Tre Cime di Lavaredo Hike: Best Hut-to-Hut Trek in The Dolomites

If you have the map of Italy in front of you, to the right above Cortina d'Ampezzo you will see Tre Cime di Lavaredo, or the Drei Zinnen. This natural wonder of the Dolomites is in Parco Naturale Tre Cime, which was officially established in 1981 and covers 11,615 hectares. Part of the UNESCO World Heritage since 2009, the Dolomites are for many the most beautiful mountain area in Europe.

What exactly the Tre Cime are is clear. They are 3 enormous rocks that together form an impressive formation. As mentioned earlier, this is the symbol of the Dolomites and therefore a hotspot for many day trippers.

The 3 rocks each have their own name, namely the Westliche Zinne (Cima Ovest) of 2,973 meters in height (9.753 feet), the Kleine Zinne (Piccola Cima) 2,856 meters (9.753 feet) and the Grosse Zinne (Cima Grande) which reaches 2,999 meters (9.839 feet) in height. These are big boys, so you can imagine that a first look at these is breathtaking.

When you travel to the Dolomites, you naturally visit several highlights of the area. A visit to the Drei Zinnen can easily be combined with, for example, the Short Alta Via 1, the Dolorama Way or the Garda Trek if you want to discover more of northern Italy.

This hike is suitable for everyone, and we really mean everyone. Whether you want to hike with your family or you are going on a hut hike for the first time, you can do it!

During the hike you will walk around the Tre Cime in 4 stages. On average you will hike between 6 and 7 kilometers per day (3 to 4 miles). Without breaks and at a leisurely pace, a stage takes about 3 to 4 hours. The trails are well marked and you will not encounter any technical difficulties along the way. Of course, you have to be physically fit to start this hike, but apart from that it is the perfect hike for anyone who wants to enjoy the ruggedness of the Dolomites for a couple of days in an approachable way.

The choice is vast in the Dolomites, so we can imagine that it is difficult to choose a hut tour that suits you best. The Tre Cime trek is a good choice when it comes to a first introduction to the Dolomites. Compared to the short Alta Via 1, the Drei Zinnen hike is technically much easier.

If you are new to the world of hut-to-hut hiking but would still like to go on a hike, definitely choose the Drei Zinnen hike. Does it taste like more after you've completed the hike? Then you're ready for your next adventure in the Dolomites, such as the slightly more southerly Alta Via del Granito or the slightly more rugged Palaronda Trek.

The weather in the mountains is very unpredictable, so when is the best time to set out on a hut tour? A little later than other treks in the Dolomites and Alps, the season for hiking the Tre Cime runs from late June to mid-September. Before and after this period, the rifugios close their doors, as it can snow heavily in the mountains. Spending the night at the huts is not possible out of season.

Although the weather in the mountains can change quickly, a typical day in the Dolomites is marked by bright blue skies and bright sunshine. If you are less fortunate, consider rain showers and afternoon storms that can be accompanied by thunderstorms.

The summer season is a popular time to go hiking, even for Italians. Never go out without a reservation at mountain huts. It is possible, and there is a good chance, that they are fully booked and there is no more room for you and your party. Avoid disappointment and book far in advance. For hut tours in the Dolomites, you'll want to make your plans preferably around Christmas or earlier.

The Netherlands has the NBKV, Flanders the BKF, Austria and Germany have the Alpenverein, South Africa has the Mountain Club of South Africa and the United Kingdom has the British Mountaineering Council and the list goes on. Italy also has its own association and it has been going by the name Club Alpino Italiano, CAI for short, since 1863.

The CAI is hugely active in signposting and maintaining mountain trails, protecting the Italian Alps and Dolomites, organizing climbing competitions and, of course, managing mountain huts. The CAI has 433 fully equipped mountain huts, 224 bivouacs and 106 smaller huts under its care. Together, these accommodations account for more than 23,500 beds. Hikers are required to spend the night in mountain huts, rifugios in Italian. The advantage of spending the night in huts is that you don't have to bring a tent, cooking gear and food for your multi-day hike. The rifugios vary in size and accommodation options, but they all offer a shower, a good night's sleep including half board with tasty local food. Believe us, the food is really good compared to some neighboring countries.

The starting point of this hut tour is Parkplatz Fischleinboden (Parcheggio Val Fascalina). This is where the first stage on Via Waldheim starts, which will lead you southward to the first accommodation of the trek.

There are several possibilities to spend the night near the starting point. In the immediate vicinity, you will find Moos, Waldheim, and Sexten. Should you have no problem driving a bit, Cortina d'Ampezzo and Dobbiaco (Toblach in German) are also good options.

By car

Parkplatz Fischleinboden is easily accessible by car. Driving south from Munich, follow the A22 to Bressanone-Valpusteria-Brixen-Pustertal. Take the SS49 to the Via Pizach exit where you then continue on the SS52 to the Via Val Fascalina exit. The parking lot can be found opposite Hotel Dolomitenhof.

From Cortina d'Ampezzo it takes about an hour to get to the starting point. Follow the SS51 towards Dobiacco, then take the SS52 towards Via Val Fascalina.

Note that this is not the parking lot where many day trippers park their cars. So do not drive to the parking lot of Rifugio Auronzo, which is mentioned a lot online.

By bus

From Cortina d'Ampezzo it takes about 1.5 hours to get to the starting point by bus. Change once in Dobiacco where you take bus 446 towards S. Candido - Passo Monte Croce. The stop where you get off is Pian di Val Via Fiscalina and stops in front of Hotel Dolomitenhof.

A hut-to-hut tour doesn't have to be expensive. The rifugios you encounter on the trek are often basic, but offer everything you need to be well rested and recharged the next day.

The average cost is about €120 per day. This includes directions, navigational aids, your accommodation in a rifugio, and half board in the form of breakfast and dinner. In addition to these costs, you will of course need pocket money during the tour. Think about lunch (exclusive), snacks and a well-deserved drink when you arrive at the next hut. We recommend to take into account an amount between €50 and €70 to cover these costs.