Among the iconic peaks of the Dolomites, Tre Cime di Lavaredo, Sella Peak, and others offer visitors a unique opportunity to hike atop some of the highest and most notorious peaks in the Alps. The best way to experience these stunning peaks up close is arguably on hut-to-hut hiking in the Dolomites, sleeping among nature, soaking in the dramatic views, and replenishing yourself in the mountain shelters that dot the trails.
Here, we’ll take you through some of the most popular trails to hike in the Palade area, from Tre Cime to Sella Peak and beyond — with advice on what is cool about each adventure and how to organize a visit to get the most out of it.
Tre Cime di Lavaredo: Iconic Landmark of the Dolomites
You can’t have a section on the Dolomites without talking about the high and iconic peaks in the Dolomites known as Tre Cime di Lavaredo. Of the five different mammoth peaks — Cima Grande, Cima Ovest, and Cima Piccola are among them — some of Earth’s most photographed mountains adorn the landscape. Not only are the Tre Cime di Lavaredo among the most iconic sights in the Dolomites, but the area also offers one of the most challenging hikes that an adventurer of any level can do. We had the absolute best hiking.
Tre Cime di Lavaredo: Tre Cime Circuit
The Tre Cime Circuit is one of the top hikes inside the Dolomites and offers you an astonishing 360-degree perspective of your surrounding mountain scenery.
The 10-kilometer (6-mile) circular route goes around the peaks and ascends some 400 meters (80 feet). This lengthy trek is very well waymarked and entirely doable for people with a moderate amount of hiking experience, but you should have a fairly good level of fitness as the ground is rocky.
Hut-to-hut walkers in the Dolomites might couple this walk with accommodation at mountain huts nearby, like Rifugio Auronzo, at the foot of the summits, which cater to both climbers and trekkers. The views from the three massive pinnacles — particularly at sunrise or sunset— are beyond stunning and provide one of the most iconic hiking experiences in the Dolomites.
When is the best season to trek? June to September is the best season to trek Tre Cime di Lavaredo, as the weather is most stable during this time. But with the area crawling with tourists in the height of summer, visiting in the early morning or late afternoon might help you avoid the crowds.
Get High and Then Adventure: Sella Peak
While we need to make it to the top at least once in the Dolomites, Sella Peak is a section of the Sella Group. This summit is located at 3,150 m (10,335 ft), which is some work to climb but pays off with an incomparable view of the area surrounding. It’s a scramble for seasoned hikers and climbers eager to ascend one of the Dolomites’ most iconic peaks.
The hike up to Sella Peak usually originates from Passo Pordoi, and as such, it is among the most accessible hikes in the Dolomites. From here, trekkers can embark on trails that traverse rocky terrain and high-altitude meadows and pass scenic mountain lakes. Depending on the weather and your own pace, it will take between 4 and 6 hours. The path is dotted with several refuges for hut-to-hut Dolomites hiking tours, which you can book via Bookatrekking.com.
Rifugio Sella is a favorite lunch stop, where visitors can take in stunning vistas of nearby mountain ranges such as the Sella Group and Marmolada. Mountain huts as well as food are excellent; the hut also provides overnight lodging for climbers attempting to summit Sella Peak. The steep climb and stunning views across the treetops of the surrounding Dolomite mountains make Sella Peak one of the most rewarding treks in the area.
When to go: The best time to hike Sella Peak is from late June to early September, although high-altitude Dolomite weather is extremely unpredictable, and hikers should always be mindful that weather conditions can be different.
Marmolada
Queen of the Dolomites, the tallest peak at 3,343 meters (10,968 feet). Marmolada is a tough peak to climb, but a climber’s reward is stunning views and an experience most people will never repeat. Climbers relish Marmolada for its glacier — the largest in the Dolomites—which allows the rare opportunity to experience both ice and mixed climbing.
Marmolada hiking: Marmolada is not a mercy; it’s a real mountain that requires a lot of physical fitness and technical talent. The one in Italy starts at Passo Fedaia, where hikers climb a rocky trail and then traverse the glacier.
Less adventurous climbers can also make it to the top via the Marmolada Glacier Cable Car, taking you straight to the summit and gifting you with stunning vistas of the entire Dolomite range. For hikers and climbers on a hut-to-hut trek of the Dolomites, Marmolada can be a destination on a long journey, and refuges, such as the Rifugio Marmolada, provide a decent place to rest and recharge following a day on the climb or trek. The summit affords stunning views of surrounding peaks, valleys, and alpine lakes, and the climb is a once-in-a-lifetime — or not — opportunity.
Conclusion: The Dolomites are an awesome place for hikers and climbers, offering some of the most gorgeous and most challenging peaks. If you have already traveled to standard destinations, this trip will impress you. Whether you’re making the hike to the summit of the famous Tre Cime di Lavaredo, climbing the heights of Sella Peak, or conquering the queen of the Dolomites, Marmolada, the region offers a memorable adventure.
If you combine that with the experience of hut-to-hut trekking in the Dolomites, you can not only have the most uplifting views in the Alps but also dwell among the beauty and both substantive and trifling history of these powerful pinnacles. Whether you’re climbing one of the peaks or just taking in these captivating mountains, you can’t go wrong with the Dolomiti.