The hike to Lago di Sorapis reaches a strikingly turquoise lake at the foot of the Sorapis massif, near Rifugio Vandelli.
Trail 215 has some exposed sections fitted with cables and ladders. It is not technically hard, but you need a sure foot and to be comfortable with heights.
How to get there — Passo Tre Croci (1.805 m)
Trail 215 starts from Passo Tre Croci, at 1,805 m, on the pass between Cortina d'Ampezzo and Misurina. From Cortina drive up the SS48 to the pass, where there are a few paid spaces that go very early in high season. A scheduled bus also runs from Cortina, the sensible option if you want to skip the parking battle. Given how popular the lake has become, you either arrive at dawn or take the bus. By mid-morning finding a space at the pass is almost a feat in itself.
The trailhead is in the Cortina d'Ampezzo area. Check the travel guide for lift schedules, parking and access rules.
Stage by stage
1. From Passo Tre Croci to the assisted sections
Follow trail 215 along the hillside, crossing a few exposed passages secured with steel cable.
2. Arrival at the lake and Rifugio Vandelli
Reach Lago di Sorapis and Rifugio Vandelli, the ideal lunch stop before you retrace your steps on the same route.
When to go & weather
Late June to October is the good window, once trail 215 is clear of snow and the cabled sections are safe. The famous turquoise is most intense between late June and early August, fed by the melting snowfields, while by the end of the season the water level can drop a lot. This is a demanding hike (EE) and a busy one, so an early start means less queueing on the exposed bits and more of a safety margin. Skip it when the ground is wet or icy, because the cables and ladders turn treacherous fast.
Recommended gear
- Trekking boots with a cut sole and good grip on the rocky sections
- Trekking poles to fold away on the cabled passages
- Windproof jacket and a warm layer
- Waterproofs and plenty of water for the 10 km-plus
- Sunglasses, hat and sun cream
Useful tips
- The cable, ladder and peg section comes about 1.5 km before Rifugio Vandelli. Take it calmly with your hands free
- Set off at dawn. The exposed passages are far easier without a queue of walkers
- Not for young children, because of the exposure on some sections
- Stop at Rifugio Vandelli, a short walk from the lake, for a break before the return
- Do not climb over the barriers to get nearer the water. It is a fragile spot and ice-cold all year round
- Count on the full 4-5 hours: out, break and back on the same trail 215
Huts and rest points
- Rifugio Vandelli (1928 m) — Sta sulla riva del Lago di Sorapis, dove finisce la camminata che porta fin lassù. Details →
Frequently asked questions
Is the Lago di Sorapis trail dangerous?
It is not a via ferrata, but there are exposed sections with cables and ladders: you need a sure foot and no fear of heights. Avoid it with young children and when the ground is wet or icy.
When is Lago di Sorapis at its best colour?
The turquoise is at its best between late June and early August, when the melting ice fills the lake. By the end of the season the level drops a fair bit.
How long is the full hike to Lago di Sorapis?
On trail 215, counting the way in, the stop at the lake and the return on the same route, it usually takes 4 to 5 hours of walking: about 2 hours to reach the lake and Rifugio Vandelli, and as long again to come back. The equipped sections call for a sure foot and good time management.
Can you swim in Lago di Sorapis?
No, you do not swim here: the water is freezing and the site is a protected, fragile environment. You simply look at it and take photos from the permitted areas, without crossing the barriers.
Is there drinking water along the Sorapis trail?
Do not count on finding fountains along the 215, so set off with enough water. Rifugio Vandelli, near the lake, offers refreshments during the open season.
How do you get to Lago di Sorapis and where do you park?
Trail 215 starts at Passo Tre Croci, at 1,805 metres, on the pass between Cortina d'Ampezzo and Misurina. You reach it by car from Cortina along the SS48, with paid parking at the pass that fills up early in summer: arrive at dawn or take the scheduled buses from Cortina and Misurina. Inside the route you continue on foot only.
How high is Lago di Sorapis?
The lake sits at about 1,923 metres, in a basin at the foot of the Sorapis group, in the Ampezzo Dolomites. It is shallow and fed by melting ice, so the level and the turquoise change a lot through the season and drop towards late summer.