Misurina, Dolomites, Italy
Tour of the Tre Cime di Lavaredo
The loop around the Tre Cime is the walk most people picture when they picture the Dolomites: three vertical limestone towers that change shape completely as you work your way around them. From Misurina the route climbs to the Auronzo refuge and then circles the massif, passing beneath the north faces that made this one of the most photographed skylines in the Alps.
It is a long day rather than a technical one. The path is well made and the climbing is spread out, but the altitude sits above 2,300 m for most of the circuit, and the weather at that height can turn from shirtsleeves to hail inside an hour. Going with a local guide means someone else is watching the sky and deciding whether to carry on or cut the loop short.
Trail gallery
The north faces
Mountain refuges
Wartime tunnels
Lake Misurina
Alpine meadows
Summit panorama
Route highlights
- The full circuit of the three peaks, with the faces changing shape at every turn
- Mountain refuges on the route, for a coffee and a sit-down halfway round
- First World War tunnels and positions cut into the rock
- Views across the Cadini di Misurina and the wider Sesto Dolomites
Good to know before you book
- Summer route — snow can linger on the shaded northern side well into early summer
- Most of the day is spent above 2,300 m: bring layers, sun cover and a windproof shell
- Steady walking rather than scrambling, but it is a full day on your feet — see the Trail Prep Guide
- Poles help on the descents; the Gear Shop has a pair for the job