Around the Drei Zinnen in the Dolomites in Italy – 3 days
Level: T1/T2 and T2/T3
Period: Late June – mid September
These two amazing hut hikes go around the ‘Drei Zinnen’ or ‘Tre Cime di Lavaredo’, Italian for ‘Three Peaks of Lavaredo’. The Drei Zinnen are three distinctive peaks, in the Sexten Dolomites of northeastern Italy.
We’ve listed two options. One is very easy (level T1/T2), the other one a bit longer and harder (level T2/T3). Both hikes are high up in the mountains and extremely spectacular. The part to the Büllelejochhütte is a bit more challenging and a lot steeper, but very rewarding. The huts are all quite close to each other and the hiking days can easily be shortened or extended. So don’t worry if one of the huts is not available, just adjust your hiking route.
This hike is listed in our travel blog. Hiking times mentioned below are adjusted to hiking with kids.
Option 1: the easy route – level T1/T2
Day 1: Park at the Auronzohütte (Rifugio Auronzo – 2333 m) and hike via the Lavaredohütte (Rifugio Lavaredo) to two small lakes a bit above the lavaredohütte. Stay the night in the Lavaredohütte. 3,5 km, 1,5 – 2 hours, ↑ 130 m, ↓ 90 m. The trail first leads you to the Lavaredohütte, a hut at the base of the famous Tre Cime. Along the way, you’ll enjoy panoramic views of the jagged peaks, you might even spot some mountain climbers high up on the walls of one of the Tre Cime. After passing the hut, the path gradually ascends through rocky terrain to two smal lakes where you’ll have a beautiful reflection of the surrounding peaks.
Day 2: Hike from the Lavaredohütte to the Dreizinnenhütte (Rifugio Antonio Locatelli – 2405 m). This is an relatively short and easy hike, but incredibly beautiful – 3 km, 1:30, ↑ 180 m, ↓ 100 m. There are many hiking options around the Dreizinnenhütte to fill up the rest of your day.
Day 3: Hike back from the Dreizinnenhütte to the parking place at the Auronzohütte. You’ll have two options:
Via the Lavaredohütte: 5 km, 2 hours, ↑ 100 m, ↓ 200 m.
Via Col Forcellina: 5 km, 2,5 hours, ↑ 200 m, ↓ 300 m. This ways you’ll see the other side of the Tre Cime.
Option 2: the harder route – level T2/T3
Day 1: Park at the Auronzohütte (Rifugio Auronzo – 2333 m) en hike via the Lavaredohütte (Rifugio Lavaredo) to Zsigmondy-Comici Hütte (Rifugio Zsigmondy-Comici). The trail first leads you to the Lavaredohütte, a hut at the base of the famous Tre Cime. After passing the hut, the path gradually ascends through rocky terrain, winding through dramatic alpine scenery to the Zsigmondy-Comici Hütte.
Day 2: Hike from Zsigmondy-Comici Hütte to the Büllelejochhütte (Rifugio Pian di Cengia – 2528 m) and on to the Dreizinnenhütte (Rifugio Antonio Locatelli – 2405 m) – 5,2 km, 3 hours, ↑ 420 m, ↓ 240 m, level T3. The section from the Büllelejochhütte to the Dreizinnenhütte is initially very steep, but incredibly beautiful. There are many hiking options around the Dreizinnenhütte to fill up the rest of your day.
Day 3: Hike back from the Dreizinnenhütte to the Auronzohütte via the Paternsattel/Forcella lavaredo and take the path on the backside of the Tre Cime – 5,6 km, 3 hours, ↑ 160 m, ↓ 230 m, level T3. This section takes a bit of scrambling over big rocks, due to rock fall from the Tre Cime. If you don’t want that, take the route via Col Forecellina or the Lavaredohütte.
Good to know:
- All huts have drinking water.
- None of the huts have Wi-Fi. There virtually no mobile phone coverage in this area, you might get a signal here and there though. So download your maps on your phone before you go.
- Almost all huts are cash only.
- There is ample parking space at the Auronzohütte (at 2300 m). It’s expensive (around €30 for the first 24 hours, around €15 for every executive 24 hours), but well worth it and very convenient.
- The huts are generally open from late June to the end of September. May, June and October are some shoulder months where you can do some great hiking in this area, but without the option to stay the night. During these months it’s definitely a lot quieter than during the peak summer season.
