Tre Cime Nature Park is one of the most sought-after tourist destinations in the Italian Dolomites, and for good reason. Its famous Three Peaks, from which the park takes its name, are one of the most recognizable features of these mountains. I spent considerable time adventuring in the Tre Cime Nature Park, and the Croda Fiscalina circuit hike has become one of my favourite Dolomiti day hikes.
Ten things to know about the Croda Fiscalina circuit hike in the Dolomites
Most tourists hitting the trails in the Tre Cime Nature Park focus on the famous loop of the Three Peaks, a beginner day hike starting and ending at Rifugio Auronzo at the south entrance of the Park. Croda Fiscalina circuit offers an alternative, much quieter, and, in my opinion, even more scenic approach to the Three Peaks!
1. Croda Fiscalina circuit hike: the stats
- Distance: 19.2 km / 11.9 mi
- Time required: 8-10 hours
- Type of hike: circuit
- Elevation gain: 1180 m / 3870 ft
- Elevation loss: 1208 m / 3963 ft
- Parking: Parkplatz Fischleinbodenhütte (seasonal restrictions apply)
2. The map of the Croda Fiscalina Circuit
Above, you can see the exact map of the trail I followed. The route goes clockwise, starting at Hotel Dolomitenhof. I measured the distance, elevation gain, and pace using my Garmin Fenix watch.
3. Where is the hike?
The Croda Fiscalina Circuit is located in the north part of the Dolomiti di Sesto (Sextener Dolomiten). The whole area is covered in the Tabacco Map No. 10, and I highly recommend purchasing it if you plan on spending some time in the Tre Cime Nature Park.
Sesto is a small town in the South Tyrol region of northern Italy. It is known for its great access to summer and winter sports, with countless trails and ski slopes to choose from.
4. Where to stay nearby
As mentioned previously, the closest towns are Sesto and San Candido. Both have plenty of accommodation options and public transport connections if you are heading that way without a car. Below are a few of my recommendations.
If you want to support my site, please use the affiliate links to the hotels (even if you don’t book the ones I recommend). It won’t cost you anything and helps me create more awesome travel content!
TIP: Sesto also made it onto my favourite Dolomiti towns list. If you are planning a holiday here, you should check it out.
5. When to hike the Croda Fiscalina circuit?
I talk about this tirelessly on my website. If you plan on hiking the Croda Fiscalina circuit or any other trails in the Italian Dolomites, do not come here earlier than the third week of June and later than October (depending on the season and area).
This is the official hiking window in the Dolomites, where the trails are mostly clear of snow and safe to pass, and the huts are open to visitors.
I have done this hike three times, and my favourite time to go is the second half of October, when the larch-filled Val Fiscalina is painted yellow and orange. This makes the Croda Fiscalina circuit one of the best autumn day hikes in the Dolomites.
TIP: The FAQ section of my Italian Dolomites Guide contains more information about the weather patterns in the Dolomites.
6. What to bring with you – my hiking essentials
Salewa Wildfire Edge Approach Shoes
My go-to pair of hiking shoes for easier trails or via ferrata, where I don’t need extra ankle support. They provide excellent grip on the rock and are very durable.
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Black Diamond Trekking Poles
I never leave on a trail without a pair of my trusted Black Diamond Carbon Z Poles. At 300 grams a pair, they are hard to compete with.
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HydraPak Hydration Bladder
There is no better way to stay hydrated on the trails than to have constant and direct access to your water without taking your backpack off. Thanks to its slim design, the hose coming out of the side of the bladder, and a magnet clip that makes the hose attachment easy, I find the HydraPak the best water bladder on the market.
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Osprey 30+ Liter Backpack
30-40 litre backpack will be more than enough to pack everything you need for a day trip in the Dolomites, with plenty of room for water and snacks and you can also use it on multiday hut-to-hut treks. I am a big fan of Osprey backpacks and currently own the Eja 38-litre. Osprey has plenty of options in this storage volume range.
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Merino Wool Socks
Merino wool fibres and their unique properties make them resistant to odours. Unlike cotton socks, merino wool socks also prevent blisters.
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7. How to get to the Croda Fiscalina trailhead
The start of the Croda Fiscalina circuit trail is right next to Hotel Dolomitenhof, built at the valley’s entrance. I recommend staying here before or after the hike if you have the budget.
By car
TIP: The local authorities introduced seasonal road restrictions to limit vehicle traffic in Val Fiscalina. During certain summer months, it’s only possible to travel to Val Fiscalina by bus. You can check the exact dates for when traffic is restricted here.
If you are coming late in the season, park your car next to the Dolomitenhof Hotel (parking marked on the map). Make sure to bring cash. When writing this article, the fee was 8 euros/day.
By public bus
If you are using public transport, then bus no. 446 runs from Sesto and will drop you off at the Fischleintalboden bus stop. Fishleintal is the German name for Val Fiscalina.
During the summer, the bus operates typically every 30 minutes and takes 11 minutes to complete the journey. For bus schedules and directions, check the Sued Tirol Mobil Info website.
8. The five stages of the Croda Fiscalina Circuit
The loop described in this post will take you clockwise around Croda Fiscalina. You will cross four mountain huts, so there is no need to pack a lunch. Unless you are hiking outside the season, you can go ultralightweight on this trail!
Thanks to signs and path markings, the Croda Fiscalina circuit is super easy to follow, and if you know where you are heading, getting lost is nearly impossible!
I recommend studying the map beforehand and noting the hut names along this trail. The signs along the paths and forks usually point toward the huts.
They will come as follows: Talschlüßhuette, Zsigmondy Comici, Pian di Cengia, and Locatelli. I have marked them all on the map.
Below, I enlisted path numbers and times required to complete individual sections of this hike (breaks are not included).
Stage 1: Hotel Dolomitenhof to the fork at the foot of Cima Una (30 mins) – path no. 102
This is the easy part of the Croda Fiscalina circuit. For the first half-hour, walk on a wide path through the valley, with the first glimpse of the dramatic Cima Una and Croda Dei Toni straight ahead.
You will also walk by the first refuge along this circuit: the Talschlüsshütte. If you haven’t had breakfast, consider stopping here for a quick bite or delicious Italian coffee.
Stage 2: From the fork to rifugio Zsigmondy Comici (2h) – path no. 103
Once you reach the fork, the path climbs steadily to Rifugio Zsigmondy Comici. It can get steep sometimes, and a few stairs are installed on the most demanding sections, but there is nothing a seasoned hiker can’t face.
Stop at the Comici hut for a coffee and cake or cold beer. Its terrace views are hard to beat.
Stage 3: Rifugio Zsigmondy Comici to rifugio Pian di Cengia (1 h) – path no. 101
After the Comici hut, the landscape becomes barren, which is typical of the Dolomites. The path continues climbing steadily in zigzags.
Another 300 meters of elevation between the Comici and Pian di Cengia huts is gained. Don’t miss the extension opportunity to go up to Mitti di Mezzo from Rifugio Pian di Cengia and photograph the best vantage point of Croda Dei Toni.
Stage 4: Rifugio Pian Di Cengia to Rifugio Locatelli (1 h) – path no. 101
From Rifugio Pian di Cengia, continue up to the saddle (Forcella Pian Di Ciengia) before you descend to Alpe De Piani. It’s a plateau with three lakes (Laghi Dei Piani).
Sassovecchio Valley will start to appear on your right-hand side. This is where the last stage of the hike runs. You will drop to around 2330 meters before climbing again to 2400, the elevation Locatelli hut was built on.
Stage 5: From Rifugio Locatelli back to Hotel Dolomitenhof (2 h) – path no. 102
You will probably be shocked and surprised by the number of people at the Locatelli hut. Most come from the other side when hiking along the Tre Cime circuit.
The last stage of the hike takes you down path no. 102 away from the refuge and into the Sassovecchio Valley. At first, it is a gentle descent, but after about 15 minutes, it becomes sharp before levelling again once you reach the Fiscalina Valley.
Once again, you will pass the Talschlüsshutte. During the last 20 minutes of the hike, follow the same path you started on in the morning.
9. Croda Fiscalina circuit route extensions
There is no shortage of adventure possibilities in the Tre Cime Nature Park, and apart from the short extension to Mitti di Mezzo, which I have mentioned above, there are two via ferratas I highly recommend doing in addition to the hike. Both of them start near Rifugio Locatelli:
Via Ferrata Torre Di Toblin
This 2-hour loop gives you an exhilarating glimpse into the history of World War I and the battles fought in these mountains between the Italian and Austro-Hungarian troops.
In addition, the views of the Tre Cime di Lavaredo from the summit of Torre di Toblin are worth the climb along ladders attached to vertical walls.
Via Ferrata De Luca (Innerkofler)
The World War I tunnels and the summit of the dramatic-looking Monte Paterno are located on this beginner-level Via Ferrata, which is an excellent alternative to Torre Di Toblin, especially if you are scared of the vertical walls.
TIP: You will need special equipment to tackle via ferratas. For more info, check out my beginner’s guide to via ferrata climbing in the Italian Dolomites.
10. The huts along the Croda Fiscalina circuit
Even though the Croda Fiscalina circuit can be tackled in a day, there is no need to rush! If you wish to complete any extensions, I highly recommend booking a night in one of the huts along this trail.
Read more: The ins and outs of staying in a mountain hut in the Italian Dolomites.
Rifugio Fondovalle (Talschlüsshütte)
Located only 30 minutes from the trailhead, the rifugio Fondovalle is the most luxurious hut of the four rifugios located along the Croda Fiscalina circuit.
You can’t go wrong here if you are looking for a great night’s stay after completing the hike. Prices start at 28 Euro/night or 65 if you want to go with the half-board option.
Website: Talschlüsshütte
Rifugio Zsigmondy Comici
Located right at the foot of Croda Dei Toni, rifugio Zsigmondy Comici is an excellent base for tackling a few via ferratas near the hut.
It’s the second refuge along the Croda Fiscalina Circuit.
Rifugio Pian Di Cengia (Büllelejochhütte)
If you prefer a more homely atmosphere and fewer crowds, stay at the tiny Rifugio Pian di Cengia. It’s the second hut along the Croda Fiscalina circuit.
Thanks to the views surrounding it, it’s one of my favourite huts in the Dolomites. The price for a half-board is 72 Euros per person per night.
Website: Rifugio Pian Di Cengia
Rifugio Locatelli (Dreizinnehütte)
To be close to all the action, Rifugio Locatelli is the place to be, but because of its fame, this is the toughest Rifugio to get reservations at.
The hut, which lies along the Tre Cime Ciecuit and Alta Via 4, is the busiest in the Dolomites.
The price per night is 60 Euros for Alpine Club members or 72 for non-members.
Website: Rifugio Locatelli
Other hikes and activities to experience nearby
- 3-5 day Tre Cime Nature Park traverse
- Via ferrata Strada Degli Alpini
- Dürrenstein summit
- Via ferrata Severino Casara
- Lago di Braies
More travel and hiking resources in the Dolomites
- Photography spots in the Italian Dolomites
- Regions in the Italian Dolomites
- Itineraries for the Italian Dolomites
- Via ferratas in the Italian Dolomites
- Day hikes in the Italian Dolomites
- Hut-to-hut treks in the Italian Dolomites
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If you have any questions, leave them in the comments below!
Hello, and thank you for your wonderful site… what a fantastic resource! I’m wondering if this would work– combining your recommendation for the Croda Fiscalina Circuit trail with the Tre Cime loop? I’d like to start by spending a night at Hotel Dolomitenhof, and setting off the next morning on the Croda Fiscalina trail; Stop for the night at either Pian di Cengia or Rifugio Locatelli– both of these sound GREAT! Do you have a recommendation for which one might be the best stopping point for this route? The next day, I’d continue around the Tre Cime Loop trail and have to end up back at Hotel Dolomitenhof where I’ve left the car (do you know if I can leave the car parked at the hotel, or would it have to be parked in a public lot?)
Does that all make sense and work? Is it better to plan on two overnights in the huts in order to do this route without rushing? Thanks so much for any advice you can offer!
Hi Nancy. Thanks for your nice feedback. Pian Di Cengia is a tiny hut with only one dorm room, but it is very cozy and a lot more relaxed. Locatelli is really big and busy, but it is definitely in a better location as it will split the hike better. On the first day you can expect to hike around 5 hours to Locatelli. The second day it will be ca. 4 hours for the Tre Cime circuit and then 2.5-3 hours to descend through Val Sassovecchio back to Hotel Dolomitenhof. For the Tre Cime Circuit you can ask the staff at Locatelli to leave some of your staff there when you hike then pick it up once you complete the circuit. That way you will be faster as you will have a lot less weight on your back. As for parking you will need to ask the staff of the Dolomitenhof hotel, as I don’t know the answer. You can definitely park overnight at the public lot, you will just have to pay more. I hope that helps!
Hi Marta!!
I will be traveling to the Dolomites next Friday, staying several days in cortina and several days south of ortisei. Given that it’s almost an hour drive from cortina to hotel dolomitenhof, should we start this hike super early in the morning/wait a little later in the afternoon? Is this a full 8-10hr day (we are fit) or is that timing allowing for stops? Trying to plan out my day as we arrive on a Saturday and have plans Monday and Tuesday so I was thinking of trying to tackle this on a Sunday, the day after our flight and lone drive from Milan 😅 I also may be biting off more than i can chew. If you feel it’s way too much to do a day after traveling and with the hour drive to the trailhead, do you have another similar hike you’d recommend? We definitely want few crowds, crazy views, and I bring a ton of camera gear and love me some golden light at the start and end of the days. Can’t wait to hear from you!!!
Hi Morelle. It took me 8 hours to hike the whole loop including short breaks (not many though, as I don’t like to take long brakes). Sounds like you are trying to bite more than you can chew indeed 🙂 Look into the Croda Da Lago Circuit which is much closer to Cortina. You can use the search loop on my site to find this hike.
Hello,
Your guides are invaluable…thank you!
I’m heading to the dolomites mid-September and am trying to come up with an itinerary and looking for some advice.
I really don’t like crowded trails but feel Tre-Cime di Lavaredo is not to be missed. Do you think this trail is a good substitution for “Tre Cime di Lavaredo Circuit”? or are both worth doing? If I do both, then I would need to drop a different trail, most likely the “Croda Da Lago Circuit”. What are your thoughts?
Based on your blog, I plan to spend the rest of my time in/near “Rosengarten Nature Park”.
Thanks again,
Todd
Hi Todd, Yes I do think Croda Fiscalina cicuit is a great alternative to Tre Cime Circuit. The trails meet at Rifugio Locatelli, so you still get to see Tre Cime, without the usual crowd.
Hi Marta,
Thanks for your wonderful blog. We are planning our Dolomite trip fully based on your info.
We are travelling in July and wanted to do the Via Fiscalina circuit. As accomodation is full or very expensive we booked 2 nights in Padola (we will arrive there from Belluno) .
Can you please recommend a light hike for day one near Padola before doing via Fiscalina day two?
Hi Carmen. I am glad to hear you are following my guides. Unfortunately I am not familiar with Padola village, but you will be very close to Passo Monte Croce (Kreuzbergpass). You could hike from there to Rifugio Berti and back in a circuit. I talk about it in my post about hikes in the Tre Cime Nature Park.
Hi Marta, if we manage to get a spot at Rifugio Pian di Cengia for the 1st week of October, we are thinking about doing Croda Fiscalina in 2 days, starting with VF Strada the first day, and on the second day return to hotel Dolomitenhof, adding other VF along the way (Innerkofler and/or Torre de Toblin). Because we are not doing the Tre Cime circuit, I’m afraid of missing out some of the viewpoints. Do you think it’s worth to walk to Forcella Lavaredo? How about Cadini di Misurina? What would you recommend for this 2nd day of the circuit, considering it will be a long one. Thank you!
Hi Thais. From Pian Di Cengia you can hike to Locatelli, then do VF Innerkofler ending at Forcella Lavaredo then return to Locatelli on a hiking path. You can then consider whether you still have time for Torre Di Toblin. If it’s too late by the time you make it back to Locatelli, you can head back down.
Adding Cadini Di Misurina Viewpoint might be pushing it a bit too much. I hope that helps!
Hi, my son and I are driving from innsbruck saturday morning. We were planning on staying at Hotel Dolemitenhof on saturday and hiking this route on sunday. It looks like, they got a lot of snow the past week or so judging from the facebook sites of refuges auronzo and pian di cenga. Do you think it’s possible or fun to do that hike if there’s a lot of snow on the ground? If not, do you have any other recommendations that are nearby? We were then planning on spending 2 nights in cortina before heading back – possibly doing the tre cime circuit and the crado di lago circuit before heading back to innsbruck tuesday night. I’ve been to val gardena before so was looking for something different. Let me know if you have other recommendations.
Hi Tyler. Thanks for visiting. One of my readers did the hike just this week and it was absolutely fine. Most of the snow that fell has already melted. Anything below 2500 meters is mostly clear of snow and this week temperatures will melt the snow higher too.
I suggest that you google webcam rifugio Locatelli. It will give you a good idea of how much snow is currently up there. If you do the Croda Fiscalina circuit, I am not sure if there is much point in still doing Tre Cime circuit. When in Cortina you can do Lake Sorapiss, Cinque Torri & Lago Limides or Croda Da Lago Circuit. Col De La Puina is also a nice hike and not very far from Cortina (ca. 40 min drive). I hope that helps!
thanks for the reply. Are there other hikes you’d recommend around hotel dolemitenhof or the sesto area? Or hikes that you’d recommend that are on the way to sesto from innsbruck? We have time on saturday for a shortish hike on our way in. Thanks!
Hi Tyler. Yes you can check out my post about hikes in Puster valley which you will be driving too. Strudelkopf is a good ans short one with not much elevation gain.
This hike looks incredible! Thank you for all the details 🙂 do you know if you can combine this with Tre cime lavaredo loop as a longer multi day hike? Thanks heaps
Hi Tess. Thanks for your great feedback. Yes the overlap at rifugio Locatelli. I recommend that you visit my post about Tre Cime Nature Park, where you can look at the map of the hikes and see how they overlap. You could stay overnight at either Pian Di Ciengia or Locatelli.
Hello and thanks so much for putting together this comprehensive guide! Are we able to do this in the reverse of how you have the stages laid out? It seems there are not via ferattas along the actual route so not concerned on one-way traffic? We are trying to secure lodging at Rifugio Lavaredo as Rifugio Pian di Cengia is booked for our dates – do you have any other recommendations for huts on this stage?
Thank you!
Hi Alexis. Yes you can hike it counterclockwise. No via ferrata along the way (unless you decided to do some estensions next to the huts). If Locatelli, Pian Di Cengia and Zsigmondy are all booked I would recommend looking into rif. Carducci. If you do stay in Carducci however then It would be better if you hiked it clockwise. I hope that helps!
Hi Marta. Thanks for the great guides!
For my Dolomites trip I’m planing mainly day trips but I want to stay in a hut for one night. And to make the most of it I’m looking for a hike that require overnight stay in it. I’m into photography, so sunset/sunrise spot will be a bonus. Not scared of via ferratas. Current plan is to explore Val Gardena, Alta Pusteria and Alta Badia but nothing fixed yet.
Hi Lyube. If you are into photography I would recommend that you look into the Santner Pass Hut or Alberto Primero hut (they are close to one another) and stay in either to photograph the Vajolet towers. Another amazing hut to take photos at is Rifugio Capanna Fassa which is right on the summit of Piz Boe. Both hikes are accessible from Val Di Fassa.
Third option I would recommend is the Pian Di Cengia hut which you can reach along Croda Fiscalina Circuit or by doing the Via Ferrata Strada Degli Alpini. I hope that helps!
Hi Marta,
I just wanted to say thank you for posting this wonderful content. We just did the Croda Fiscalina circuit yesterday .. it was stunning. We stopped at the Zsigmondy Comici hut for lunch, Abe just had the best day. Thank you for your recs- we are stegimg in the Hotel Dolomitenhof as well. Perfect location
Hi Jennifer. Thank you so much for writing this feedback. I am so glad to hear you are having a wonderful time following my guides. You just made my day. Enjoy the rest of the stay and let me know what other adventures you undertook. Happy and safe hiking!
Hi Marta,
First of all, your website is awesome. Me and my 3 friends are planning to go hiking in Dolimity in half August. My question is: What is your personal preference “Tre Cime Circuit” or this “The Croda Fiscalina Circuit Trail”? I am pretty stuck. Both look really good. We would like to do one day hike without staying in huts. We would also like to add some ferrata to it. We can hike all day. I am just concerned with what’s better by you?
Thank you very much,
Tony
Hi Tony. Thanks for stopping by. I would choose Croda Fiscalina circuit over Tre Cime circuit any day. Less crowded, more beautiful and diverse views. Croda Fiscalina is a lot more demanding and almost twice as long though so it would be tough to squeeze in a ferrata in the same day too. If you are fast then maybe Torre Di Toblin will be doable, but then definitely prepare for 10+ hour day. I hope that helps.
Bonjour
Une carte sur laquelle figurerait le circuit
serait un grand plus…
Merci
Hi Christian. I have added the map of the trail. I hope this helps! Happy hiking and let me know if you have more questions. I don’t speak french but google translate helps 🙂
Question: Five of us who are active hikers from Canada will be in the Dolomites from June 2-9, 2023. Where is the best to hike in the mountains where the trails will be open for day hikes?
Hi Stewart. Thanks for visiting. The start of June is a bit early and you won’t be able to take full advantage of the mountain huts as they usually open in the third week of June, however, with the current extremely mild winter we are experiencing in the Alps (still no snow to almost 2000 meters) I won’t be surprised if all trails will be completely snow-free in May (providing it stays that way). Either way, at the start of June most trails, should be ok with patches of snow here and there. I wouldn’t however recommend the North facing hikes where the snow lingers a lot longer. Some huts in the Rosengarten area open already at the start of June (for example rifugio Alpi Di Tires). As for the hike you are commenting under it might be a hit or miss. The Sassovecchio valley at the end of the hike is quite narrow and doesn’t see much sun, so in there the snow might linger for longer. Since it is a circuit, some parts will be on the South/east facing slopes, others on North and West. You might feel like you are walking through two different season landscapes. Let me know if I can help any further.
Dear Marta,
Thank you again. I’m sorry if my question was confusing. Since Locatelli doesn’t book until February and is quite popular…
The question is: would Refugio Lavaredo make sense as an alternative/back up to Locatelli? (We would be Night 1 Pain di Ciengia, night two either Locatelli or Laveredo, Night 3 Rifugio Fonda Savio.)
Hi Janine. Yes Lavaredo or even Auronzo are great alternatives. You can still tackle via ferrata Torre Di Toblin once you walk down from Pian di Ciengia to Locatelli, spend the afternoon in the area exploring. You can then reach Lavaredo via the regular route or by doing via ferrata Innerkofler.
As for Auronzo you can circle around Tre Cime to get there or follow the same route as to Lavaredo. They are only 30 minute walk from one another. If you look at the map you will be less confused by what I am saying. Let me know if I can help further!
Thank you Marta. Your response time is impressive. I pivoted and booked Rifugio Fondovalle for “Night 0”, then Rifugio Pian di Cengia. Since Locatelli doesn’t book until February and is quite popular, would Refugio Lavaredo make sense as an alternative/back up to Locatelli? Then we would go on to Rifugio Fonda Savio. Grateful for your posts and photos.
Thanka Janine. This time around I wasn’t so quick, but I normally try to respond within 24 hours 🙂
As for your change of plans. Do you plan on starting late in the afternoon on the first day? If your plan is to do VF Strada degli Alpini then I recommend to stay the first night in one of the huts on the top of the Croda Rossa cable car. For example rifugio Rudi. However this only makes sense if you plan to start on the first day late afternoon. If you are starting early in the morning then you can easily make it to rifugio Pian di Ciengia along VF Strada Degli Alpini on the first day. I hope that helps!
Dear Marta,
What a wonderful resource. Thank you. Planning for Alta Via 4, but after reading your posts, I don’t want to miss the Val Fiscalina area/ Via ferrata Strada Degli Alpini. I already booked the Tre Scarperi Refugio for night 0, so I am wondering (for fit/experienced hikers):
#1 Feasible to hike from Scarperi around to the start of the trail near hotel Dolomitenhof and still make it to Rifugio Pian di Cengia or do you suggest cancelling and booking at Rifugio Fondovalle?
#2 From Rifugio Pian di Cengia, can we resume by hiking to Locatelli the next morning and experiencing Torre di Toblin, then heading to Rifugio Fonda Savio or should we just add in a night and stay at Locatelli or Auronzo after Rifugio Pian di Cengia?
#3 or is there another way to add in the Via ferrata Strada Degli Alpini that I’m not considering?
Many thanks.
Hi Janine. Thanks for visiting and your great feedback. Strada Degli Alpini is amazing views wise and there is a great way to incorporate it into your AV4 – start in a different spot. I recommend that you check out my Tre Cime NAtional Park traverse which begins with Val Fiscalina and then gets you to rifugio Locatelli. Do the Tre Cime traverse up to rifugio Fonda Savio, then continue as normal with AV4 (basically you will be connecting the two traverses).
That way you will get to experience Strada Degli Alpini, VF Torre Di toblin + many others.
Yes you will have to cancel the first night in Tre Scarperi and spend it either in rifugio Zsigmundy, or Pian di Ciengia. Let me know if that helps and if you have any more questions!
Hi Marta, thanks loads for putting this together, just what I was looking for. Can imagine the effort it went into chronicling all of this!
I’m planning a trip to the Dolomites to catch the autumn colours next year, but I’m a bit confused. On this page, you indicated the official hiking window is until mid Oct, but on another page where you described the autumn road trip itinerary, you said the best window is oct 20-31. Wouldn’t this be outside the hiking window then? Can all your top recommended hikes in Dolomites still be done in late Oct?
Otherwise, what would you recommend to be the best dates to go if I want a mix of both autumn colours (I’m ok if it’s not the most peak of the season, as long as the colours are still fairly vibrant) while having accessibility to the top hikes (both day hikes and perhaps 1 overnight hike) in Dolomites?
Thank you so much!
Hi XR, thanks for your lovely comment. Now to answer your question. The official season is when the huts remain open, in some areas of the Dolomites this is until the third week of September, others mid-October and there are even some (like rifugio Palmieri for example) which stay open until the beginning of November.
However, when you can hike is mostly determined by the weather. If it’s bad you might even find yourself stuck in your hotel room in Mid July. I am currently based in Tirol in Austria a mere 1.5-hour drive from the Dolomites and this autumn season is so incredibly warm that I won’t be surprised if there won’t be any snowfall at higher elevations even in Mid-November. This weekend it’s supposed to be 27 degrees! It’s scary actually.
I spent 2 weeks last October hiking in the Dolomites, exactly from 16-31 of October and we had perfect conditions. In 2019 I left the Dolomites in late September because there was already snow at higher elevations. It’s a hit or miss, but generally it is still fine to hike all of October.
I highly encourage you to check out my post about the best autumn hikes in the Dolomites as well as the 7-10 day itinerary for autumn lovers. I think they will be both perfect starting points to plan your road trip. Let me know if I can help any further!
Hi there! I just wanted to say thank you for the recommendation. We are from BC, Canada and did this hike a few weeks ago. It was exactly as described and the perfect introduction for our first trip in the Dolomites. As you mentioned, the hike would have been easily doable in a day but we spent the night at Rifugio Locatelli for the experience which was great. We also took your pizza suggestion in Cortina afterwards which was 10/10. Thanks for sharing!
Hi Jaclyn! woohoo, you just made my day. I am so glad to hear you scored a reservation in the Locatelli hut, as it is notoriously difficult to book something there. Did you do any of the via ferrata extensions, or walked around Tre Cime? Ahhh I love the pizza in Cortina, I always get it when I am there and it is such a tiny and unassuming place!
Hi Marta! Excellent post. Thank you. Am I correct in assuming that the Hotel Dolomitenhof is a great jumping off point for a number of varied and challenging day hikes similar to the Val Fiscalina hike described above? Would you recommend the third week of September weather-wise? Sorry if asking dumb questions, but we are planning our first trip to the region and want to get it right
Hi Dan. Thanks for stopping by. Hotel Dolomitenhof is definitely a great place to stay for this hike. Apart from that, you can do the Strada Degli Alpini and the Croda Rossa summit. The latter two however are via ferratas. September is still an awesome time to travel the Dolomites and yes I do highly recommend it. As for the weather, all you can do is hope for the best but come prepared for the worst. You can have a week of full sunshine (that’s my personal experience from September in the Dolomites) or a week of rain. We seem to be getting a lot of rain at the moment (currently in Tirol, Austria) and the forecast looks much better for next week.
Hi Marta, a very well written post! I’ll also be staying in Moos town and will do this hiking. I thought of starting very early as I am not a regular hiker and completing this trail will take more time for me (being a photographer, I tend to stop a lot between the trails). Any idea when is the earliest public transportation available from moos to fiscalina? Are there any vertical climbing in this route?
Hi Abishek. Thanks for stopping by. I am not sure when you are going but during the summer season, the first bus leaves at 8:03 AM and the journey takes 6 minutes that’s from Moos, Schoenfeld to Hotel Dolomitenhof. The buses travel at 30 min intervals. You can also walk this path, it’s 2.7 km, but since it’s already a long hiking day it might be too much. I hope that helps!
Hi! I love your site and all your details. We are looking for day hikes (4-6 hours per day) in the Dolomites for a few days (4 max) in September. We would prefer to stay in a smaller village. What do you recommend (hikes and accommodations) if you only had the chance to visit there once in a lifetime? Thanks!
Hi Karen. Thanks for stopping by. I really recommend staying in Sesto or San Candido in the North, where you have access to Val Fiscalina. It’s also a short drive to do Durrenstein summit and Seekofel summit. Seekofel is the mountain that reflects in the famous Lago di Braies. I have guides for the first two and am working on a guide for Seekofel too so stay tuned. I also recommend Croda Da Lago Circuit. You can stay in San Vito Di Cadore which is close to Cortina if you prefer smaller towns. Cortina is amazing though and I highly recommend it. Please check out my post about the best places to stay in the Italian Dolomites. You can find it in the photography section of my Italian Dolomites guide. It will help you make your choice. Let me know if I can help further!