, ending in Cortina d’Ampezzo.
The complete 9-day Best of the Dolomites Trek winds through Cortina d’Ampezzo from Seceda in Puez-Odle Nature Park to Tre Cime di Lavaredo.
Where to Stay in Cortina d’Ampezzo for Hiking
Read Where to Stay in Cortina d’Ampezzo for a comprehensive guide to the best areas to stay in and around Cortina.
Pocol
Pocol is a small mountain village perched above the Ampezzo Valley, just west of Cortina d’Ampezzo. It’s located at the junction of two scenic alpine roads: the SR48, which links Cortina to Passo Falzarego, and the SP638, which leads to Passo Giau. It’s very close to the Croda da Lago circuit trailhead.
During one of our autumn trips to Cortina, we stayed in budget-friendly Hotel Piccolo Pocol, which offers basic, but clean rooms and breakfast in Pocol. The breakfast buffet features a number of cakes, croissants, breads, yogurts, sliced cheeses and meats, and of course coffee and juices.
A better option is the 3-star Ciasa Vervei, a cozy and intimate accommodation with 8 rooms and an excellent on-site restaurant.
Those seeking a more luxurious stay won’t be disappointed by the new 5-star Hotel Tofana Cortina, which offers a spa, indoor swimming pool, gym, and on-site restaurant.
Passo Tre Croci
Passo Tre Croci is a mountain pass nestled between the Cristallo and Sorapiss mountain groups. Located along the Strada Regionale 48 delle Dolomiti, it lies roughly halfway between Cortina d’Ampezzo and Lake Misurina. This scenic pass marks the starting point of the hike to Lago di Sorapis.
Budget-Midrange | B&B Hotel Passo Tre Croci Cortina, advantageously located at Passo Tre Croci, features comfortable rooms and newly renovated interiors. Stay here for the clean, minimal aesthetics and the majestic location. Breakfast is included in the rate.
Cortina d’Ampezzo
Staying in Cortina d’Ampezzo is the best choice if you’re traveling without a car, or if you simply appreciate the advantages of a larger town: a wider selection of bars, restaurants, pastry shops, and shopping opportunities. For tips on where to eat, read my Cortina d’Ampezzo travel guide.
Midrange | Hotel Meuble Oasi is a guesthouse with on-site parking set in the town center of Cortina d’Ampezzo, walking distance to the pedestrian zone and bus station.
Midrange | Baita Fraina is a charming B&B with six rooms with balconies, 3km from Cortina’s town center (5-minute drive). This guesthouse is also home to a Michelin-listed à la carte restaurant, which serves regional cuisine. Stay here for the mountain views, the affordability, and the food.
Midrange | Hotel Villa Alpina is a centrally-located 3-star-superior hotel housed in a historic villa. Rooms are comfortable and feature parquet floors and alpine furnishings. The room rate includes breakfast and outdoor parking.
Midrange | Ambra Cortina Luxury&Fashion Hotel is a lovely boutique hotel with 24 thematic rooms and a bar in the very center of Cortina. Guests are treated to free on-site parking and an excellent breakfast.
Top Choice – Luxury | Camina Suite & Spa is a 4-star boutique hotel, 1 km north of Cortina’ town center. This intimate hotel offers 12 alpine-style suites with comfy beds and ample closet space. Rooms are equipped with Nespresso machines, air-conditioning, and soundproofing. We loved the high-quality breakfast featuring local products and the complimentary spa (3 saunas, relaxation zone, and showers). Guests also enjoy free parking. Guests can dine in the à la carte hotel restaurant daily (except Tuesday). Read our Camina Suite & Spa hotel review.
Top Choice – Luxury | HOTEL de LËN is a fresh-faced luxury hotel in Cortina d’Ampezzo’s town center. Interiors blend natural and sustainable materials with fine furnishings to create a relaxing, yet refined atmosphere. The hotel restaurant showcases local Ampezzo flavors in unique and exciting ways. We loved the charming, enthusiastic staff, the rooftop spa (1 complimentary hour), and communal areas (living room, cocktail bar, and restaurant). Breakfast is included in the room rate. Parking is off-site and an extra charge. Read our Hotel de Len review.
Luxury | Grand Hotel Savoia Cortina d’Ampezzo is a 5-star hotel in the center of Cortina d’Ampezzo. Although housed in a historic building, the entire interior has been renovated. Rooms are delightfully modern. Stay here for the superb on-site restaurant, impeccable staff and concierge, top-notch facilities (spa, indoor pool, bar, and lobby area).
More Dolomites Hiking Guides
Cortina d’Ampezzo:
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Plan your trip to the Dolomites:
- Things to Do in the Dolomites
- Places to Visit in the Dolomites
- How to Get to the Dolomites
- How to Visit the Dolomites Without a Car
- Best Time to Visit the Dolomites
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