Tre Cime di Lavaredo Hike: Our Guide to the Loop Trail

General Info About the Drei Zinnen

The Drei Zinnen (“Tre Cime di Lavaredo” in Italian) are located in the eastern part of South Tyrol in the Sexten Dolomites. They rise from a high plateau at around 7,550 feet above sea level.

You can get there on foot, by bike, car, or bus, and then hike around the peaks. There are also several mountain huts where you can stop for a meal or spend the night.

Since the Drei Zinnen are a hugely popular photography subject and hiking destination in South Tyrol, the high plateau gets seriously busy, especially in summer.

The summits are only accessible to experienced climbers. The tallest of the Drei Zinnen (the one in the middle) stands at 9,839 feet.

Drei Zinnen Hike Overview

Here are the most important details about the Drei Zinnen loop hike:

• Distance: about 6 miles
• Duration: 3–5 hours
• Elevation gain: approximately 1,300 feet
• Difficulty: moderate
• View the hike on Komoot

Trail Map of the Tre Cime Loop Hike

Here’s a map showing the full loop trail around the Drei Zinnen so you can plan your route before you go.

Getting There and Parking at the Drei Zinnen

There is only one road that leads up to the Drei Zinnen. It ends at the Auronzo Hut, which is the main starting point for the tre cime di lavaredo hike. You can drive up in your own car or take the shuttle bus.

Getting There by Car and Parking

There is a large parking lot at the top near the Auronzo Hut. Especially during the summer months (June–September), we recommend arriving before 7 AM to secure a spot and avoid waiting in line.

For a passenger car, you pay a toll of €30 at a toll booth further down the road, which covers both driving up and parking. This allows you to stay for 12 hours. Motorcycles cost €20.

Alternatively, you can park at the roundabout near Restaurante Genzianella for €14 per day and take the shuttle bus up (€10 round trip).

Note: The road up is closed from around November to April depending on weather conditions — after that you can expect snow. Always check the website to see if the road is open.

Getting There by Camper Van

You can also drive up in a camper van. You pay €45 for 12 hours and €90 for 24 hours.

Getting There by Bus

There is a shuttle bus from Toblach to the Drei Zinnen. It runs from June to October, roughly every half hour. You’ll find all the details about the shuttle on the Drei Zinnen website.

A round trip costs €18. Make sure to buy your bus ticket online in advance to guarantee a seat at your preferred time. Tickets are available here.

Getting There by Bike

You can also cycle up the road to the Auronzo Hut. There’s no fee for cyclists, but you’ll need to cover nearly 2,300 feet of elevation gain — that’s a serious workout and really only for dedicated cycling enthusiasts.

Also check out our tips for cycling in South Tyrol

Getting There on Foot

You can also hike up to the Drei Zinnen. Our insider tip: drive to the parking lot at Lake Antorno and start from there — it’s much cheaper.

From Lake Antorno, a trail of about 2.5 miles leads up to the Auronzo Hut, gaining 1,640 feet in elevation.

If you start in the morning, you can hike up, complete the loop, and hike back down all in one day.

If you’re hiking up from Lago Misurina or from even farther away, we’d suggest spending a night up top. That way you can hike up on day one and tackle the drei zinnen hike on day two before heading back down.

Loop Hike Around the Drei Zinnen

You start the tre cime loop hike at the Auronzo Hut. It doesn’t matter which direction you go — we hiked counterclockwise (to the right), and that’s how we’ll describe it here.

First, you head toward the Lavaredo Hut, passing the Cappella degli Alpini along the way. This section is just over 1 mile long, easy, and mostly flat.

From the Lavaredo Hut, it’s just under 2 miles to the Dreizinnen Hut. The first part of this stretch is strenuous, with a fairly steep climb. After that it levels out, and the final bit to the Dreizinnen Hut involves one more short uphill section.

At the Dreizinnen Hut, take the short detour to the cave — it’s where you can get a fantastic photo of the Drei Zinnen.

The hut itself is a great spot for a break before you continue. From the Dreizinnen Hut, head back a short way to the loop trail and carry on toward the Langalm.

That’s about 2 miles, mostly downhill or flat. Watch your step here — some sections have steep descents.

Note: The Langalm Hut does not offer overnight accommodations — you can only stop there for food and drinks.

The final stretch back to the Auronzo Hut involves a bit of uphill, but is mostly flat. It’s about 1.5 miles.

Also check out our packing list for a hiking vacation

Staying Overnight at the Drei Zinnen

On the high plateau, you have several huts to choose from for an overnight stay.

Staying Overnight in Huts at the Drei Zinnen

• Dreizinnen Hut: Book online through the booking system.
• Auronzo Hut: Book online through the booking system.
• Lavaredo Hut: Book online through the booking system.

For all huts, book your overnight stays well in advance. These places are really popular, and walk-in beds are almost never available.

Camping at the Drei Zinnen

The alternative to mountain huts is camping — at least if you’re sleeping in your car or camper van.

Note: Tent camping is not allowed at the Drei Zinnen. However, there is a campground (Camping Alla Baita) at the roundabout down below. Reservations are not accepted, so arrive early in the morning to get a spot.

Sleeping in your car or camper van in the parking lot at the Auronzo Hut is permitted. Just like day visitors, you’ll need to pay the toll fee at the bottom.

Since you’ll typically stay for more than 12 hours when spending the night, you pay double — that is, the 24-hour rate. That’s €60 for cars and €90 for camper vans.

Hotels Near the Drei Zinnen

If you’d prefer a hotel, you’ll need to find accommodation in the valley below. The largest selection of places to stay near the Drei Zinnen is in the village of Toblach.

Our Hotel Recommendations for Toblach

Even closer to the Drei Zinnen are Lago di Misurina and Lago Antorno. There are only a few options here, and they tend to be on the pricier side, especially during peak season.

Our Hotel Recommendations for Lago di Misurina and Lago Antorno

When Is the Best Time to Visit the Drei Zinnen?

Unless you’re looking to hike in the snow, the best time for the tre cime di lavaredo hike is summer, between May and October.

Most tourists visit during August, so we’d recommend avoiding that month if you can. That said, expect crowds throughout the entire season.

Our tip on timing: the earlier, the better. It’s absolutely worth getting up and heading out at sunrise. That’s when the plateau is least crowded and parking is much easier to find.

If you’re coming by bus, you can also start your hike in the afternoon and head back in the evening — by then the crowds start to thin out.

Important: Only do this if you have hiking experience and can realistically estimate how long the loop will take you. Otherwise you risk finishing the last stretch in the dark.
Also read our tips on the best time to visit the Drei Zinnen

Extra Tips: Drei Zinnen Viewpoint & Alternative Hikes

Here are a few more pointers on other great spots to see the Drei Zinnen and some alternative hiking options worth considering.

#1 Drei Zinnen Viewpoint

Near the Dürrensee lake down in the Höhlenstein Valley, there’s a viewpoint overlooking the Drei Zinnen. A small scale model of the Drei Zinnen has been set up there, with the real peaks visible in the background.

The Drei Zinnen don’t look quite as massive and impressive from down here as they do from the top, but this vantage point is a great option if you simply want to catch a glimpse of the peaks without making the full trek.

#2 Hike from the Fischleintal

Another solid alternative is the ascent from the Fischleintal — a side valley of the Sexten Valley, branching off near Moos.

From here you can hike all the way to the Dreizinnen Hut. The round trip covers about 9 miles, depending on exactly where you start and how far you go.

#3 Multi-Day Hut-to-Hut Tour

Want to see more of the three peaks dolomites area beyond the Drei Zinnen? A hut-to-hut tour is a seriously rewarding way to do it. You hike for several days from hut to hut, spending each night along the way.

The great thing about this is that you can always set out early in the morning before the day visitors arrive, and the trails are much less crowded.

Here you’ll find a few options for hut-to-hut tours near the Drei Zinnen.

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