Cadini Group Hike I Everything you need to know

Before we went to the Dolomites we never heard of the Cadini di Misurina. But when you see photos of the Dolomite highlight Tre Cime di Lavaredo on Instagram, you quite often get to see a viewpoint with a fantastic panorama on which, however, the Tre Cime di Lavaredo are not visible at all, but the peaks of the Cadini group. When we saw such a photo for the first time, we were totally flashed and spent many hours researching to find out where exactly this viewpoint really is and how to get there.

The Cadini group viewpoint or photo spot and the short hike are still a real insider tip and hardly any other tourists come here. Perfect to take a photo without crowds. So you won’t have to queue for a photo like for example at the famous Trolltunga in Norway. We want to spare you the exhausting research and tell you now everything you need to know to be able to take such a spectacular photo.

Hike to the Cadini di Misurina Viewpoint

The Cadini Group at Tre Cime di Lavaredo

The very impressive mountain range Cadini di Misurina consists of peaks up to 2839 meters high and is located not far from the Tre Cime de Lavaredo in the Italian Dolomites. Just like the Tre Cime di Lavaredo, the the casino group mountain range belongs to the UNESCO World Natural Heritage and is considered a paradise for climbers and, of course, also for hikers and nature lovers.

Starting point of the Cadini di Misurina Viewpoint Hike

If you are standing directly in front of the rifugio Auronzo (where the Auronzo toll road also takes you to the Tre Cime) and have it in your back on the left start the circular hike around the Tre Cime (if you do it counterclockwise). But you just have to go straight ahead. The hiking trail to the Cadini group is not really recognizable, but it is marked by a hiking sign (trail #117) at the road.

The first hundred meters are downhill before going uphill just as far (and a bit further). You will then run towards a hill that still blocks the view of the Cadini group.

You now have two possibilities to get around this hill, left around and right around. We recommend you to take the right path, because the left one is very steep and you have to walk very carefully, because a wrong step can end badly. On the path that leads you around the hill to the right, you do not have to worry about this. This path can be walked without any problems.

The Famous Instagram Viewpoint Cadini di Misurina

Once you are on the other side of the hill, you are almost there, because you can already see the Cadini group and also one of the most beautiful viewpoints of the Dolomites. Up here, by the way, you should also stand as a photographer to be able to capture the best possible panorama.

The one of you who wants to be photographed has to go downhill a good bit from here and then stands in front of a small hill on which a narrow path leads. Here you stand and let yourself be photographed. If you have taken enough photos, you go back the same way and end up again at the Auronzo refuge. From here you can start the actual Tre Cime di Lavaredo hike or go back to the parking lot.

Tips For The Cadini Group Hike

What Is The Best Time Tor The Hike?

We started the hike to the Cadini Group early in the morning around 8 am before we started the Tre Cime circuit. However, it shouldn’t make a difference if you hike to this viewpoint before or after the Tre Cime hike. Since the Cadini group viewpoint is still a little insider tip, only a fraction of the people who want to go to the Tre Cime di Lavaredo hike here. During our visit in June 2022 we saw only a handful of other tourists at the Cadini di Misurina viewpoint while at the Tre Cime we encountered hundreds if not thousands of other hikers.

Can I Hike To The Viewpoint Without Doing The Tre Cime Hike?

Theoretically you can come here just for the Cadini group viewpoint, but it would make little sense for several reasons. First of all, one of the most famous hiking trails of the Dolomites is right next door and you can hike it directly without much additional effort.

And secondly, it costs quite a bit of money to get here. If you didn’t walk up here from Lake Antorno then you paid at least 30 Euro. So it really doesn’t make sense to visit only the Cadini group viewpoint.

Hotel Recommendation at the Tre Cime

There are not very many accommodations in the area of the Tre Cime, at least not very many affordable ones. Especially in the high season you have to drive far to get a hotel under 100 Euro.

We have found a great accommodation in neighboring Austria. You heard right: Austria! From the Auronzo hut we needed only 45 minutes to our accommodation and have stayed in a lovingly furnished apartment with private garden.