From the Passo Tre Croci, a 1,809 m high mountain pass between Cortina d’Ampezzo e Misurina, starts one of the most beautiful hikes in this part of the Dolomites
Image gallery: Hike to Lake Sorapiss
This hike takes us beyond the borders of South Tyrol, but the magnificent Sorapiss Lake, embedded like a precious turquoise in the chain of Dolomite peaks, is more than worth the effort. Moreover, on this beautiful October day, the landscape shows itself in its most brilliant colours and much less crowded than on some summer weekends.
We park our car at the Passo Tre Croci and start our hiking tour on path no. 215, which leads into the forests of the Orti di Marcoira at 1,760 m a.s.l. Afterwards the trail continues - without any significant difference in altitude - on the slope between mountain pines. After half of the way we reach the valley basin of the Rio Sorapiss stream. Now it gets a bit more demanding: A section with iron stairs and some passages secured with steel ropes are ahead of us. Please be careful here: Even though these sections are not very difficult as such, you can easily slip if the path is crowded or wet!
The path continues to ascend until suddenly the lake glows turquoise blue in front of us. Then the path continues to ascend until suddenly the lake glows turquoise blue in front of us. The short walk around the lake is a must and offers unique views on the surrounding Dolomite landscape. Next to the lake is the Vandelli Mountain Hut (1,926 m a.s.l.), which invites to take a well-deserved rest (open from about mid-June to mid-September). We are already too late, but we take the opportunity to enjoy the food we have brought with us in this wonderful environment: it is one of the most beautiful spots in the Dolomites, the so-called "Pale Mountains". Afterwards we return to the Passo Tre Croci along the same route.
Author: Giacomo Roccabruna
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- Starting point:
- Passo Tre Croci (Belluno Province) between Cortina d'Ampezzo and Misurina
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- Time required:
- 05:00 h
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- Track length:
- 12,9 km
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- Altitude:
- from 1.726 m to 1.942 m
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- Altitude difference:
- +556 m | -556 m
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- Signposts:
- no. 215 (Alta Via delle Dolomiti n. 3)
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- Destination:
- Lake Sorapiss
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- Resting points:
- Vandelli alpine hut
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- Recommended time of year:
- Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec
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- Download GPX track:
- Hike to Lake Sorapiss
If you want to do this hike, we suggest you to check the weather and trail conditions in advance and on site before setting out.
