Lago di Sorapis Hike: Most Incredible Lake In The Dolomites

Imagine a lake with the most vivid turquoise color.
Imagine a dramatic background of a rocky pinnacle aptly named God’s Finger (Dita di Dio) rising vertically towards the heavens.
Imagine a huge natural amphitheater, partly pale and partly green surrounding you with all its awe.

Yup, you’ve just imagined Lago di Sorapiss.

The hike to lake Sorapis is not easy, but boy is it worth the effort.

So, let’s see what exactly you need to know th enjoy hiking to Lago di Sorapis!

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Lago di Sorapis hike in a nutshell

The hike itself starts and ends at Passo Tre Croci (elevation 1800 msl). It’s easily reachable from Cortina by a car or a bus.

The overall distance is approximately 5 kilometres one way and the trail is quite varied.

While the overall elevation gain is only about 130 metres, the total ascent and descent on this hike approximately 430 metres.

Lake Sorapis hike – in more detail

The hike to Lago di Sorapiss is as rewarding as the lake itself. Not only does it lead to a beautiful place, it also offers some superb vistas on the way.

From the Tre Croci Mountain pass, follow trail nr. 215 towards Rifugio Vandelli. That’s the trail the whole way to lake Sorapis.

The beginning of the hike from Passo Tre Croci is relatively flat. First, the trail leads through a meadow into a pine forest. You’ll be able to see Monte Cristallo, Piz Popena, and Cadini di Misurina along the way.

In the forest, you’ll get to enjoy the first narrow paths – this is just the beginning, they’ll get even narrower afterwards. After exiting the forest, you’ll get to enjoy a magnificent view of the Val d’Ansiei.

At this point, you’ll be about an hour into your hike. From here, the trail becomes steep and rocky.

Some parts of it have steel cables to protect you – use them even if you feel stable! You don’t know which rocks might slide.

At other parts, there are metallic ladders to get you over the rocks – and higher quicker.

After a bunch of climbing, cables, and ladders, you’ll enter a forest again. That’s the final part before reaching lago di Sorapis, congratulations!

The lake is a perfect mix of natural ingredients – glacial water and rock dust. Enjoy the views and maybe even walk around the lake – the views are nice from the other side, too.

https://youtube.com/shorts/CcY_ZuagVls

For the way back, follow the same trail. Altogether, you will have walked around 10 kilometres and the hike is moderately difficult for an average hiker. 

Hiking lake Sorapis hike as a loop

There is an option to make the Lake Sorapis hiking trail into a loop instead of a return hike.

Caution: experienced hikers only! It’s a technical trail which is sometimes not clearly marked and gets dangerous.

If you are an experienced hiker and want to try the loop trail, go back a bit on the trail #215, and at the trail intersection, look for trail #216 towards Forcella Marcoira.

After you’ve climbed up to the Saddle, the trail becomes unclear, it plunges downhill, and it’s slippery. This is the most dangerous part of the hike, so be extra, extra careful, please.

Follow the trail until the intersection again, this time to Tardeiba – trail #213 towards Passo Tre Croci.

The trail goes through a forest – at last, it’s quite easy again. You can either go to Passo Tre Croci or turn right towards the trail #215 which will lead you to the Hotel Passo Tre Croci.

Where to eat on the hike

If all the effort to get here and all the mesmerizing beauty to be admired got you hungry – great news – the Rufigio Vandelli mountain hut is located mere 5 minutes from the lake and provides food and accommodation in a rather low-key setting.

Keep in mind that the Rifugio is open for lunch from 11:30am to 2:30pm. At other times, you can’t get food there.

Also, it only accepts cash – so carry some with you if you’d like to have a warm lunch.

Otherwise, we suggest that you take some snacks and sandwiches with you – with had a sandwich lunch on our hike. I love having picnics when hiking, as you can choose the place with the best view and enjoy it while eating!

How to get to the trailhead

There are two best ways how to get to the trailhead – bus or car.

Bus

The bus stops at the mountain pass, so actually it’s quite a convenient way to get to the trailhead. On the other hand, you might miss the bus back if you get delayed, and that creates its own range of problems.

If coming from Cortina d’Ampezzo, you can take bus 30/31 which stops at the mountain pass. From other places, you’ll most probably have to do transfers.

Car

If you drive your own car, there are a couple of places to park. The most convenient is the B&B Passo Tre Croci, as that’s right at the trailhead.

If that parking lot is full, go to “Parking for lake Sorapis – Trail No.: 215” on Google Maps.

Since the lake Sorapis hike is an in-and-out trail, you’ll arrive right back at the parking lot.

What to pack and wear

• Good hiking shoes
• Hiking poles
• Water
• Snacks
• Windbreaker
• Warmer layer
• Reusable water bottle
• Hiking pants or shorts
• T-shirt
• First aid kit

Make sure to have good hiking shoes that will protect your ankles and toes from the stones. And make sure they have a good grip – so that you’re stable, not sliding around.

Since it’s the mountains, it’s always a good idea to have a windbreaker and a warmer layer. When we hiked in august, we were lucky and it was quite warm. But that’s never guaranteed.

Speaking of “warm”, make sure to pack enough water with you. And some snacks, and cash, in case you need to get something from the Rifugio.

Michal hiked to lake Sorapis in shorts and a t-shirt, and I actually felt a bit too warm in my long pants. But again, it’s better than being cold.

A little first aid kit is always a good idea when hiking. Throw some bandaids, pain medicine, and disinfectant in a baggie, and you’re good to go!

We use Owala bottles as reusable water bottles. Two things I love most about them are that the insulated ones keep the water cold even on hot days and that you have two options of drinking the water – straw and spout.

When to hike

In short, the best time to hike lake Sorapis is July, as that’s when there shouldn’t be any snow, the water level should be high, and the crowds shouldn’t be the highest.

Lake Sorapis’s water level is rather seasonal, with the highest levels at the end of spring and beginning of summer. On the other hand, come in October, and the lake will most probably not be at its mightiest.

The water level was extra low also when we hiked there at the end of August. It actually made the water color even more interesting.

As for how many people there will be on the trail… it’s going to be rather full whenever you go, as Lago di Sorapis hike is one of the most popular ones in the Dolomties (for a good reason).

I wouldn’t recommend hiking to lago di Sorapis in the snow unless you are an experienced alpine hiker. The trail is very narrow at points with steep drops on the sides, so it can be dangerous.

Where to stay in the area

The best place to stay in the area is, obviously, at the B&B Tre Croci, since it’s right at the trailhead.

Otherwise, there are different other towns that are convenient for hiking in the Dolomites.

Cortina d’Ampezzo

Cortina is conveniently located to reach the lake Sorapis trailhead early, as it’s quite close.

Here are some hotel options for Cortina:

📍Best Budget Spot – Hotel Oasi – there’s no better budget accommodation in Cortina. The location of Oasi is perfect, and you get great bang for the buck.
📍Best Mid-Range Spot – Hotel Lajadira & Spa – this hotel is on the outskirts of Cortina, but still close enough to everything you might want. The rooms and the spa are nice, and the food is tasty.
📍Best Luxury Spot – HOTEL de LËN – a 4-star hotel located in the heart of Cortina. The rooms are beautifully decorated in wood and the spa is exquisite, with an incredible view.

Other notable places to stay: Baita Fraina; Grand Hotel Savoia; Dolomiti Lodge Alvera.

Dobbiaco

Dobbiaco is a more budget-friendly place to stay for the Sorapis lake hike. It’s a bit further to drive, but still worth it.

📍Best Budget Spot – Haus Greg – a self-service apartment right in the center of Dobbiaco. Close to restaurants, shops, and buses.
📍Best Mid-Range Spot – Hotel Rosengarten – a family-run hotel near the center of Dobbiaco, with traditional food, wood-furnished rooms, and great views of the surrounding mountains.
📍Best Luxury Spot – Romantik Hotel Santer – a beautiful 4-star hotel with an exceptional spa and wellness area (a huge one!), hikes that start directly at the hotel, and incredible rooms.

Other notable places to stay: Skyview Chalets; Park Hotel Bellevue; Hotel Hubertushof.

Other hikes and activities near Lake Sorapis hike

There are a ton of great things to do near lago di Sorapis. The list is incredibly long, as the lake is located near some of the most beautiful places in the Dolomites.

Here’s just a tiny little part of what you can explore:

• Tre Cime di Lavaredo hike
• Cadini di Misurina hike
• Lake Braies
• Lake Misurina
• Croda da Lago
• Cinque Torri
• Val Fiscalina

In conclusion

The most turquoise lake in the Dolomites owes its otherworldly color to a very fine Dolomite rock powder brought down from a nearby glacier of the same name. As the glacier melts, its meltwater feeds the lake in spring and summer. The whole place is so stunning it’ll blow your mind, trust us. Or even better – hike there and check it out for yourself.

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