How to Hike to the Cadini di Misurina Viewpoint (+Map)
The Cadini di Misurina is an underrated hike near the famous Tre Cime di Lavaredo, so you can’t miss it on your Dolomites Itinerary. The Dolomites are a UNESCO World Heritage Site and one of the most beautiful mountain landscapes in the world.
Wondering how to hike to the “Towers of Mordor” viewpoint? You can visit it as a day trip and combine your hike with the Drei Zinnen.
This ultimate guide to the Cadini di Misurina includes the best time to visit, how to reach the stunning viewpoint, what to expect on the trek, and practical information.
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Cadini di Misurina Hike Time & Details
Hike Distance: 3.5 km round trip
Duration: 1.5-2 hours
Hike Difficulty: Easy to moderate
Where is Cadini di Misurina?
Cadini di Misurina is located in the Italian Dolomites, near the iconic Three Peaks. Just a 40-50 minute walk from Rifugio Auronzo mountain hut.
How to Get to Cadini di Misurina & Parking
The quickest way to reach Rifugio Auronzo is by car or shuttle bus. It takes 40 minutes to drive from Cortina d’Ampezzo to the Auronzohütte and 20 minutes from Misurina. But you can also walk to the car park if you’re on a budget or want to go hiking.
Rifugio Auronzo is a private road and costs 30 EUR/car, but the price includes parking. During high season, parking spaces fill up quickly, so arrive early! The road is usually open from the end of May to October, depending on snow conditions.
Vehicle prices on the toll road:
- Car 30 EUR
- Motorcycle 20 EUR
- Camper 45 EUR
If you don’t want to pay the toll, you can park near Lake Antorno and walk up to Rifugio Auronzo, which takes about 1.5 hours. Alternatively, you can take the shuttle bus line 444 from Toblach/Dobbiaco to the Auronzo mountain hut, which runs frequently during the high season. The Südtirol Guest Pass is not valid on the 444 bus service.
Read our → Ultimate Dolomites Road Trip Itinerary
When to Hike to Cadini di Misurina
You can visit the Dolomites at any time. However, during the low season, most hiking trails are probably not accessible due to snow, mountain huts are closed, and public transport is limited.
We recommend hiking the Cadini di Misurina between the end of June and mid-September. During these months, most hiking trails are snow-free. August is usually the busiest month in the Dolomites. If you want to avoid crowds and high prices, you should visit during the low season.
In the mountains, the weather can be unpredictable. So pack warm clothes, suitable hiking shoes, and a raincoat.
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Before you visit, check the weather forecast and the mountain webcam.
See also → Best Hikes in the Dolomites
Cadini di Misurina Hike
The Cadini di Misurina is one of the lesser-known places in the Dolomites, starting from Rifugio Auronzo, just like the Tre Cime Di Lavaredo. If you want to avoid the crowds on the Drei Zinnen hiking trail, start your day at the “Towers of Mordor”.
We recommend you do both hikes on the same day to avoid paying twice for the toll road.
We arrived at the parking lot at 7 AM and decided to do the Tre Cime di Lavaredo Loop hike first. Although this is the most popular hiking trail in the Dolomites, there were no crowds early in the morning. In fact, the loop hike can be completed in 3-4 hours. But we recommend you plan to spend at least an extra 2 hours for the impressive photo stops.
Read the full post → Tre Cime di Lavaredo Hike
Don’t forget to buy travel insurance! Travel insurance is the best way to avoid extra expenses due to unexpected accidents, cancellations, delays, loss of personal items, and emergencies.
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Hungariandreamers readers get a 5% discount on Heymondo.
After returning to the car park, take a break and have lunch or a coffee. Then start the impressive Cadini di Misurina trek in the Dolomites.
Cadini di Misurina Viewpoint
Starting/Ending point: Rifugio Auronzo mountain hut, at an altitude of 2,333 m.
This is one of the best short hikes in the Dolomites. There are toilets at the mountain hut, so use them before you start your trek. From the car park, head south and follow the road to the right from the Rifugio Auronzo, where you can see the stunning peaks of the Cadini di Misurina. Follow the signposts for hiking trail 117 along a rocky path that leads up a hill that ends at Rifugio Col de Varda.
You can enjoy panoramic views of the surrounding mountains. It’s worth looking back a few times during the hike because the views from a distance are fantastic.
Keep reading → Seceda Ridgeline Hike
You don’t have to go all the way to Rifugio Col de Varda, as you can reach the iconic Cadini di Misurina Viewpoint in just 40-50 minutes. Visit the lookout at your own risk, and if the weather is not good or the paths are slippery, we do not recommend you take the trail. The hike is not recommended for those who are afraid of heights!
If in doubt during the hike, please don’t take any chances and turn back! We only saw a few other hikers on this path. After you have taken enough photos and videos at the viewpoint, hike back to the parking lot.
The scenery of these jagged peaks is one of the unmissable sights in the Italian Dolomites, and a hike to Cadini di Misurina is well worth the effort.
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If you have a drone, bring it with you because the views from above are stunningly beautiful.
What to Pack for Hiking
- Small backpack
- Light raincoat
- Hiking shoes or boots & socks
- Hat and sunglasses
- Sunscreen
- Camera gear
- Extra water
- Snacks
- Personal medication
- Local money
- Trekking poles
Cadini di Misurina Hike Map
Where to Stay near Cadini di Misurina
For the best experience, stay in a mountain hut at Rifugio Auronzo. Alternatively, you can stay in Misurina, the nearest village. But Cortina d’Ampezzo or Dobbiaco are also good choices and are only 40 minutes drive from Rifugio Auronzo. These are our recommendations.
Best hotels in Misurina
- Mid-Range: Hotel Sorapiss or Grand Hotel Misurina
- Budget: Hotel Lavaredo
Best hotels in Cortina d’Ampezzo
- Luxury: Faloria Mountain Spa Resort
- Mid-Range: Radisson Residences Savoia Palace
- Budget: B&B Hotel Passo Tre Croci Cortina
We hope you found our guide to the Cadini di Misurina hike useful and will inspire you to visit. If you have any questions or thoughts, let us know in the comment below.
Travel Resources
Hotels – Booking.com
Car Rentals – Discover Cars
Flights – Skyscanner
eSIM: – Airalo
Travel Insurance – Heymondo
Tours & Attractions – GetYourGuide
Bus/Transfer – Bookaway
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