The Tre Cime area - a small guide
Tre Cime di Lavaredo - The Dolomites, Italy
Tre Cime di Lavaredo is one of the most iconic rock formations of the Dolomites. Its three jagged peaks stand almost 600m tall above the ground below. They might look cute from a distance but they are truly immense up close.
I was in awe from the moment I caught my first glimpse of our 3 friends until today. It’s such a great and fascinating area where everyone can find something they like.
In this blog post I’ll share a little bit of the knowledge I’ve gathered after a few visits.
Enjoy!
The parking lot
It’s maybe a weird or unusual place to start but the parking lot of Tre Cime has some great treats up its sleeve.
After you passed the toll station the scenery will start to get better every few minutes. Make sure to really enjoy this short but intense drive as much as you can.
Once you arrived at the parking lot it might be hard to find a spot. In fact, they stop you at the toll station until a car comes down to make sure the parking isn’t overrun by people.
Due to the increasing amount of people that visit this place every year it’s best to start your day early.
Tip: try to get to the top parking lot. Most of the time there are still a few spots left.
At the bottom right of the photo you can see the ‘vanlifer’s’ that stayed the night at the parking lot. The red one next to the white van is mine. I slept here a couple of times and I think it’s not illegal, but be careful.
The hike towards famous viewpoint. (Part 1)
After you’ve parked your car and gathered some food, a jacket, some water and a camera it’s time to head out to explore this vast area.
The hike towards the Dreizinnenhutte is pretty easy and straight forward. You’ll be walking on a wide path which is used by cars to transport goods to the hut and back. Don’t worry though, they don’t use this road very often and the chances of passing a car are quite small.
After 15 minutes you will pass a small chapel with a great view into the valley below. It’s a great place to take some photos or to chill for a while.
Up until this point the path has been flat and easy to walk on but this changes once you reach the Lavaredo Hut.
Right after the hut the trail starts to go uphill in order for you to reach Forcella Lavaredo, a small crest right next to Tre Cime itself.
The ascent is easy and should be a walk in the park for most people.
A summary of the hike (one direction):
Length: 5km / 3,1Miles
Elevation gain: 180m / 590ft
Type of path: Easy wide path
Duration: 1h 30min
This is the path you will be walking on.
These llamas are not native to the Dolomites but are sure beautiful to look at.
Although these llamas are not native to the Dolomites there is a lot of wildlife that thrives.
Wild deer, numerous bird fauna, goats and even brown bears can be found roaming the landscape.
The wealth and variability of fauna in the Dolomites is just one reason to visit this extraordinary mountain range.
Forcella Lavaredo - Tre Cime is visible on the right hand side of this photo
The hike towards famous viewpoint. (Part 2)
Once you reach Forcella Lavaredo you are able to look into Tre Cime’s valley. This marks the half way point of the hike and it’s a good place to eat a snack or relax for a while before starting the last leg of the trip. From this point you will also be able to see the end destination for the first time, the rather big hut with a red roof can be seen until the end of the hike.
Once you’re ready to go it’s time to enter the Tre Cime Area, at least that’s how I like to call it.
This vast, almost untouched terrain is the playground for many photographers, climbing experts, hikers and many more.
Except for the scenery nothing has really changed though. The path is still wide enough to fit a car and it’s still easy to walk on. After you descended into the valley the path is flat and almost straight until the end. It’s a good thing to look behind you every 15 minutes or so to take in the view and to see the 3 peaks appear.
At the end of the hike a small uphill section makes sure you’re thirsty before you arrive at the final destination, the Dreizinnenhutte.
Craving a little adventure?
For the one’s seeking an adventure there is second, smaller path that goes to the same hut. It features some wooden bridges, a few sketchy traverses and a lot of fun.
To pick this option you have to locate a small path along the steep slope that starts at Forcella Lavaredo, it’s pretty straight forward and almost impossible to miss.
Dreizinnen hütte
After 1,5 hours of walking you will reach the end destination of your journey, the Dreizinnenhutte. This hut has an amazing view to offer and is sure one of the best huts in the Dolomites.
Make sure to arrive as early as possible to avoid crowds.
After you relaxed for a while it’s best to explore the surrounding area a little. This area has so much to offer.
The Dreizinnenhutte in all its glory
What to bring?
It’s best to bring most of the following:
Hiking boots
Water
Food/snacks
A camera or mobile phone
Friends or family
A jacket (if needed)
The Map
In this map you will find the route I talked about and the 3 major waypoints.
Make sure to check out these photographs I took when visiting the area. It’s an immense area which you need a few days for in order to really explore everything.
