DOLOMITES PHOTOGRAPHY GUIDE
02 - Tre Cime di Lavaredo ***
Three distinctive peaks in the Sexten
HOW TO GET THERE
32041 Auronzo,
Province of Belluno, Italy
Distance from Cortina d'Ampezzo ~ 21 km (~13 mi)
Travel time ~ 40 minutes to parking + 2 hours on foot
From Cortina d'Ampezzo, take the SR48 road, turn to Lake Misurina at SP49, drive along the lake towards Tre Cime Park. You can drive to Rifugio Auronzo, where you can leave your car in a free parking lot.
I recommend arriving before dawn.
The entrance to the park is paid.
Further into the park, there's a footpath. The distance to Rifugio Antonio Locatelli is approximately 4.5 km (~3 mi). Travel time is a about two hours depending on your walking or hiking speed.
Coordinates of Rifugio Antonio Locatelli: 46°38'13.1"N12°18'38.7"E
Information on tracks in the park is available at: http://trek.trecimedolomiti.it/
Province of Belluno, Italy
Distance from Cortina d'Ampezzo ~ 21 km (~13 mi)
Travel time ~ 40 minutes to parking + 2 hours on foot
From Cortina d'Ampezzo, take the SR48 road, turn to Lake Misurina at SP49, drive along the lake towards Tre Cime Park. You can drive to Rifugio Auronzo, where you can leave your car in a free parking lot.
I recommend arriving before dawn.
The entrance to the park is paid.
Further into the park, there's a footpath. The distance to Rifugio Antonio Locatelli is approximately 4.5 km (~3 mi). Travel time is a about two hours depending on your walking or hiking speed.
Coordinates of Rifugio Antonio Locatelli: 46°38'13.1"N12°18'38.7"E
Information on tracks in the park is available at: http://trek.trecimedolomiti.it/
historical reference
Tre Cime di Lavaredo, aka Drei Zinnen or Three Peaks of Lavaredo, are three distinctive peaks in the Sexten Dolomites of northeastern Italy. They are the best known mountain group in the Alps. So if you're travelling to Italy to Dolomites, this is the must-visit spot.
There are three peaks, which, from east to west, are as follows:
Although the peaks had formed part of the Italian border with Austria up until 1919, they now lie on the border between the Italian provinces of South Tyrol and Belluno. Because of the region's history, they are still a linguistic boundary between German-speaking and Italian-speaking majorities.
The first described ascent dates back to 1869, when Paul Grohmann and a couple of his guides climbed up Cima Grande. A few years later, a couple of enthusiasts conquered the two remaining peaks. Since then, all these three initial routes are used by tourists as the regular ascents.
There are three peaks, which, from east to west, are as follows:
- Cima Piccola (little peak; 2,857 metres (9,373 ft))
- Cima Grande (big peak; 2,999 m (9,839 ft))
- Cima Ovest (western peak; 2,973 metres (9,754 ft))
Although the peaks had formed part of the Italian border with Austria up until 1919, they now lie on the border between the Italian provinces of South Tyrol and Belluno. Because of the region's history, they are still a linguistic boundary between German-speaking and Italian-speaking majorities.
The first described ascent dates back to 1869, when Paul Grohmann and a couple of his guides climbed up Cima Grande. A few years later, a couple of enthusiasts conquered the two remaining peaks. Since then, all these three initial routes are used by tourists as the regular ascents.
suggested trail
Starting at Rifugio Aurenzo follow the path to Cappella degli Alpini, before arriving at Rifugio Lavaredo (which can be closed depending on the season, so check beforehand). Exactly to your left, you'll see the three peaks rising up above the landscape, while on your right, the other jagged Dolomiti mountains.
From Rifugio Lavaredo, turn left and follow the path upwards towards Forcella Lavaredo, a nice view point on Tre Cime di Lavaredo. From here, you can take breathtaking pictures over the valley and towards Rifugio Locatelli.
Your next destination is Rifugio Locatelli. From Forcella Lavaredo, you can hike up two trails, one of which is steep and the other -- easier and well-trodden, both of them are leading to the same destination; however, if you are confident in your hiking stamina, I recommend taking the least trodden path, as it has a few spots with epic views. Nevertheless, since the trail is quite steep, it might be dangerous, so if you're not confident in your hiking skills, better take the easiest trail.
Once you've arrived at Rifugio Locatelli, take a break on the terrace, have a drink or some food or both, and enjoy the stunning scenery of Tre Cime. If you have time, walk around Rifugio Locatelli and explore the area. There are a few bunkers and tunnels left from WWI, as well as other interesting photography spots to get a good perspective of three peaks. There's a nice Laghi dei Piani below the Rifugio that you can also take a glimpse at or shoot from above.
Hike up to the nearest peak, which will take about half an hour -- along the road there is a beautiful view of Refugio Locateli and three peaks. Otherwise -- you can go along the left path and climb 200-300 meters to a little moutainscape tunnel from which you can see the three peaks.
From Rifugio Lavaredo, turn left and follow the path upwards towards Forcella Lavaredo, a nice view point on Tre Cime di Lavaredo. From here, you can take breathtaking pictures over the valley and towards Rifugio Locatelli.
Your next destination is Rifugio Locatelli. From Forcella Lavaredo, you can hike up two trails, one of which is steep and the other -- easier and well-trodden, both of them are leading to the same destination; however, if you are confident in your hiking stamina, I recommend taking the least trodden path, as it has a few spots with epic views. Nevertheless, since the trail is quite steep, it might be dangerous, so if you're not confident in your hiking skills, better take the easiest trail.
Once you've arrived at Rifugio Locatelli, take a break on the terrace, have a drink or some food or both, and enjoy the stunning scenery of Tre Cime. If you have time, walk around Rifugio Locatelli and explore the area. There are a few bunkers and tunnels left from WWI, as well as other interesting photography spots to get a good perspective of three peaks. There's a nice Laghi dei Piani below the Rifugio that you can also take a glimpse at or shoot from above.
Hike up to the nearest peak, which will take about half an hour -- along the road there is a beautiful view of Refugio Locateli and three peaks. Otherwise -- you can go along the left path and climb 200-300 meters to a little moutainscape tunnel from which you can see the three peaks.
Consider staying overnight at the Rifugio to catch Tre Cime at different times of day or explore the vicinity in greater detail. However, check the website for more details on the seasons when the hotel operates.
From Rifugio Locatelli follow the path (102) down the valley stopping occasionally to capture breathtaking views of Tre Cime. This is the steepest path, so be careful. Join another path (105) to Malga Langalm Rifugio. At Malga Langalm, ensure you have food if you have not yet eaten.
The final part of the hike is following the same 105 path around three peaks towards Forcella del Col de Mèdo viewpoint, where you can observe Lago di Misurina. From this place, it's a 10 minute walk to the car park (Rifugio Aurenzo).
Make sure you dress up in warm clothes and bring along hot drinks and food. In the early morning in the fall in the mountains, the temperatures can be freezing.
From Rifugio Locatelli follow the path (102) down the valley stopping occasionally to capture breathtaking views of Tre Cime. This is the steepest path, so be careful. Join another path (105) to Malga Langalm Rifugio. At Malga Langalm, ensure you have food if you have not yet eaten.
The final part of the hike is following the same 105 path around three peaks towards Forcella del Col de Mèdo viewpoint, where you can observe Lago di Misurina. From this place, it's a 10 minute walk to the car park (Rifugio Aurenzo).
Make sure you dress up in warm clothes and bring along hot drinks and food. In the early morning in the fall in the mountains, the temperatures can be freezing.
Photography recommendations
Now, if you look at the photography map I've drawn above -- you'll notice the sun points go out from Torre di Toblin or "delle Scalette," which, by the way, was used by Autsrian soldiers as an observation point in WWI.
Then there are a few photo points to the south of Torre di Toblin with the approximate shooting range from each to the mountains in the west, Tre Cime. These are the perfect sunset locations where you'll get the sun coming from behind the three peaks illuminating them from the background and making them stand out in their late afternoon-early evening glory.
However, you can also experiment and shoot at sunset, sunrise, or any other time, provided you want to find out how Tre Cime looks at different times of day.
Use 24-70 and tripod.
Then there are a few photo points to the south of Torre di Toblin with the approximate shooting range from each to the mountains in the west, Tre Cime. These are the perfect sunset locations where you'll get the sun coming from behind the three peaks illuminating them from the background and making them stand out in their late afternoon-early evening glory.
However, you can also experiment and shoot at sunset, sunrise, or any other time, provided you want to find out how Tre Cime looks at different times of day.
Use 24-70 and tripod.