There are many mountains in the Dolomites, but only one silhouette is instantly iconic. Three massive stone towers rise side by side, slicing the sky — powerful, immovable, unforgettable.
Welcome to Tre Cime di Lavaredo.
📍 Where are Three Peaks of Lavaredo?
Tre Cime di Lavaredo (German: Drei Zinnen) are located in South Tyrol, on the border with Veneto, inside the Dolomiti di Sesto Natural Park, near the towns of Auronzo di Cadore, Misurina, and Dobbiaco.
- Region: Trentino-Alto Adige / Südtirol
- Province: Bolzano
- Elevation:
- Cima Grande: 2,999 m
- Cima Ovest: 2,973 m
- Cima Piccola: 2,857 m
They are part of the Dolomites UNESCO World Heritage Site — and arguably, their most iconic symbol.
🪨 How Were They Formed?
These monumental peaks are made of dolomitic limestone, shaped over 200 million years by tectonic uplift, glaciation, and erosion.
What makes them unique isn’t just the height — it’s the sheer vertical faces and their isolated, symmetrical trio formation.
They rise like giants from the alpine plateau — silent, ancient, and unlike anything else in the Alps.
⚔️ A Place of Peace and War
Tre Cime is a place of duality.
• Today: it’s a peaceful hiking paradise, with 360° views, fresh air, and wildflowers
• A century ago: it was the front line during WWI between Italian and Austro-Hungarian forces.
You’ll still see old tunnels, trenches, and lookout points carved into the rocks.
Few places hold such beauty and such history in the same step.
🥾 Hiking Around Tre Cime
The most famous trail is the loop from Rifugio Auronzo to Rifugio Locatelli, passing:
- Cappella degli Alpini (tiny chapel)
- Forcella Lavaredo (mountain pass)
- Rifugio Lavaredo
- Rifugio Locatelli (epic viewpoint with lake and cave)
- Return loop via Forcella Col di Mezzo
- Distance: ~10 km round trip
- Time: 3–4 hours
- Difficulty: Moderate (some incline, no climbing)
- No cable cars — the only way is on foot or by private car to Auronzo
📸 Why It’s So Photographed
• The perfect trio symmetry
• Sunrise light on the eastern face
• Hidden lakes (Lago dei Piani)
• The view from Rifugio Locatelli (with the cave opening!)
• Dramatic clouds + scale of the landscape
🦅 Nature & Wildlife
• Marmots and ibex
• Alpine eagles
• Edelweiss and wild orchids
• Sharp contrast between rocky cliffs and flower meadows
🚗 Access & Logistics
• Closest towns: Misurina, Dobbiaco, Cortina
• From late June to mid-October, the road to Rifugio Auronzo is open to private vehicles, with paid toll (40 €) that is valid for 12h. Don’t forget to book your parking in advance. Parking posts are limited and the tickets sell out quickly
• You can take bus from Dobbiaco, Cortina d’Ampezzo or Misurina
• No cable car — only road or hike
📅 Best Time to Visit
• June – early July: flowers, fewer people
• September: crisp air, golden light
• Avoid August weekends unless you arrive very early
🎒 Tips for the Experience
• Bring layers: weather changes fast
• Solid shoes — trail has rocks and dust
• Bring water and snacks (or eat at the rifugi)
• Rifugio Locatelli is ideal for lunch and photos
🧭 Did You Know?
• Cima Grande was first climbed in 1869
• The area was part of Austria-Hungary until 1919
• The Tre Cime appeared in Call Me by Your Name and other films
• The cave near Rifugio Locatelli frames the peaks like a window — perfect for photos
🌟 Where the Earth Touches the Sky
Tre Cime di Lavaredo is more than a hike. It’s a moment. A meeting point of stone and sky, silence and wind, war and peace. And once you see them — you’ll never forget them.
💛 Discover Tre Cime di Lavaredo with La Via Dolce
👉 Book now your private tour to Tre Cime. We will take care of the ride, and you enjoy the views.