You’ve seen it on on anyone who’s been to the Dolomites Instagram. Yes, this is it. The big one. The bucket list hike. Here’s everything you need to know plus a few hot tips to hike the Tre Cime Circuit in 2024.
For more of this style of content feel free to check out my other articles on ITALY or check out my HIKING GUIDES!
Key Details
Distance – 9 Kilometres for the normal circuit. 15 Kilometres for the extended circuit
Duration – Half day for no hut stay. 2 days if staying in a hut (recommended).
Elevation – 300 Metres for the normal circuit. 600 Metres the extended circuit from Misurina.
Difficulty – 4/10 for the normal circuit. 6/10 for the extended circuit.
Closest Town – Misurina
Hot Tips to Hike the Tre Cime Circuit
Arrival – Make sure you arrive as early as possible! Otherwise, you’ll be doing the extended hike like we did.
Accommodation – Stay in one of the HUTS, it adds to the experience.
Do More – This is the busiest hike in the Dolomites. Make sure you see some OTHERS for the full experience
See the caves – Don’t miss out on that Instagram shot. Guide to the caves HERE.
Tre Cime Circuit Overview
The Tre Cime Circuit is a loop track, starting from the car park at Rifugio Auronzo.
The entire loop is 9 kilometres in total with mostly moderate terrain. However, there are a few inclines on the northern side. The entire circuit is pathed and in very good condition.
The loop circles the three Tre Cime monoliths, passing Rifugio Lavaredo & Dreizinnenhütte, returning you to Auronzo. If you’re too late for parking or you want a longer hike, you can leave from Mizurina. Below is my first day’s track from Misurina.
Clockwise or Anti-Clockwise
It is recommended to go Anticlockwise on the Tre Cime Circuit Loop. This gives you a more dramatic approach to start with great views along the southern face of Tre Cime. Anticlockwise also allows for the best views of the Cadini Group to finish the walk (below)!
Gear Required to Hike the Tre Cime Circuit
Hiking Shoes – Most will do fine. I use Merrell’s.
Softshell pants – I use Arcteryx.
Base layers – Top and bottom. Only ever use Merino wool. It keeps you warm without overheating.
Sweat-wicking top or fleece – It can get quite cold at the top.
Puffer jacket – Lightweight with a stuff sack. Most will be fine. No need to spend loads. This is a safety precaution.
Hard Shell Jacket – I use Arcteryx Beta.
Where is the Tre Cime Circuit?
The Tre Cime circuit is located in the Italian Dolomites in Northern Italy, near the Austrian Border. The Dolomites is a very large place however this is the feature point. The closest town is Misurina, at the foothills of the drive up and the starting point for the longer walk. The closest major town is Cortina.
History of Tre Cime Lavaredo
The Dolomites were home to the Italian and Austria-Hungarian front during World War 1. Soldiers from both sides used the mountains as cover to fight battles, hide in secret and gain higher ground for observations. This is how the Via Ferrata came to exist and why there are so many caves in the area. Make sure to check out the caves while you’re here!
Best Time to Visit the Tre Cime Circuit
The Tre Cime circuit loop is only open for the summer months from Late May to Early September. If you arrive out of season it is still possible to do the hike however the roads will be closed due to snowfall. You will however experience a lot fewer people!
Parking at the Tre Cime Circuit
Main Parking for the hike is located at Rifugio Auronzo. There is room for a few hundred cars.
Alternate Parking is located at the bottom of the road to Rifugio Auronzo at Misurina. If you’re too late you can park here and take the bus up or walk the extra 5 Kilometres.
Where to stay to Hike the Tre Cime Circuit
You have a few options here: Cortina being the closest major town, Misurina being the closest small town. However, the huts are probably the most unique stay.
Cortina
Has plenty of accommodation spots and access to many other areas in the Dolomites. This is a great base for a few days!
Misurina
There’s not much to Misurina, however, it is perfectly located if you want to stay close.
Huts
There are a few decent options here, all located on the Tre Cime Circuit Loop. Make sure to check out my GUIDE on staying in the Italian Dolomites huts!
Locatelli / Dreizenhutte – The biggest and busiest hut in the Dolomites. Also the most picturesque (below). It is located halfway on the circuit.
Auronzo – The closest hut to the car park and the start of the walk.
Rifugio Lavaredo – Located a third of the way (or 3 quarters depending on which way you go) is this ideally located hut.
Via Ferrata’s on the Tre Cime Circuit
Via Ferrata’s have existed from the early 1900s as paths for soldiers to traverse the mountains quickly.
Today there are loads of Via Ferrata’s located in and around the Tre Cime area. Make sure you have all your kit handy otherwise, you won’t be going up!
My Experience Hiking the Tre Cime Circuit
My partner and I spent a week in the Dolomites. Given how late we booked everything, we hiked and stayed in as many huts as possible. We talked about the Tre Cime circuit in June which is regarded as early season. This was however very busy on the day.
Hike from Misurina
We arrived at 9 am to find the road to Rifugio Auronzo had already closed and the carpark at Misurina was also filling up very fast. We jumped into a park and instantly saw 100 people lining up for the bus. Being avid hikers we opted to skip the bus and take the extra 5-kilometre hike up.
The extra hike ended up being lovely and was extremely quiet. It followed the main road, before peeling off and winding its way up through green lush valleys. The incline was quite challenging however added to the adventure. The end is the steepest part, however, you arrive at Rifugio Auronzo for a well-earned rest.
Tre Cime Circuit
Beginning the Tre Cime Circuit we opted for the anti-clockwise route as detailed above. I was shocked at how the previous track-up felt like a real trail. Suddenly now we were surrounded by hundreds of people on an almost paved path. You can honestly drive a car across the path. The reality of this being the busiest walk in the Dolomites set in.
However, whatever disappointment I had was quickly abated as the sheer size and grandeur of the Tre Cime structure took over our view. These things are giant and magnificent!
Knowing we were staying halfway we took our time. Stopping for pictures and exploring little caves here and there.
Around 3 kilometres in is Forcella Lavaredo, a saddle between Tre Cime and its neighbouring mountain outcrop, Monte Paterno. This allows for great views and a few unique caves to explore.
Rifugio Locatelli
Following the path north leads directly to Rifugio Locatelli which was our home for the night. We arrived around 3 pm to a few very delicious tap beers. I have another section on this HERE.
The next days started our journey around 8 am after the hut breakfast. The weather was slightly overcast however turned into a glorious day!
From Locatelli, it is only another 5ish Kilometres. This northern side offers a bit of a different experience. The flat crowds from yesterday now turned into a steep decline below the mountains. Followed by a satisfying incline with a magnificent view to the north, arriving at a tea house.
From here only a short 2 kilometres are left. This path around the western tip of the mountains offers spectacular views of the Cadini group, another local mountain range.
The Cadini group is also well known for being a site of a very famous and easy-to-access lookout. from Rifugio Auronzo it’s only a short 1 kilometre walk to the lookout spot made famous on Instagram ‘travel’ influencers pages. We chose not to go as I didn’t want to be that typical person.
The walk finishes back up at Rifugio Auronzo, back to your car or catch the free bus back down. Enjoy!
For more of this style of content feel free to check out my other articles on ITALY or check out my HIKING GUIDES!
