If it’s the first time you are traveling to the Dolomites, I am pretty sure you won’t be disappointed. Mountain regions are always beautiful travel destinations but the Dolomites are just next leveI! Its beauty is just insane with otherworldly landscapes and stunning mountain lakes you only thought existed in Canada. Convinced to hike the Dolomites? Great!
I will share the best hikes around the most stunning mountain lakes that the Dolomites have to offer! All of these hikes can be done in one day and don’t necessarily require additional equipment. Of course, you’ll have to put on your hiking shoes and sometimes leave the beaten path to discover these magical places.
BE AWARE: A hike in the Dolomites can be challenging and weather conditions can change rapidly. Although most of these mountain lake hikes are not particularly challenging, there is one that is. And its not for the faint of heart!
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Lago di Braies
“Lago di Braies” or “Pragser Wildsee” is one of the most beautiful lakes of the Dolomites. It’s located at an altitude of 1500 metres above sea level. It lies in the valley of Alta Pusteria or Hochpustertal and is surrounded by the imposing Seekofel massif (2810 m). This mountain lake with its turqoise-green color is breathtaking! It’s 36 meters deep at the deepest point and if you like a cold shower, you can swim in the lake as well. Both in summer and winter this is a popular travel destination for people who want to enjoy the beautiful outdoors.
That being said, it can get very busy around the lake since this is probably the most known and popular mountain lake of the Dolomites. Therefore, its natural beauty and easy accessibility has its downside as well. The lake gets a lot of visitors during the day and full busses with tourists come and go.
If you are early enough, you can park your car on the parking lot nearby for 8 euros. If you are traveling with a campervan or mobilhome you can stay overnight for 20 euros. During high season (summer months) they even block the access road to the lake from 10:00 until 15:00. In that case you will have to leave your car at the parking lot in Ferrara (6km from the lake) and take a shuttle bus from there.
So I guess you could say that the experience you’ll have when visiting Lago di Braies can vary based on when you are there.
Early bird catches the worm
If you want to experience Lago di Braies the magical and stunning way, you will have to get up early! We were there at 7:00 AM. A part from a few people and photographers, we had the lake almost to ourselves. In the morning there’s also less or no wind than later in the day.
For taking pictures, early morning is the best time because the water surface will be totally flat without any wrinkles. The turqoise-green water then reflects the beautiful surrounding mountains which shows you Lago di Braies at its best! The best early morning view is at the left side of the little boat house. Afterwards you can also go right from the boat house. Take your time here to enjoy the peacefulness before you start your hike around one of the most beautiful mountain lakes in the Dolomites.
The later it gets the greater the odds that there will be some wind later on that spoils a bit of the stunning view. If by 9:00 AM the wind didn’t spoil your magical experience, the row boats will. Around that time the boat house opens and people start their own boat trip around the lake. Feeling romantic? Then that’s your cue to go rent a boat. For the others… it’s time to start one of the prettiest mountain lake walks in the Dolomites.
Hike around Lago di Braies, one of the most breathtaking lakes of the Dolomites!
You’ll start from the area around the boat house and can choose whether you walk clock or counter clockwise since this trail lies next to the banks of the lake. I would suggest to hike the trail clockwise and go left from the boat house. The left side of the trail has the most elevation and gives you the best views in my opinion. You’ll first pass a little forest and if you’re lucky you’ll see a squirrel or two. From there on, the trail goes up a bit with stairs at some points. On the left side of the lake, fresh water drips of the rocks next to the trail.
On the other side of the lake you’ll come across a small forest with a little beach. From there, the trail will lead you further along the right side bank of the lake until you reach the boat house again. It’s not a challenging trail but it’s all about the landscape and beautiful surroundings. I think it took us approximately 1,5 hour to walk around the lake. That’s all the photo stops included. You can walk it in 1 hour as well without photo stops.
- Difficulty: Easy
- Intensity: Moderate
- Duration: 1 – 1,5 hours
- Length: 3,5 km
- Vertical meters: 50 m
Looking for the GPX file for this trail? Download it here for free!
Are you looking for a place to stay in the area around Lago di Braies? The village Ferrara lies just 6km from the lake and is a good option to sleep. Check availabilities for you travel period here.
Lago di Sorapis
12 km from the mountain village Cortina d’Ampezzo, in the Sorapis mountain range, lies a mountain lake that is possibly the most beautiful of the Dolomites. The lake lies in a hidden valley on an altitude of 1925 meters above sea level and is surrounded by majestic mountain peaks.
The water has an intense blue milky color because of fine grained particles of rock caused by glacial erosion. It’s often called “glacial milk” and that’s actually a very good description. You can only access the lake by foot or by helicopter. It is one of the most beautiful things I have ever seen. Hiking the Dolomites at its best!
You might suspect it already. A lake that beautiful and hidden, which you can only access it by helicopter or by foot, means that you will have to roll up your sleeves a little to be able to enjoy it. Although the hike itself is beautiful, it is not without danger. On some parts of the trail there is no room for error. Therefore, I would not recommend to do this hike with children. Good hiking shoes are necessary and a descent fitness level is advisable.
The most beautiful mountain lake hike in the Dolomites
You know what you are getting into? Then it’s time to start this stunning hike in the Dolomites. You will start your adventure from Passo Tre Croci. You can park your car there or you can drive a little bit further down the road. After the left turn you will find a large parking space where you can park your car or campervan. We stayed there for the night and started our hike from there the next morning.
It’s advisable to start early in the morning so that you’ll arrive at the lake before the first sunlight reaches the mountain lake. It’s really a magical moment when the sun rises over the surrounding peaks. Getting there early also means less people. To have the best experience you will have to set the alarm around 7.00 AM.
If you start near the road from Passo Tre Croci, the trail is approximately 8 km long one way. It will take you around 2,5 hours to get up to the lake. To go up, visit the lake and get back you will need between 5 – 6 hours.
There are two different trails you can follow to go up: nr 215 and nr 217. The trail that we followed was nr 215. Nr 217 apparently is harder than 215.
The trail starts quite mellow with a lot of stunning sceneries along the way. You will walk past small waterfalls and beautiful forests. The path gets steeper and rougher as it progresses. At some points of the trail they have placed iron steps on the steep sections. There is one section where it gets a bit sketchy. Here the trail runs over a smooth rock that lies in a corner. The rock is inclined towards a cliff. There are few things to hold and meltwater can stream over the rock so be careful that you don’t slip.
A little bit further you will have to pass a section where the path is less than 1 meter wide, against a vertical wall on one side and a couple hundred meters vertical cliff drop on the other side. However, on this section you can hold a steel cable that is fixed against the rock wall.
Although it is a challenging trail, several people young and old, hike this trail daily. Nevertheless, both these sections demand your full attention.
When you see the Rifugio (Italian for mountain hut) Alfonso Vandelli you’re almost there. And there at the end of the trail lies the biggest reward a Dolomites hike could possibly give… the magical hidden lake of Sorapis!
You can walk around the lake and even hike further up in the mountains towards the mountain ridge if you want. At the opposite side of the lake there is a grass field where you can chill a bit and have a picknick. It sure is one of the most amazing places I’ve ever picknicked.
- Difficulty: Advanced
- Intensity: Moderate
- Duration: 2,5 hours one way – 5 to 6 hours back and forth
- Length: 8 km one way
- Vertical meters: 500 m
Looking for the GPX file for this trail? Download it here for free!
Looking for a place to stay close by the Lago di Sorapis? Cortina d’Ampezzo is your best option. Check the best accommodations here!
Lago di Carreza
“Lago di Carreza” or “Karersee” is a mountain lake that lies near the Cosalungapas which forms a border with Trentino. Although this isn’t really a hike… The lake is of such great beauty that it would be a shame not to mention this amazing place.
The lake is famous for its cristal clear green water. This lake is surrounded by large pine tree forests and the peaks of the Latemar mountain.
These pine tree forests are famous as well. The quality of the wood is extraordinary. Because they are sheltered from wind they grow very straight which provides high quality wood for i.e. manufacturing the famous Stradivarius violins.
However, in 2018 a very severe storm hit this area of the Dolomites with hurricane winds. In a few hours, 1.2 million cubic meters of trees have been broken down as matchsticks. The damage is still noticeable.
The size of the lake depends on the season and it is being fed by underground wells. In the beginning of spring, when the snow melts from the mountain, the lake reaches its maximum size. The lake will be at its smallest in October.
The lake is easily accessible because it lies next to the road. There is a small trail that you can take to walk around the lake.
- Difficulty: Easy
- Intensity: Easy
- Duration: 20 min
- Length: 1 km
- Vertical meters: 10 m
Looking for the GPX file for this trail? Download it here for free!
You can sleep in Carezza al Lago, a small village just a 5 min drive from the lake. Book your accommodation here!
