Cortina – Tre Cime di Lavaredo

Description

From Cortina bus station, go up towards Passo Tre Croci-Misurina. After crossing the characteristic village of Alverà, an enchanting view of meadows, woods and clearings surrounded by the Ampezzo Dolomites will open up: on your left you can admire the Pomagagnon and the Cristallo and on the right the Faloria. Continue past the Ristorante Lago Scin on your left and the lake of the same name on the right and continue to the Rio Gere car park. From here the succession of curves gives way to long straights that can be cycled down and the top of the Passo Tre Croci (1,805 m) is almost reached. The view, of the Conca Ampezzana on one and the Sorapiss on the other is truly spectacular. The pass has been crossed several times by the Giro d'Italia, the first time in the 1966 edition. On the pass you will find a lovely pasture and two rest stops: the Son Zuogo restaurant and the Hotel Tre Croci. After the pass, continue for a nice scenic downhill stretch, with a view of the Sorapiss and the wild Marmarole chain. After descending for about three kilometres, take the SS 48 bis on the left which goes up to Misurina after two kilometres of climbing. In front of you, you can admire the Tre Cime di Lavaredo and Lago di Misurina, the largest natural valley in Cadore, on the right the Cadini and on the left the Cristallo and the Popena. Once you reach the lake with its crystal clear waters, it is worth stopping and admiring the Sorapiss massif behind you, overlooking the enchanting alpine lake. In Misurina there are several rest stops where you can take a break before continuing the climb. After crossing the lake, at the crossroads take the paved road to the right towards Tre Cime di Lavaredo. From here begins a seven-kilometre uphill road in which epic pages of cycling history have been written, with numerous stage finishes of the Giro d'Italia. The road will take you in a few minutes to Lago d’Antorno, an area of significant natural interest for its flora and fauna, typical of the Dolomite alpine environment. From here the forest becomes increasingly sparse to make room for clearings, flowering meadows and high mountain views. You will pass a toll booth (for cars) and the characteristic Malga Rin Bianco and, after facing the last hairpin bends, you will reach the Rifugio Auronzo. From here you can enjoy an enchanting view of the Dolomites: from the right you can see the Croda Rossa d'Ampezzo, Monte Cristallo, the village of Misurina and its lake seen from above, the Sorapiss and the Cadini di Misurina, the Marmarole and the Valle d'Ansiei with Lago Santa Caterina and, finally, the Croda dei Toni and the Tre Cime di Lavaredo. From here on the road is unpaved, so those who want to continue, for example up to the scenic Forcella Lavaredo, can do so on foot. For the return, retrace the road of the outward journey or, alternatively, once you reach Misurina it is possible to descend towards Carbonin, go up to the Passo Cimabanche and then descend to Cortina.