Rifugio Lagazuoi stands on the summit of Piccolo Lagazuoi at 2,752 metres, midway between Cortina and Val Badia, and is the highest and largest refuge in the Cortina area. Its reputation rests on its terrace, often cited as the most panoramic in the entire Dolomite range: from here the gaze sweeps the Tofane, the Conturines, the Fanes peaks, the Odle and the Marmolada. The best part is that you arrive without effort — the cable car from Passo Falzarego takes only a few minutes and is accessible to anyone, even those who do not go on long walks.
Yet Lagazuoi is also a place of deep memory. The mountain is threaded with tunnels that soldiers bored through the rock during the First World War, now open to exploration along a demanding equipped trail that descends towards the pass: a torch is essential, and the full traverse requires care and appropriate gear. For those who want to experience the place to the full, staying overnight in altitude and watching the sunrise and sunset over the Dolomites is the ultimate reward — when the light transforms the rock and the terrace belongs to you alone.
Frequently asked questions
How do you reach Rifugio Lagazuoi?
The simplest way is the cable car from Passo Falzarego, which reaches the 2,752-metre summit in just a few minutes. Alternatively, you can walk up by trail or — for experienced and equipped hikers — through the war tunnels.
What are the Lagazuoi tunnels?
Tunnels drilled into the rock during the First World War, now restored and passable along an equipped trail that descends towards Passo Falzarego. A torch is essential and a via ferrata kit is advisable: the traverse requires attention.