Rifugio Auronzo

The starting point of the Tre Cime circuit, reachable by car via a toll road.

Perched at 2,333 metres on Forcella Longères, at the foot of the southern face of the Tre Cime di Lavaredo, Rifugio Auronzo is essentially the gateway to the most celebrated hike in the Dolomites. From its terrace the full amphitheatre spreads out before you: the south walls of the Tre Cime, the jagged spires of the Cadini di Misurina and, lower down, the basin towards the lake. The history of this hut goes back to the early twentieth century, when it was built as an Italian frontier post on the border with the Austro-Hungarian Empire; fire destroyed it in 1955, and it was later rebuilt and extended by the CAI section of Auronzo, which gave it its current name. Today its generous size makes it a convenient base even for hikers with little mountain experience.

You can drive here along the toll road that climbs from Misurina to the large car park in front of the hut, open roughly from late May to October. In high season it is worth setting off at dawn, as spaces fill quickly and shuttle buses often replace private cars. The kitchen serves the honest fare typical of Cadore mountain huts — canederli, pasta and strudel — and with just under a hundred beds spread across rooms sleeping two to six, the hut also offers overnight stays. Spending the night here means enjoying the Tre Cime after the daytime crowds have gone and the evening light sets the walls ablaze.

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