Tre Cime di Lavaredo (Drei Zinnen)
The landmark of the Dolomites, up to 2,999 m
Photo: Andrea Schieber / Wikimedia Commons (CC BY-SA 2.0)
The Tre Cime are the most famous rock formation of the Dolomites and one of the best-known mountain motifs in the Alps. The three striking towers, with the Cima Grande up to 2,999 m, rise on the border between South Tyrol and Veneto in the UNESCO World Heritage Site of the Sexten Dolomites. The roughly 10 km circuit from the Auronzo hut is one of the most popular hikes in the Alps.
Highlights
- The three striking rock towers above the Hochpustertal
- Classic circuit via the Tre Cime hut (Rifugio Locatelli)
- Glowing walls at sunset
- Demanding climbing routes on the north faces
Good to know
| Elevation | Cima Grande 2,999 m |
| Mountain range | Sexten Dolomites |
| World Heritage | UNESCO Dolomites (since 2009) |
| Starting point | Auronzo hut (toll road) |
Practical info
Getting there: By car over the toll road to the Auronzo hut (2,320 m); by public transport by bus from the Puster valley in season.
Best time: June to October; in high summer arrive early due to crowds.
Cost: Toll road and car park payable (please verify); the hike itself free.
Safety: The circuit is a fitness-demanding but technically easy mountain hike; mind high-mountain weather.
Tips:
- Start very early, the toll road and car parks fill up quickly in summer
- Sturdy footwear and weather protection, a cold wind often blows up top
Background & History
The Tre Cime, Italian Tre Cime di Lavaredo, are perhaps the best-known landmark of the Sexten Dolomites and are regarded by many as the epitome of the entire mountain group. Three mighty rock towers of pale dolomite rock rise almost vertically from the scree slopes, formed from the petrified reefs of a prehistoric sea and exposed by weathering over millions of years. Their north faces, shadowy and smooth, rank among the classic touchstones of mountaineering and attracted from the late 19th century onward the boldest climbers, who sought lines of route here that were regarded as the measure of difficulty.
Around the Tre Cime ran, during the First World War, the front between Austria-Hungary and Italy, and to this day tunnels, paths and remains of positions criss-cross the rocks, for example on the neighbouring Paternkofel with its tunnel path. From the Rifugio Locatelli, one of the great mountain huts of the region, one experiences the towers in the evening light from their most impressive side, when the faces begin to glow in warm red. The name Lavaredo refers to the surrounding pasture grounds, a reminder that this landscape, so wild today, was also used by shepherds and their herds over generations. The individual towers bear their own names, Cima Grande, Cima Ovest and Cima Piccola, and their first ascents in the late 19th century belong to the great chapters of Alpine history. Today the Tre Cime are part of the World Natural Heritage and have become a symbol of the Dolomites, going around the world on countless images.
To make your trip run smoothly , our guides and gear tips for this destination:
