Dolomites, Italy
Three Peaks
Tre Crime di Lavaredo / Drei Zinnen
Dolomites, South Tyrol, Italy
The Three Peaks area near Sesto (or Sexten given that the town is located in the German-speaking part of the Italian Alps) is an iconic landscape which forms the scenic backdrop to many a Hollywood movies (Sly Stallone was ‘just hanging out’ in 1993 action classic Cliffhanger); so much so that UNESCO awarded it World Heritage status. From wherever you look at the pointy, battlement-like mountain tops the views are simply stupendous, offering a truly magical experience.
Sesto/Sexten Alps
I have once more asked my long-time friend and Alpine guide Peter Welk to contribute to this post by writing up his favourite tours and by providing rather fabulous photos; just as he did for the hikes around the Aletsch Glacier. We have highlighted two walks that can be easily completed over the course of one day, and which will bring you closer to the rather factually named Cima Grande (Great Peak or Grosse Zinne: 2,999 m), Cima Ovest (West Peak or Westliche Zinne: (2,973 m) and Cima Piccola (Little Peak or Kleine Zinne: 2,857 m). Time keeping is a tricky task here. Whenever we hike in this region, we always seem to pause for numerous photo stops. This is the Alps at their finest, and it might not get any better than this!
Rifugio Locatelli/Dreizinnenhütte
Trip Essentials
You might want to base yourself either in Sesto/Sexten or in Cortina D'Ampezzo. Both towns are well established tourist destinations and the likes of Vrbo, booking.com or Air BnB all have a strong presence there.
For train connections, you can consult the Trainline (which might ask you to use the German term of Sexten instead of the Italian name Sesto).
North Face of Tre Crime / Drei Zinnen
Hike #1:
Circumnavigation of the Three Peaks
5 hours
Elevation: 400m
check out this link for more information
This is a low-elevation and well maintained hike, which even the lesser-trained amongst you should be able to master. Your starting point is the beautiful Misurina Lake, just northeast of the famous ski resort of Cortina d’Ampezzo. At the north end of the lake turn right to the Rifugio Auronzo; a toll road that takes you right to the hut’s parking lot. Follow the trail to the Lavaredo Rifugio and then the Lavaredo fork (Paternsattel), which allows you to round the cliff walls. Make sure to hike the extra hour to the Rifugio Locatelli (Dreizinnenhütte). The views from there are breath-taking.
Croda dei Toni / Zwölferkofel, 3094 m
Hike #2.
Val Fiscalina (Fischleintal) to Rifugio Locatelli (Dreizinnenhütte) and back
Time: 9 hours
Elevation: 950m
check out this link for more information
For some, this is the hike that offers the best views of the Three Peaks. You have to make your way to Sesto/Sexten on the north side of the massif. Follow the Via Val Fiscalina (Fischleintalstrasse) until the end of the road, where you will enter a (free) car park. And then it’s all the way up to the Rifugio Locatelli along path #103, although you can always rest your weary bones at two further huts along the way: the Rifugio Zsigmondy-Comici (Zsigmondyhütte), as well as the Rifugio Pian di Cengia (Büllelejochhütte).
Rifugio Zsigmondy-Comici / Zsigmondyhütte