Hiking in the Dolomites: what to know first
The Dolomites are a network of marked trails, mountain huts and lifts across South Tyrol, Trentino and the province of Belluno. Many classic hikes start at a lift or a toll road, so the access rules often matter more than the trail itself. In 2026 several of the busiest places need a booking in summer.
The Dolomites hiking routes below mix real walks with lift-assisted viewpoints, because that is how most visitors experience the range. Where we have a verified distance, time and ascent, we give it. Where we do not, we say so instead of guessing. Check a local trail map before you set off.
The best hikes in the Dolomites: the first five
The classics, starting with the two best-documented routes.
1. Tre Cime di Lavaredo loop
9.5 km, about 3 hours, 400 metres of ascent. Other sources say 3 to 4 hours, so plan for the longer figure. The highest point is the Paternsattel at 2,454 m. The route follows trails 101 and 105 past Rifugio Auronzo, Rifugio Lavaredo, the Three Peaks hut (Dreizinnenhütte) and Malga dei Pastori. The huts are open from June to September. You need a reservation for the toll road: €40 per car in 2026.
Tre Cime guide →2. Lago di Sorapis
Start at Passo Tre Croci, trail 215. 10.5 km there and back, about 4 hours, roughly 434 metres up and down. The Cortina region's tourism website rates it as a route for experts, with ladders and exposed sections secured by cable. Rifugio Vandelli stands at the lake. The free car park at the pass has few spaces and is often full before 8 am in high summer. There is no fee and no reservation.
Cortina guide →3. Seceda
For Seceda hiking, the cable car from Ortisei reaches the ridge at 2,519 m. Summer 2026 runs from 22 May to 2 November, daily 8:30 am to 5:30 pm. A return ticket costs €74, sold online in 30-minute slots and not refundable. The private turnstile on the way to the best-known viewpoint charges €5 and is disputed. Walking times on the ridge are not in our verified data, so ask at the top station.
Seceda guide →4. Lago di Braies
The lake lies in the Fanes-Sennes-Prags nature park. Access is free. The car parks lie roughly 100 m (P4), 300 m (P3) and 800 m (P2) from the water. From 1 July to 15 September 2026 cars can only enter the valley between 9 am and 4 pm with a booking. A walk around the shore is the obvious option, but we have no verified length. Private boats and paddleboards are not allowed.
Lago di Braies guide →5. Alpe di Siusi
The meadows above Siusi are a base for walks. The cable car from Siusi to Compatsch takes about 15 minutes and costs €30 return in summer 2026 (€21 one way). Cars are not allowed on the road from 9 am to 5 pm while the cable car runs, and parking up top must be booked (€30 per day). Route lengths are not part of our verified data.
Alpe di Siusi guide →Our pick: a guided hike
The Tre Cime loop with the toll road included.
Hand-picked tours, booked through GetYourGuide. Prices are indicative starting prices in euros (as of October 2026). Tap a tour for live availability and the current price in your currency.
Guided hikes in the Dolomites
Guided hikes, photo tours and day trips with live prices and availability.
Trails six to ten
Shorter outings and lift-assisted viewpoints.
6. St. Magdalena in Val di Funes
The church of St. Magdalena in front of the Odle peaks is reached on foot. The road is closed to cars by a barrier. Park at Putzen and walk about 30 minutes. The little church of St. Johann in Ranui is private property: entry costs a fee (about €4 to 5, confirm on site) and the church stays closed.
Val di Funes guide →7. Lago di Carezza
The lake sits at 1,520 m and can be reached by bus, lift or on foot. Bus 180 runs from Bolzano. The lakeside car park P1 has 270 spaces and costs €5 for one hour up to €30 for 24 hours. Car park 2 is 5 minutes away (€16 per day). The lifts run from 23 May to 1 November 2026.
Lago di Carezza guide →8. Zanser Alm
Bus 330 runs hourly to the Zanser Alm in Val di Funes. The Zans car park can be partly reserved. The route lengths and times are not part of our verified data, so use the local trail signs.
Val di Funes guide →9. Lagazuoi
The cable car from Passo Falzarego (2,105 m) to Lagazuoi ran until 18 October 2026, daily 9 am to 5 pm. It is closed for the season. Check prices with the operator. Dates for 2027 are not yet published.
Cortina guide →10. Cinque Torri
The chairlift to the Cinque Torri rock towers near Cortina ran from 6 June to 11 October 2026. It is closed now. Walking routes and autumn conditions are not part of our verified data, so ask locally.
Cortina guide →Dolomites hiking trails at a glance (summer 2026)
A dash means we have no verified figure.
| Trail | Distance | Time | Access in 2026 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tre Cime loop | 9.5 km | about 3 hours (3–4 in other sources) | Toll road, online reservation, €40 per car |
| Lago di Sorapis | 10.5 km there and back | about 4 hours | Free parking at Passo Tre Croci, few spaces |
| Seceda | – | – | Cable car €74 return, 30-minute slots, to 2 November |
| Lago di Braies | – | – | Booking 1 July to 15 September, 9 am to 4 pm |
| Alpe di Siusi | – | – | Cable car €30 return, parking booking €30 |
| St. Magdalena | – | about 30 minutes from Putzen | Car barrier, park at Putzen |
| Lago di Carezza | – | – | Bus 180 from Bolzano, car park from €5 |
Via ferrata in the Dolomites
Secured climbing routes are a separate activity from hiking.
A via ferrata is a route with fixed steel cables, rungs and ladders on rock. It needs a harness, a helmet, a via ferrata set and a head for heights. It is not a hiking trail, even when some hiking paths include a short secured section like the one on the way to Lago di Sorapis.
If you have never done one, book a mountain guide for your first routes. A guide judges the weather, the conditions and your pace. We do not recommend individual routes here, because we have no verified route data.
Season and safety
Autumn 2026 is the end of the lift season.
Dolomites summer hiking runs roughly from June to October, and most huts open from June to September. On 19 October 2026 the Seceda cable car, the Alpe di Siusi cable car and the Carezza lifts still run, but Lagazuoi, Cinque Torri and Tofana are closed. Check the operator's last descent before you climb. Seceda's last cable car runs at 5:30 pm, the Alpe di Siusi cable car at 6 pm from 7 September.
Weather in the mountains changes fast. Start early on all Dolomites trails, carry water, a rain jacket and warm clothing, and turn around if the sky closes in. The European emergency number is 112. For a first trip, read our guide to the best time to visit and our notes on getting there from Venice. For guided Dolomite hiking tours, see the tours page.
Hut hiking in the Dolomites
Hut hiking in the Dolomites works best from June to September, when most huts are open. The Tre Cime loop passes Rifugio Auronzo, Rifugio Lavaredo, the Three Peaks hut (Dreizinnenhütte) and Malga dei Pastori, and Rifugio Vandelli stands at Lago di Sorapis.
Each Dolomite hut sets its own dates, and our verified data covers only the Tre Cime huts (June to September). Opening times, prices and overnight stays at other huts are not part of it, so check with the hut before you plan a stop.
Dolomites hiking: frequently asked questions
When is the hiking season in the Dolomites?
Our sources give roughly June to October for Lago di Sorapis and the Tre Cime. Huts mostly open from June to September. Lifts have fixed dates: in 2026 the Seceda and Alpe di Siusi cable cars run until 2 November.
What is the best hike for a first visit?
The Tre Cime loop is the best documented: 9.5 km, about 3 hours, 400 metres of ascent. It needs the toll road reservation, so book first.
Is the Lago di Sorapis hike hard?
The Cortina region's tourism website rates it for experts. It has ladders and exposed sections with a cable. Allow about 4 hours for 10.5 km there and back.
Do I need to pay to reach viewpoints?
Sometimes. In 2026 the private turnstile near the Seceda viewpoint charges €5, and entry to the church of Ranui costs about €4 to 5. Lago di Braies is free to enter, but parking is paid.
Can I do a via ferrata without a guide?
It is possible for experienced climbers with the right gear. Beginners should go with a mountain guide.