Hiking Tre Cime Di Lavaredo, Italian Dolomites

There are two main ways to get to the heart of the park, which are the three iconic peaks called Tre Cime di Lavaredo.

Option 1: Drive to Rifugio Auronzo

If you’re only visiting for the day, it’s best to drive up to Rifugio Auronzo early in the morning. It’s a 40-minute drive from Cortina d’Ampezzo. You’ll have to pay a 30 EUR mountain toll (car fee). The toll increases to 45 EUR for campervans. From the Rifugio Auronzo parking lot, you can either hike towards Dreizinnenhütte (Rifugio Locatelli) via Rifugio Lavaredo on Trail no. 101,  or via Langealm on Trail no. 105. Both ways are stunning. For more info on tolls and driving to Rifugio Auronzo, read this post and fee info. If you’re planning to spend the night in one of the mountain huts, you’ll have to pay an additional 15 EUR fee per night to park your vehicle overnight, or 25 EUR fee per night (campervan).

Option 2: Hike up from Fischleintal in Sexten

A second Tre Cime di Lavaredo parking option is Parkplatz Fischleintal in Sexten. The parking fee is 5 EUR per day, which you pay when you return to your car. The fastest way to see Tre Cime di Lavaredo is by following the signs to Dreizinnenhütte via Trail no. 102. It’s a steep 3 to 3.5 hours uphill climb. We only recommend starting your hike here, if you plan to spend 3, or more days hiking in Tre Cime.

Tre Cime Di Lavaredo Loop Trail Overview

This hike upstages all others. The loop trail around Tre Cime di Lavaredo (Drei Zinnen) is arguably the best day hike in the Dolomites. The views are mind-blowing. You might even think that you don’t deserve them, after barely breaking a sweat on the trail. Well, you deserve them. And, we hope you go.

In a nutshell, the hike circuits the iconic Three Peaks (Drei Zinnen in German, Tre Cime in Italian). It takes about 4 hours to do the whole loop, which is 9.7 km in length. Starting at Rifugio Auronzo (accessible by car), you can either hike in the direction of Rifugio Lavaredo on Trail no. 101 (right), or towards Langealm on Trail no. 105 (left). Either way is beautiful. Because the trail is a loop. you won’t miss out on anything. This isn’t a difficult hike. You’ll be on a wide path that’s mostly flat the whole time.

The most impressive view of the peaks is from Dreizinnenhütte, which is a mountain hut facing the north side of Tre Cime di Lavaredo. It’s also a great place to have lunch.

Trailhead: Rifugio Auronzo parking lot. Note: there is a 30 EUR toll to drive up to the hut.

Trail Distance: 9.7 km

Time Needed: 4 hours

Eating Options: Between the end of June and the end of September, there are several open mountain huts along the trail that offer food and beverages. Langealm is great for coffee and cake, but save your appetite for Drei Zinnen Hütte (Rifugio Locatelli). Skip eating at Rifugio Lavaredo.

Tre Cime di Lavaredo 3-Day Hut-to-Hut Hike Overview

• Day 1: Parkplatz Fischleintal (1478 m) – Dreizinnenhütte (2438 m)
• Day 2: Dreizinnenhütte (2438 m) – Rifugio Lavaredo (2345) – Rifugio Auronzo (2326 m) – Langealm (2240 m) – Dreizinnenhütte (2438 m) – Büllelejochhütte (2528 m)
• Day 3: Büllelejochhütte (2528 m) – Zsigmondy Hütte (2242 m) – Fischleintal (1478 m)

Day 1 Trekking Tre Cime di Lavaredo: Fischleintal – Dreizinnenhütte

Trailhead: Parkplatz Fischleintal
Distance: 6.6 km
Difficulty: Intermediate
Altitude Gain: 960 meters
Time Needed: 3.5 hours

After parking your car in the Parkplatz Fischleintal (5 EUR per day) in Sexten, start the ascent to Dreizinnenhütte (Rifugio Locatelli). The hike takes about 3.5 hours along Trail no. 102. You’ll pass two beautiful mountain tarns right before reaching the hut. Directly facing the north-side of the iconic Three Peaks, Dreizinnenhütte is arguably the most perfectly positioned mountain hut in the Dolomites. And luckily for all hungry visitors, the hut has a restaurant serving South Tyrolian cuisine. We recommend staying the night here (book in advance).

You can also stay the night in Rifugio Lavaredo, which is what we did. After a delicious lunch at Dreizinnenhütte, follow Trail no. 101 to Rifugio Lavaredo. The location of the hut is absolutely spectacular. Jagged purple mountains form the backdrop of the hut. We stayed in a 6-bed dormitory-style room, which was clean and comfortable. However in comparison to the other rifugios, we stayed in, the food was subpar.

Day 2 Trekking Tre Cime di Lavaredo: Rifugio Lavaredo – Langealm – Büllelejochhütte

Trailhead: Dreizinnenhütte
Distance: 12.9 km. (Loop Trail is 9.7 km. The trail to Büllelejochhütte (Rifugio Pian di Cengia) is 3.2 km.)
Difficulty: Intermediate
Altitude Gain: 288 m
Altitude Loss: 198 m
Time Needed: 5.5 – 6 hours 

Today, you’ll complete the loop trail around Tre Cime di Lavaredo and hike to the mountain hut Büllelejochhütte. The full loop takes around 4 hours (9.7 km). From Rifugio Auronzo, Trail no. 105 begins at the end of the parking lot. The trail continues to the saddle Forcella del Col de Mezo and to the mountain hut Langealm. Lagealm is a perfect place to take a break. From the mountain hut, you can see Tre Cime di Lavaredo, as well as other impressive mountain pinnacles. We stopped here for cake and to enjoy the sun’s short-lived, but well-received appearance. Everything that’s served in Langealm is homemade.

The last section of the loop trail is on Trail no. 102. Eat lunch at Dreizinnenhütte. After you’re fully satiated, start the journey to your final destination: Büllelejochhütte (Rifugio Pian di Cengia). It takes 1.5-2 hours to hike the 3.2 km trail to Rifugio Pian di Cengia from Dreizinnenhütte. Trail no. 101 begins with stunning views of the two Bödenseen lakes (Lago dei Piani). A large section of the trail feels like a graveyard of a former mountain. Huge dolomite boulders dot the landscape like tombstones. The treeless, though nonetheless green, scenery expands in all directions as you hike beneath Paternkofel.

After climbing over the mountain saddle Büllelejoch (Forcella Pian di Cengia), it’s an easy path to the mountain hut.

We have nothing but the highest praise for this charming hut. You’ll be blown away by the scenery, cuisine, and friendly service. If you have some extra energy after arriving, hike to Oberbachernspitze (Croda Fiscalina).

Optional Hike to Oberbachernspitze

Oberbachernspitze (Croda Fiscalina) is a mountain peak at an elevation of 2,677 meters. It takes 30 minutes to reach the peak from Büllelejochhütte via Trail no. 101A. At the top, there are panoramic views of Fischleintal, Zwölferkofel (Croda dei Toni), and Gruppo delle Marmarole. You can also see the mountain hut Zsigmondy Hütte (Rifugio E. Comici) from the trail. Delicate pink and yellow flowers garnish the sides of the trail. Along the trail, we saw trenches and tunnels from World War I. Though difficult to imagine now, the front between the Austrian and Italian armies ran through the Dolomites.

Day 3 Trekking Tre Cime di Lavaredo: Büllelejochhütte – Zsigmondy Hütte – Fischleintal

Trailhead: Büllelejochhütte
Distance: 7.4 km
Difficulty: Intermediate
Altitude Loss: 1,050 m
Time Needed: 3 hours

After breakfast, start the descent to Fischleintal via Trail no. 101 and later no. 103. After an hour, the trail winds around the mountain hut Zsigmondy Hütte (Rifugio E. Comici), where you’ll see several bell-wearing donkeys. From this mountain hut, it takes about 1.5 hours to get to Talschlusshütte. The trail eventually intersects 102 (which you took on the way up). From the fork, follow the familiar flat trail back to Talschlusshütte and Fischleintal Parkplatz.

Important: Due to the popularity of this region, it’s important to make reservations for mountain huts well in advance of hiking dates. We recommend booking Halbpension, which means breakfast and dinner are included in your room rate. To secure a room or bed, contact the hut directly via email. 

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