Tre Cime di Lavaredo: Icons of the Dolomites

The Tre Cime di Lavaredo (Drei Zinnen in German) are quite probably the most reproduced and recognisable image in all the Dolomites. Three vertical towers of dolomite — the Cima Grande (2,999 m), the Cima Ovest (2,973 m) and the Cima Piccola (2,857 m) — rise like stone fingers pointing at the sky from a base of alpine meadows and rocky scree. Their north face, a 500-metre vertical wall, is one of the most celebrated challenges in world mountaineering, and their silhouette set against the blue sky is quite possibly the most famous mountain photograph in Europe.

The geology of the Tre Cime is that of the entire Dolomite range: Triassic dolomite (230 million years old), formed as coral reefs in the ancient Tethys Sea. What makes the Tre Cime especially striking is the differential erosion: the three towers are composed of Dolomia Principale (extremely resistant), while the surrounding softer rock has been eroded by glaciers and water, leaving the three peaks standing as isolated vertical monoliths. The horizontal strata are perfectly visible on the walls, like the pages of an open geological book.

The toll road (Strada per il Rifugio Auronzo) climbs from Misurina (1,754 m) to the car park at Rifugio Auronzo (2,320 m) over 7 km of ascent with tight bends and views that open up progressively until the moment when the Tre Cime appear before the bike in all their enormity. The toll is around 30 euros for motorbikes (2024 season) and the road is open from June to October. From the car park, an easy trail (1.5 hours round trip) circles the Tre Cime, offering the most breathtaking perspectives.

Cortina d'Ampezzo, the gateway town for the route, is Italy's most elegant alpine resort and host of the 1956 Winter Olympics (and co-host of the 2026 Games). Its corso (main street) is lined with luxury boutiques, Viennese-style cafés and historic hotels that preserve the glamour of the golden age of alpine tourism. Cortina's cuisine blends Ampezzo tradition with haute cuisine: casunziei (beetroot ravioli with butter and poppy seeds), spinach canederli, apple strudel and the renowned white wines of the nearby Alto Adige.

Practical tips for riders: the Tre Cime road is open from June to October and requires a toll. The car park at the top fills up fast (arrive before 9:00 in August). The circular route from Cortina via Misurina, Tre Cime, and back over the Passo Tre Croci makes a perfect half-day ride. For a full day, combine it with the Passo Falzarego and the Passo Giau, two nearby passes that offer equally spectacular Dolomite scenery. Fuel in Cortina; nothing in Misurina.