Cadini di Misurina

Overview

• Starting Point: Col de Varda, Misurina (2,100 m)

• Path: Sentiero Bonacossa ("equipped path" with some ropes and cables)

• Ending Point: Rifugio Auronzo (2,320 m)

• Estimated Time: 5–6 hours

• Difficulty: Moderate to demanding; some exposed sections with metal cables (via ferrata kit recommended for safety)

• Return Options:

• Bus to Misurina (recommended)

• Hike back down (about 1.5 hours)

Download GPS file

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The Story

This hike I remember well, although I didn’t organize it—my father did. And when I don’t plan a hike myself, I often have a harder time remembering all the details!
Anyway, it starts in Misurina and ends at Rifugio Auronzo — the same place where the famous Tre Cime tour begins. Along the way, we cross rocky valleys, narrow rock ledges, and pass by the stunning Cadini di Misurina — surely one of the top 10 most Instagrammed spots in the Dolomites.

We started in Misurina (1,750 m). Since it was August, the town was packed, with cars parked everywhere, even along the sides of the main road for over a kilometer. Somehow, we managed to find a spot and reached the chairlift to Col de Varda (2,100 m), where our real hike began.

The trail is called Sentiero Bonacossa, a semi-equipped route with fixed ropes at certain points to assist hikers. Some people had full via ferrata kits, and honestly, at a couple of points I would have felt safer with one too. But since my dad hadn’t even warned us, we tackled it without—and in the end, we were never really in danger.

Almost immediately after starting, the path climbs through rocky terrain and a loose rock slope to Forcella Misurina (2,391 m). It’s a steep but short ascent, taking about 30 minutes.

From there, we descended toward the rocky valley of Ciadin de la Neve, heading for Forcella del Diavolo (2,380 m). This section is relatively straightforward, though near the forcella it becomes steeper.

After crossing Forcella del Diavolo, we descended again—this time steeply at first, then more gently—towards Rifugio dei Tocci (2,358 m). The refuge sits at another saddle. Continuing from there, the path goes down the other side, with a couple of metal cables appearing for the first time, though the trail remains easy.

Next, we aimed for Forcella di Rimbianco (2,176 m). From here, you can spot a dramatic ledge carved into the rock—a section that looks terrifying from a distance! It’s along this ledge that the real exposure begins, and this is where having a via ferrata kit would have been reassuring.

Stepping onto the ledge, it turned out to be less frightening than it looked. Alpine pine trees line the cliffside, hiding the full drop from view. The trail stays relatively flat but enters a wetter, more slippery section where I truly wished for extra safety gear. Still, with careful footing and by holding onto the fixed ropes, it was manageable.

At the end of the ledge, a panoramic point offers breathtaking views of the Cadini di Misurina, one of the most photographed landscapes in the Dolomites. After this, the trail becomes easier, traversing rocky terrain around Monte Campedelle with a second, lesser-known viewpoint at around 2,300 meters.

From here, you can finally see Rifugio Auronzo in the distance. The final stretch follows a pleasant ridge, with grassy patches returning to the landscape, making for an easy end to the hike.

At Rifugio Auronzo, you have two options to return to Misurina:

• Hike down (about 1 hour and 30 minutes), or

• Take the bus, which is highly recommended after a 5–6 hour adventure!