Tre Cime di Lavaredo (Drei Zinnen in German) are three distinctive battlement-like peaks, in northeastern Italy. They are probably one of the best-known mountain groups in the Alps. The three peaks, from east to west, are Cima Piccola (Little Peak), Cima Grande (Big Peak) and Cima Ovest (Western Peak).
The most easily accessible support point around Drei Zinnen is Rifugio Auronzo (Auronzo hut, elevation: 2320 m). The cottage has good road connections to the tourist resort of Misurina (toll road) and part of the Tre Cime national park. Typical fee (2022 estimate) for cars and small vans is around 40 Euro for a whole day access. There are several levels of parking near the Rifugio. A narrow trail by the top parking lot offers shortcut into the wide hiking trail toward Rifugio Lavaredo and offers a great view of the surroundings.
About one kilometer east of Rifugio Auronzo and from there via a wide hiking trail lies the privately run Rifugio di Lavaredo (2325 m) at the southeast foot of the Kleine Zinne. This is the most popular part of the trail around Tre Cime. Below pictures have been taken on the trail.
The weather can change pretty quickly at this altitude. As shown in the pictures below on the return trail to Rifugio Auronzo, we had to take of our heavy jackets as the clouds cleared and the temperature rose about 10-15 degree higher in less than an hour.
In addition to serving as a popular tourist attraction for hikers and nature lovers, Tre Cime also serves as memory to some historic battles. Since the front line between Italy and Austria-Hungary during World War I ran through the Tre Cime peaks, there are a number of fortifications, trenches, tunnels, iron ladders, and commemorative plaques in the area. There was intense fighting throughout the so-called “White War” between 1915 and 1917.
Watch the video of the trail hike from Rifugio Auronzo to Rifugio Lavaredo for more details.
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