16 Spectacular Hikes In The Dolomites – The Best Dolomites Hiking Guide

This post is also available in: Nederlands

After traveling to the Dolomites 4 times now I am ready to share my favourite hikes with you! Some of these hiking guides are not for the faint of heart but some are also perfect if it’s your first time hiking in the Dolomites (or at all for that matters). The Dolomites are a true hiker’s paradise with rugged mountain peaks everywhere you look. The crystal clear lakes and enchanting valleys that you encounter along the way are simply the icing on the cake.

All of these hikes can be done in one day and don’t require any additional equipment besides good hiking shoes. So far I don’t have any experience with via ferrata’s in the Dolomites so don’t worry about bringing a helmet etc if you want to complete any of the hikes below!

Every single hike on this list is one that I experienced myself. If you want more information simply click on the link provided with each hike and then you’ll be redirected to the full article which also includes all of the photos I’ve taken.

Some links in this post are to affiliate sites. If you purchase something through them, I may earn a small comission — which costs you nothing! I am very grateful when you use my links to make a purchase.

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Dolomites Hiking Guide: 16 Best Hikes In The Dolomites

📆 When is the best time to go hiking in the Dolomites

The official hiking season usually starts in May and ends somewhere halfway through October. Before and after that it is still possible to visit the Dolomites and to enjoy some of the more easy hikes but the higher hiking trails will most likely be covered in snow.

My 3 favourite months to hike in the Dolomites are as followed

• June – Temperatures are slowly rising, meadows are covered in beautiful wildflowers and the amount of tourists is still ok.
• September – Still warm but towards the end of the Summer you’ll find a lot less tourists here. During this month you also have a high chance of seeing cloud inversions.
• October – This is the ideal month if you want to photograph the Fall foliage in the Dolomites. Then again you can already encounter snow on some of your hikes.

Essential tips for hiking in the Dolomites

• Wear sturdy hiking shoes, preferably mountain trail shoes. A lot of the trails can be rocky and uneven and you don’t want to loose your balance.
• Pack for 4 seasons: even in the Summer months it can be very cold if you start hiking in the early morning. Make sure you’re wearing layers so you can easily take something on or put on an extra layer if you’re taking a break.
• If you want to sleep in one of the rifugio’s during high season you need to book well in advance.
• Make sure to arrive early at the most popular hiking trails to ensure you have the best experience.
• Bring polarised sunglasses with you if you plan on hiking in the snow. Otherwise you risk of becoming snow blind.
• Bring a small first aid kit with you. You can always hurt yourself during a hike and it’s important that you’re able to disinfect wounds as fast as possible.
• Almost all of the hiking trails are well marked but make sure to plan your route on maps.me as well.
• Head Lamp – One of the ost amazing things to do in the Dolomites is to go on a sunrise or sunset hike! But you have to come prepared and bring a head lamp with you so you can get safely on or off the mountain in the dark.
• Trekking Poles – Ever since I got my first pair of trekking poles I can’t even imagine hiking without them!

Planning your trip to the Dolomites

🏨 Find the best accommodations on Booking.com
💰 Get reliable travel insurance from World Nomads
🎒 Pack a power bank, hiking shoes and trekking poles.

🚗 Rent a car to drive to the best hiking trails in the Dolomites with SunnyCars.com
📚 Read Photographing the Dolomites and Walking in the Dolomites

🚗 Rent a car in the Dolomites by using SunnyCars. There’s never any hidden costs with them and free cancellation up to 1 hour before rental start. Their price is transparent and everything is included.

Book your rental car here.

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16 Best Hiking Trails in the Dolomites

1. Tre Cime di Lavaredo Hike

The Tre Cime di Lavaredo Circuit is by far the most popular hiking trail in the Dolomites and one that you absolutely shouldn’t miss if it’s your first time visit the South Tyrolean region. The hiking circuit is located in the Tre Cime National Park which is a UNESCO World Heritage site.

There are many different hiking trails in the Tre Cime National Park but this one definitely offers the best view over the Drei Zinnen. The hike starts at the infamous rifugio Auronzo and takes about 4 hours in total to complete. If you’re a photographer you might want to calculate in an extra hour cause you’ll be in for a real treat during this spectacular hike.

I totally recommend starting this hike early in the morning cause it’s one of the top things to do in the Dolomites. Start walking at sunrise and you’ll have a wonderful time without hundreds of other people.

The hiking trail starts at rifugio Auronzo and to get here you need to go through a toll booth. The cost for a regular car to go up is €30 and the toll road is open from 7am to 7pm.

Hiking Distance – 10km (6.2 miles)

Elevation – 340m

Route Type – Loop Trail

Duration – 3,5 hours

Level – Moderate. There are two “steep” inclines but they don’t last long!

Parking Lot – Rifugio Auronzo

Best time to visit – This is one of the most popular hiking trails in the Dolomites so it’s best to start hiking as early as possible. From 10am there can be a very long line to get up to rifugio Auronzo with your car.

Season – June until the end of October

🏨 WHERE TO STAY NEAR TRE CIME – Grand Hotel Savoia Cortina d’Ampezzo for an unforgettable and luxurious stay or enjoy the authentic charm of Hotel Eggele

VIEW THE FULL BLOG POST: Hiking The Tre Cime Di Lavaredo Circuit

2. Lago di Federa Hike

A visit to Lago di Federa might not immediately be on your radar when planning a tip to the Dolomites, but it should be! Lago di Federa is a crystal clear lake high up in the mountains near Val Gardena. It’s surrounded by tons of larches which make for the most magical backdrop during Fall season.

The hike to Lago di Federa is actually part of the Croda do Lago hike! If you have enough time make sure to complete the entire loop circuit which takes around 7 to 8 hours. It’s also possible to simply follow the hiking trail up to Lago di Federa and then turn back towards the car.

I did this hike during the second half of October and you may not believe me but there was already snow on the ground! If that’s the case you really want to bring hiking poles with you cause the trail is pretty steep. In total it took me 3 hours to hike up and back down but my guess is you can do it much faster without slippery snow and ice on the ground!

Hiking Distance – 9.5km (5.9 miles)

Elevation – 750m

Route Type – Out & Back

Duration – 3 hours

Level – Moderate

Parking Lot – Ponte de Ru Curto

Best time to visit – The best time for this hike is during sunrise in October

Season – June until the end of October

🏨 WHERE TO STAY NEAR LAGO FEDERA – Rosapetra SPA Resort for a luxurious stay in the heart of Cortina D’Ampenzo or Hotel Europa for a stylish stay in the heart of the Dolomites.

VIEW THE FULL BLOG POST – How To Visit Lago Di Federa

3. Lago di Braies Hike

Lago di Braies, also known as Pragser Wildsee, is one of the most popular mountain lakes in Europe and one of the top attractions in the Dolomites. For a lot of people it’s the highlight of their holiday in the Dolomites and most of them visit lake Braies to just take a couple of photos, preferably all in the exact same spot.

But what if I told you there’s actually a beautiful hiking trail which circles around the entire lake? It takes around 1 hour to complete this circular loop and besides a few stairs up and down now and then it’s a really easy hike that you can even do with kids.

To have the best experience at Lago di Braies make sure to arrive as early as possible. If you can muster it, sunrise is a really good idea. Not only will you be one of the only ones hiking you’ll also be able to admire the beauty of sunrises in the mountains. Cause when the first light hits the mountain tops their colour turns into the most magnificent orange shade of pink.

Hiking Distance – 4km (2.4 miles)

Elevation – 181m

Route Type – Loop Trail

Duration – 1 hour

Level – Easy

Parking Lot – Lago di Braies

Best time to visit – Lago di Braies, also known as Lago di Instagram, is one of the most crowded and heavily visited places in the Dolomites. Try to get here before 9am to score a spot on the parking lot. Most people however stay around the boat house to take photos and don’t complete the entire loop trail.

Season – May until the end of October

🏨 WHERE TO STAY NEAR LAGO DI BRAIES – Hotel Lago di Braies – You can’t get any closer to the lake than with this hotel. Watch the sun rise above the lake from you hotel window.

VIEW THE FULL BLOG POST – Lago di Braies Hiking Guide

REACH IT BY TOUR

If you’re. not renting car you can reach Lago di Braies by tour. Travel the Great Dolomites Road from Bolzano to Cortina d’Ampezzo on a full-day tour through one of the most beautiful and unique alpine regions in the world.

4. Lago di Carezza Hike

Lago di Carezza, also known as Karersee, is a beautiful emerald green lake in the province of South Tyrol. This is one of the shortest hikes in the Dolomites (only 20 minutes haha), but it’s definitely worth to walk around the entire lake to catch its beauty from different angles.

Legend says that Lago di Carezza owns it colour due to a wizard who fell in love with a mermaid that lived in the lake. The wizard wanted to lure the mermaid out of the lake and created a rainbow in the sky but as soon as the mermaid saw him she got scared and disappeared into the lake, never to be seen again. In al of his rage the wizard tore down the rainbow and threw it into the lake.

There’s a huge parking lot right next to Karersee and when you reach the lake you’ll clearly see that it’s fenced off. Please respect the rules and don’t climb over the fence.

Hiking Distance – 1.1km (0.7 miles)

Elevation – 31m

Route Type – Loop Trail

Duration – 25 minutes

Level – Easy

Parking Lot – Lago di Carezza

Best time to visit – Lago di Carezza is at its most beautiful during either sunrise or sunset.

Season – May until the end of October

🏨 WHERE TO STAY NEAR LAGO DI CAREZZA – Boutique Hotel Nives for an unforgettable stay right next to Passo Gardena or enjoy this luxurious adults only hotel Alpin Garden Luxury Maison

REACH IT BY TOUR

If you’re. not renting car you can reach Lago di Carezza by tour. Travel the Great Dolomites Road from Bolzano to Cortina d’Ampezzo on a full-day tour through one of the most beautiful and unique alpine regions in the world.

5. Cadini di Missurina Hike

Cadini di Missurina is a mountain range that is located in the province of Veneto and one of the most beautiful places in the Dolomites. With its rugged mountain peaks this hike will make you feel like you’ve set foot on Mordor.

There are two main viewpoints in total that people hike up to. The first one is a small pinnacle and you should only attempt to go here on a dry and clear day. The hiking trail that leads here is very narrow and it can be dangerous. Unfortunately over the past years this spot became a victim of its own popularity and it’s no exception that you will have to stand in line if you want to take a photo.

The other viewpoint however is way safer and equally as impressive! The total hike to go there and back to your car takes about 1,5 hour. This is the ideal hike to combine with the Tre Cime di Lavaredo Circuit.

Hiking Distance – 4km (2.4 miles)

Elevation – 112m

Route Type – Out & Back

Duration – 1,5 hour

Level – Moderate

Parking Lot – Rifugio Auronzo

Best time to visit – The best time to photograph these mountains is during sunset.

Season – June until the end of October

🏨 WHERE TO STAY NEAR CADINI DI MISSURINA – Grand Hotel Savoia Cortina d’Ampezzo for an unforgettable and luxurious stay or enjoy the authentic charm of Hotel Eggele

VIEW THE FULL BLOS POST: CADINI DI MISSURINA HIKING GUIDE

6. Col Raiser to Seceda Hike

The Col Raiser to Seceda hike is one of my favourite hiking trails in the Dolomites. You’ll start your hike up with a steep incline at the Col Raiser cable car (in high season you can take the cable car up but you would miss a lot of stunning viewpoints if you do that!).

After that you’ll walk through a stunning pine forest and then you’ll be surrounded by insane mountain ranges everywhere that you look. I was in awe (and out of breath) the entire hike up and this is the number 1 hike I recommend to people if they”re looking for a more unique approach to the Dolomites.

In the end you’ll walk up along the Seceda ridgeline where you’ll end at the well known viewpoint. In total this hike takes around 4 hours to complete, for us it just took a little longer cause I was knee deep in snow for half of the hike up.

Hiking Distance – 17km (10.5 miles)

Elevation – 1100m

Route Type – Out & Back

Duration – 6.5 hours

Level – Moderate to Hard

Parking Lot – Col Raiser gondola

Best time to visit – It’s a pretty long hike but if you’re up for it you should do this hike so you’re either at the top for sunrise or sunset!

Season – June until the end of October

🏨 WHERE TO STAY NEAR SECEDA – Boutique Hotel Nives for an unforgettable stay right next to Passo Gardena or enjoy this luxurious adults only hotel Alpin Garden Luxury Maison

VIEW THE FULL BLOG POST – Col Raiser to Seceda Hike

7. Val di Funes Hike

If you’ve ever seen a postcard from the Dolomites, chances are very high that Val di Funes is pictured on it. The Seceda ridgeline in the back and a small church in the middle of a green meadow. It’s by far one of the most photographed places in the Dolomites but the same goes here as with Lago di Braies: there are actually a lot of beautiful hiking trails leading around Val di Funes.

One of the most beautiful hikes in Val di Funes is to hike up to the Santa Magdalena viewpoint and from there make your way down to Zanser Alm and then even up to Kanserill Alm.

🏨 WHERE TO STAY NEAR VAL DI FUNES – Boutique Hotel Nives for an unforgettable stay right next to Passo Gardena or enjoy this luxurious adults only hotel Alpin Garden Luxury Maison

VIEW THE FULL BLOG POST – Val di Funes Santa Maddalena Guide

8. Val Fiscalina to Drei Zinnen Hike

Val Fiscalina is a beautiful valley located in the township of Sesto and the starting point for one of the most impressive hikes in the Dolomites. This hiking trail is at its best from Spring to early Fall and we were actually greeted by a thick blanket of snow.

This did make things a little more complicated and it certainly made us a lot slower but I would do this hike again in a heartbeat in the Summer months.
You’ll start by walking through a beautiful forest and from here you walk up next to a little river stream until you reach the valley underneath the Drei Zinnen hut.

The total hike should take around 5 to 6 hours without snow :).

Hiking Distance – 17km (10.5 miles)

Elevation – 1000m

Route Type – Out & Back

Duration – 6,5 hours

Level – Moderate to Hard

Parking Lot – Parkplatz Fischleinbodenhütte

Best time to visit – I would start this hike in the morning so you’ll have plenty of time to complete it. During the Summer months you can even combine it with the Tre Cime Circuit since you’ll arrive at the Drei Zinnen Hut.

Season – June until the end of October

🏨 WHERE TO STAY NEAR VAL FISCALINA – Grand Hotel Savoia Cortina d’Ampezzo for an unforgettable and luxurious stay or enjoy the authentic charm of Hotel Eggele

VIEW THE FULL BLOG POST – Val Fiscalina to Drei Zinnen hike

9. Alpe di Siusi Hike

Alpe di Siusi, also known as Seiser Alm, is a beautiful meadow and one of the most iconic places in the Dolomites that’s definitely worth the day trip. Seiser Alm is located in the Western part of the Dolomites at an altitude of 1680m and it goes on for  52 km².

There’s a ton of hiking trails spread out over Seiser Alm but most of them start in Compatsch where you also have to park your car. The best thing to do is spend half a day or an entire day on this meadow cause there’s plenty of good South Tyrolean restaurants here as well.

🏨 WHERE TO STAY NEAR ALPE DI SIUSI – Stay at Alpina Dolomites for a wonderful and luxurious stay or ICARO Hotel for one of the best views in Alpe di Siusi.

VIEW THE FULL BLOG POST – Alpe di Siusi Hiking Guide

10. Stiergarten Hike

The hiking trail to Stiergarten is one of those hidden gems in the Dolomites. The trail starts at the foot of the Tre Cime cable car in Sesto and climbs all the way up until you reach the Stiergarten meadow.

During the Summer months you’ll find tons of cows grazing here and living their best life. It’s a pretty steep climb but the view that comes after makes more than up for it. You get an overview over the entire Tre Cime National Park and from Stiergarten you can climb up even more and witness some incredible viewpoints!

In total this hike takes around 4 to 5 hours to complete but more time can be added to it depending if you hike up to any of the other viewpoints.

In the Summer months you can make it very easy on yourself and simply take the cable car up to the meadow. But from there you can keep on exploring and hike to a lot of different vantage points. The details below are for when the cable car is closed and you have to hike up.

Hiking Distance – 13km (8 miles)

Elevation – 750m

Route Type – Out & Back

Duration – 4,5 hours

Level – Moderate to Hard

Parking Lot – Parkplatz Tre Cime cable car in Sesto

Best time to visit – I would start this hike in the morning so you’ll have plenty of time to complete it.

Season – June until the end of October

🏨 WHERE TO STAY NEAR STIERGARTEN – Grand Hotel Savoia Cortina d’Ampezzo for an unforgettable and luxurious stay or enjoy the authentic charm of Hotel Eggele

11. Lago di Dobbiaco Hike

The hiking trail around Lago di Dobbiaco, also known as Toblacher See, is another one that you can do with the entire family. This beautiful alpine lake can be found in the municipality of Dobbiaco at the start of the Tre Cime National Park.

The hiking trail is a circular path that goes around the entire lake and in total it takes less than 1 hour to complete it.

Hiking Distance – 3km (1.8 miles)

Elevation – 20m

Route Type – Loop Trail

Duration – 48 minutes

Level – Easy

Parking Lot – Lago di Dobbiaco. You can only pay the parking lot with cash.

Best time to visit – You can do this hike during any time of day.

Season – May until the end of October

🏨 WHERE TO STAY NEAR LAGO DOBBIACO – Grand Hotel Savoia Cortina d’Ampezzo for an unforgettable and luxurious stay or enjoy the authentic charm of Hotel Eggele

12. Gran Cir Via Ferrata

The Gran Cir Via Ferrata has to be one of my favorite hikes in the Dolomites due to the spectacular views you get to witness when you reach the top.

For those of you who have never done a via ferrata don’t be discouraged. It’s only a very short part of the hike where you need the help of a chain to climb up the mountain and you don’t need any gear to complete this hike. It is however a very steep hike so if you have trekking poles, definitely bring them with you for this one. I didn’t and I regretted it the entire way up.

Even though that it’s a rather short hike you really shouldn’t underestimate it. The climb up is pretty brutal and in all honesty I didn’t even make it all the way up. Like I said before I didn’t bring my trekking poles and my backpack was way too heavy from all of the camera gear that I was dragging with me. But along the way up I found this amazing spot from where I could admire the sunrise as well.

Hiking Distance – 4.5km (2.8 miles)

Elevation – 474m

Route Type – Out & Back

Duration – 3 hours

Level – Moderate to Hard

Parking Lot – Passo Gardena, which is accessible from Val Gardena or Val Badia along the paved serpentine SS243 road. The parking lot adjacent to Rifugio Frara on the Sella side is gated and requires payment as early as 7 am. After your hike, you can pay using cash, or cards, at the parking machine. However when I was there at the end of October the railing was open the entire time and payment wasn’t required.

Best time to visit – This is one of those hikes where you really want to be at the top for sunrise. It was simply magical to watch the sun light up the valley below. It was truly an unforgettable experience. Don’t forget to bring your headlamp with you if you embark on this adventure in the dark.

Season – June until the end of October depending on the snowfall.

🏨 WHERE TO STAY NEAR GRAN CIR – Boutique Hotel Nives for an unforgettable stay right next to Passo Gardena or enjoy this luxurious adults only hotel Alpin Garden Luxury Maison

VIEW THE FULL BLOG POST – HIKING THE GRAN CIR VIA FERRATA

13. Adolf Munkel Trail

This fun hiking trail in the Dolomites is one that you can enjoy with the entire family! The trail starts and ends at the mountain hut Zanser Alm and I highly recommend you to grab a bite here either before or after your hike.

The main goal of this hike is to reach the picturesque Geisler Alm in the Puez-Odle Nature Park. The Adolf Munkel Trail will lead you through a forest and across alpine meadows. All the while admiring the Geisler/Odle group from the foot of these spectacular mountains.

Hiking Distance – 9.2km (5.7 miles)

Elevation – 378m

Route Type – Loop Trail

Duration – 3 hours

Level – Easy to Moderate

Parking Lot – Zanser Alm

Best time to visit – I highly recommend starting your hike in the afternoon so you can be at Geisler Alm for sunset and see the peaks light up by the sunlight.

Season – June until the end of October depending on the snowfall.

🏨 WHERE TO STAY NEAR GEISLER ALM – Boutique Hotel Nives for an unforgettable stay right next to Passo Gardena or enjoy this luxurious adults only hotel Alpin Garden Luxury Maison

14. Lago Limides Hiking Trail

The hiking trail to lago Limides is one of the easiest hiking trails in the Dolomites but its reward is huge. Honestly, just look at the photos below and you’ll immediately understand why!

I did this hike in late October and what I didn’t realize is that a lot of these lakes in the Dolomites are glacial fed. Once the snow starts melting they fill up but by the start of Fall they are usually dried up or very small. In my case there wasn’t a single drop left. This shouldn’t however hold you back if you’re visiting the Dolomites in late October like I was.

This is one of the most spectacular places in the Dolomites to watch the sunrise and it will only take you 30 minutes to reach the top.

Hiking Distance – 2km (1.25 miles)

Elevation – 120m

Route Type – Out & Back

Duration – 1 hour

Level – Easy

Parking Lot – Rifugio Col Gallina

Best time to visit – The best time to do this hike is during sunrise when the Lagazuoi mountains get lit up from the sun.

Season – June until the end of October depending on the snowfall.

🏨 WHERE TO STAY NEAR LAGO LIMIDES – Rosapetra SPA Resort for a luxurious stay in the heart of Cortina D’Ampenzo or Hotel Europa for a stylish stay in the heart of the Dolomites.

15. Lagazuoi Tunnels to Rifugio Lagazuoi

I will never forget the hike up to rifugio Lagazuoi in the Dolomites. It had me sweating from head to toe but damn, it was worth the struggle! There are different ways to reach the top of this particular mountain. The easiest way is to simply get on the cable car and hop off at the top.

Unfortunately cable car season in the Dolomites doesn’t last all year long and by the time I visited at the end of October it was closed for business. But this also meant that I was forced to do one of the most thrilling hikes in my entire life and I did it all by myself.

The Lagazuoi tunnels stem from the first World War and they serve as a sort of real life open air museum. During the war the Italians fought the Austrian soldiers and these mountains formed a very important and strategic place.

Make sure to wear sturdy hiking shoes and bring a proper head lamp with you. The tunnels are kilometers long and it’s pitch black inside. Once and then there will be a small hole which sheds some light into the tunnel but that’s pretty much it. The stairs are large and there’s a railing to hold onto but they can get wet and slippery.

You can honestly make this hike as difficult or easy as you want. But if you can’t take the gondola back down you can either hike back down through the tunnels or take the route down that goes around the mountain.

Hiking Distance – 6.1km ( 3.8 miles)

Elevation – 745m

Route Type – Loop Trail

Duration – 4 hours

Level – Hard

Parking Lot – Lagazuoi Cable Car Station

Best time to visit – It totally depends on the time of year. I started in the afternoon and was back down before sunset. I do however highly recommend to stay overnight at rifugio Lagazuoi when it’s open. You can even send your backpack up with the gondola to make the hike a little easier.

Season – June until the end of October depending on the snowfall.

🏨 WHERE TO STAY – Rosapetra SPA Resort for a luxurious stay in the heart of Cortina D’Ampenzo or Hotel Europa for a stylish stay in the heart of the Dolomites.

VIEW THE FULL BLOG POST – HIKING THE LAGAZUOI TUNNELS TRAIL TO RIFUGIO LAGAZUOI

16. Passo Gardena Trail

This is another hiking trail in the Dolomites that requires very little effort and the reward is enormous. Passo Gardena is one of the most beautiful places near Val Gardena and this trail will take you up the Sella side. So the opposite side of the Gran Cir via ferrata.

The trail does however start at th same parking lot at rifugio Frara. on the left side of the rifugio you can see a small trail leading you up and this is exactly the same spot where the photos below were taken. You can choose to keep on hiking further up as well and simply follow the MTB Trail am Grödner Joch.

🏨 WHERE TO STAY NEAR PASSO GARDENA – Boutique Hotel Nives for an unforgettable stay right next to Passo Gardena or enjoy this luxurious adults only hotel Alpin Garden Luxury Maison

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