Italy's Beautiful Scenery | The Snow-Capped Tre Cime di Lavaredo is a World-Class Landscape
Tre Cime di Lavaredo (Three Peaks Loop) is one of the iconic hiking trails in the Dolomites, with a total length of about 11 km.
1. Before you go
1️⃣ Prepare proper hiking shoes (anti-slip chains are recommended if there is snow), 2 trekking poles, a woolen hat, sunglasses, sunscreen, and some cash.
2️⃣ Arrive at the Casello Parcheggio 3 Cime di Lavaredo toll booth, pay the fee, get a small paper card, and enter. The fee is EUR 30 for a car, and bicycles also need to pay. Cash is recommended.
3️⃣ Go all the way up to the parking lot next to Rifugio Auronzo. There will be staff on site to guide you to park. If not, just park next to other cars.
⚠️ The public toilet next to the parking lot costs EUR 1.
⚠️ I started queuing at 8:50, paid the fee and entered at 9:15, and there were more than 250 parking spaces left, for reference.
2. Start hiking
1️⃣ Route overview: Start hiking counterclockwise from Rifugio Auronzo, passing through Rifugio Lavaredo, Rifugio Locatelli, and Malga Langalm, with a total of 4 supply points. See Figure 2. There are quite a few people along the way, so pay attention to the wooden arrow signs.
2️⃣ Total time: 2.5 to 5 hours. I am a beginner, and it snowed in the past few days, so it took me 5 hours and 15 minutes.
3️⃣ Route details
- From the parking lot to Rifugio Auronzo, the starting point of the hike is on the left side of Rifugio Auronzo. Follow Trail 101 to Rifugio Lavaredo. The road is wide and flat.
⚠️ There are livestock on the roadside, do not touch the electric fence.
- There are two routes to choose from when going up from Rifugio Lavaredo, see Figure 4. One is shorter, steeper, and faster, while the other is longer and easier, with a better view of the three peaks. Both routes offer views of the mountains on the opposite side, as shown in Figure 5.
- From Rifugio Lavaredo to Rifugio Locatelli, most of the road is wide gravel. It snowed in the past few days, making the road difficult to walk. After arriving at Rifugio Locatelli, the toilet is free (and only here is free), and you can eat on the second floor.
- From Rifugio Locatelli, follow Trail 105 to Malga Langalm. You will pass many downhill and uphill sections, but the scenery is also good, as shown in Figure 7.
⚠️ Change to Trail 105 here, not Trail 101.
⚠️ I personally feel that this is the most difficult stage. After the snow, many roads are only half wide, and there is a cliff below, so you need to be extra careful.
- From Malga Langalm to the parking lot, you will pass some streams, so be careful not to slip.