Introduction
Would you like to discover the most beautiful hikes and walks in Cortina d'Ampezzo, the pearl of the Dolomites? We have selected the most scenic trails for you, through Alpine lakes, waterfalls, enchanted forests and flower-filled meadows.
You can also try the typical mountain cuisine in the numerous mountain lodges. What are you waiting for? Let's discover our selection together:
Easy walks
Below are collected the easy walks, ideal for those who want to walk while admiring the wonderful panoramas of the Ampezzo Dolomites. They are simple strolls, within everyone's reach.
Intermediate hikes
These hikes are suitable for everyone, you only need a bit of training. These are simple, but relatively long hikes, which require the use of adequate equipment.
Difficult hikes
These hikes should be considered only by those who are in good shape. These are not overly technical routes, via ferratas or exposed passages, but they have steep climbs and big height gains. To tackle these hikes you need to be used to walking in mountains.
Winter hikes
This page contains the most beautiful walks to take in winter in Cortina d'Ampezzo. These hikes are accessible to all, on groomed snow roads. All trails allow sledding on the way down and can also be done with mountaineering skis.
Recommendation
Before saying goodbye, we want to give you some more information about Cortina. The town of Cortina d'Ampezzo is the third largest town in the Veneto region, so from the point of view of hiking, it offers a wide variety of paths, given the vastness of the territory. Cortina is surrounded by the Ampezzo Dolomites, which give to the valley a beauty unique in the world. Among the most famous mountains there are Mount Tofane, mount Cristallo, Mount Pomagagnon, Mount "Bèco de Mesodì", Mount Faloria, Mount Sorapiss, the Massif of Croda da Lago and the Massif of Nuvolau.
... the third largest town in the Veneto region...
The altitude of the territory varies from 1,057, 3,467 feet, to 3,244 meters, 10,643 feets, so it's possible to practice different sports: from walks in the woods, to high altitude trekking, to rock climbing in equipped routes. Cortina d'Ampezzo has more than four hundred kilometers, two hundred and fifty miles, of marked trails, controlled and maintained in good condition by the volunteers of the C.A.I. of Cortina, the Regole d'Ampezzo and the Alpine Guides.
The fauna is the typical one of the mountain regions, with roe deer and foxes which can also be spotted in the inhabited centres, as well as squirrels, chamois, ibex and marmots. It's common, in winter, to come across large groups of wild animals while you drive, so be careful and drive slowly, especially at night. If you want more information on the animals that can be found in Cortina, we have written a page about it, you can find it below:
In addition to the natural beauty of the landscape, Cortina is the home of the Regional Natural Park of the Ampezzo Dolomites, a protected natural area of 37,000 hectares, a quarter of which are nature reserves. The area has a very diversified flora and fauna. The flora is composed mostly of conifers, which hide a very diversified and complex undergrowth.
Eating wild plants should be done only if you perfectly know what you are doing, but you could easily find blueberries, strawberries and mushrooms along your hikes. For flower lovers, the area of Ra Stua hides a great variety of orchids.
Those described on this page are hikes within everyone's reach, but remember to never underestimate the mountains. When you go on a hike, we always recommend you to use appropriate clothing, starting from the shoes, which must be specifically made for the mountains. Always bring a backpack with at least some water, a snack and a jacket for the rain. Remember not to litter and not to leave garbage around.
The paths in Cortina are usually always well marked, but try not to venture into places where you don't feel safe. If you find yourself at a crossroads, it is generally a good idea to choose the most walked path. If you are not sure which direction is the right one, look for the correct red and white signposts drawn on trees or rocks: they are the safest way not to get lost. If you want to know our recommendations for novice hikers, below you can read our article about:
All the hikes we recommend are tested by us, we do them at least once a year with more or less trained friends. The time taken is the average for a person used to walking in the mountains. A sportsman will need less time, a tourist who wants to relax and look at the view will take a little longer.
Remember that, for each path, there are different variants. Each hike that you'll find on this page has been selected trying to find the right balance between effort, panorama and the possibility to stop to eat or drink something in a mountain lodge. If you want to try some more challenging experiences, or you don't feel too safe to go alone, you can always hire a professional guide, you can find one in the official website of the Alpine Guides of Cortina. In case you are not trained, remember to proceed a little at a time and start with the easier hikes.
Conclusion
We hope you liked our page on the best easy hikes of Cortina. Before saying goodbye, we would suggest you read our home page, with all the articles we wrote about Cortina d'Ampezzo.
If you want to thank us you can read the page Support us. If you only want to suggest a change, propose something or just say hello, in the section contacts and info you'll find all the ways to reach us.