Lake Sorapis Hike: Trail, Loop, Parking & Swim Guide (2026)

The hike to Lake Sorapis is one of the most spectacular hikes in the Dolomites and an absolute highlight of Veneto, the neighboring region of South Tyrol. However, in our opinion, the real highlight is not the lake itself, but the way to get there. The hiking trail to Lago di Sorapis leads not only through the forest but also along steep slopes and with views of the mountains of the Dolomites, which is truly unique.

Last updated: July 2026

Lake Sorapis in the Dolomites

Lake Sorapis is located just 12 km from Cortina d’Ampezzo and is famous for the turquoise color of its crystal clear waters. The water that feeds this lake comes from a nearby glacier and reaches a large rocky sill through an underground path from where it flows into the towering waterfall “il Piss” (this waterfall is also the name giver for the Sorapis lake, Sora el Piss = above the Piss).

The lake sits at 1,925 meters above sea level at the foot of Punta Sorapis (3,205 m) and is part of the famous high-altitude trail Alta Via delle Dolomiti No. 3. You can only reach it on foot – there is no road or cable car.

What does the trail look like in detail?

The hike can be roughly split into three sections. The first 2 km run on a wide forest path with little elevation change – a relaxed start. Between kilometer 2 and 4, the trail narrows and steepens, with the first demanding sections secured by steel cables. From kilometer 4 to the lake, narrow, exposed stretches along the cliff alternate with calmer sections. Plan for around 2 hours on the way there, and slightly less on the way back since it’s mostly downhill.

Getting to the Starting Point of the Lake Sorapis Hike

How do you get to the starting point of the hike?

The start of the hike to Lago di Sorapis is located on Passo Tre Croci, about a 15-minute drive (10 km) from Cortina d’Ampezzo. You have three options to get there:

1. By car or rental car: Take the SR48 directly to the pass. Ideal if you want to stay flexible and explore more of the Dolomites afterward.
2. By bus: The DolomitiBus line 30/31 connects Cortina d’Ampezzo with Misurina and stops directly at Passo Tre Croci. Buses run roughly hourly between 6 and 11 am, with return services until around 5:45 pm. Handy if the parking lot is full – check current timetables on the DolomitiBus website.
3. On foot from Cortina: For very fit hikers, this adds significant extra distance.

Where can you park for the Lake Sorapis hike?

There is no official large trailhead parking lot, but three practical options:

• Directly on the road (Google Maps link) – free, but limited and usually full by around 8:30 am in high season.
• The parking lot at Hotel Passo Tre Croci, about 200 meters west – free, but in poor condition with deep potholes.
• The gravel lot “Parcheggio per Sorapis” a bit further west on the SR48 – often overlooked, so sometimes still has space when the other two are full.

Tip: Start before 8 am and you’ll almost always get a spot right on the road. By 9 am on weekends in July/August, there’s practically nothing left.

Our Experiences on the Lago di Sorapis Hike

The trail to Lago di Sorapis starts out quite friendly with wide trails through the dense forest. However, after only a kilometer, the trail crosses the boulder field of a dry riverbed, and after that, the trail climbs steadily. The path becomes more and more varied and every now and then you catch a glimpse of the valley to your left, which seems to be lined with millions of conifers. Lush green wherever you look.

From now on the trail becomes steeper and steeper and we start to sweat for the first time and take small breaks. It doesn’t take much longer and we reach the place where the trail seems to cling to the mountain along steep slopes.

The Steep Slopes

We had read about this part of the trail before, but we never thought that it would be so dangerous and at the same time so beautiful. On the way there, you have the steep face to your right and the abyss to your left, and mostly a view of the valley for miles, with fir trees stretching up into the sky as far as you can see. This is the beautiful part of this section of the hike.

The dangerous or at least very demanding part is the narrow path with the abyss right next to you and a steel rope on the right side to secure yourself. But in some places this safety rope is also missing. And if you are careless or slip because it becomes slippery due to rain on the often rocky path, then you inevitably fall into the depths. Not a very nice idea.

But if you get used to walk here very carefully, especially with small children or dogs, then you can enjoy this path very much. Even if you often have to wait with oncoming traffic, because in particularly narrow places no 2 people fit next to each other.

Finally Arrived at the Lake

After almost 2 hours we finally arrived at the destination of the hike. Still a small hill to cross and already the lake reveals itself before us. It is cloudy, but still this mountain lake looks very impressive to us. After the strenuous hike we send our dog Aaro in the water to cool down.

Photo tip: The best light at Lake Sorapis is in the morning, when the sun is behind you as you shoot toward the lake. In the afternoon the sun sits more in front of you, making shots harder. And the water looks noticeably more turquoise and vivid in sunshine than under clouds – like it was for us.

After some time we walk along the shore of the lake and look for a nice place where we are alone and can strengthen ourselves for the way back. It is also possible to walk on a narrow path once around the complete Lake Sorapis, but we are still too tired from the way there.

If you want to visit more lakes in South Tyrol here is an overview of the most beautiful lakes in the Dolomites.

Way Back in the Rain

After about an hour we leave the Sorapis lake and start the difficult way back home. Suddenly it starts to rain heavily. We don’t find the small cooling at all bad, but nevertheless the rocky way becomes partly so slippery by the rain that we have to be careful like hell not to slip.

But then the sun comes out and we can experience a beautiful rainbow that forms a complete semicircle in the valley next to us. A real wow moment and a great end to a special day of hiking.

The Loop Hike via Forcella Marcoira

Is the Lake Sorapis hike a loop?

Not by default – but you can turn it into one. Instead of hiking back the same way, you can switch to trail 216 at the lake and return to Passo Tre Croci via the Forcella Marcoira (a mountain saddle) on trail 213. The detour adds barely any extra distance (about 1.7 km more than the standard there-and-back route), but noticeably more elevation gain – roughly 700 meters instead of 450.

The climb up to Forcella Marcoira is steep and involves some light scrambling in places, but you’re rewarded with a fantastic view down onto the turquoise Lake Sorapis and a panorama across the entire Sorapis group – on a clear day the view reaches as far as Tre Cime di Lavaredo. This section is noticeably quieter than the main route, since most day hikers walk straight to the lake and back.

Our take: If you’re reasonably fit and don’t mind exposure, we’d definitely recommend considering the loop – the view from Forcella Marcoira was one of the highlights of our entire Dolomites trip. For families with young kids or in wet weather, we’d stick with the classic there-and-back route instead.

What Should You Bring for the Lake Sorapis Hike?

What gear do you need for the hike?

Sturdy, ankle-high hiking boots with good grip are a must – the trail is rocky in places and gets slippery when wet. Trekking poles help on the steep sections, though they’re not essential since you’ll need your hands free to hold onto the steel cable at the critical spots anyway. Bring at least 1.5 liters of water per person – the only refill option is at the Rifugio Vandelli mountain hut just before the lake. Sun protection (hat, sunscreen) matters, since large parts of the trail – especially on the return and on the Forcella Marcoira loop – are completely exposed. You don’t need via ferrata equipment despite the steel cables; this hike is not an official via ferrata.

Important Tips for the Lake Sorapis Hike

Is the Hike to Lago di Sorapis worth it?

For us, the hike to lake Sorapis was one of the highlights of our trip through the Dolomites. We also found the hike itself more beautiful than the actual destination, Lake Sorapis. But I guess everyone sees that differently. In any case, we recommend every vacationer in the Dolomites or in South Tyrol to do this hike.

Is it possible to get directly to Lake Sorapis by car?

No, it is not possible to get directly to the lake by car or in any other way. The only possibility is to hike from Passo Tre Croci.

Are dogs allowed at Lake Sorapis?

Yes, dogs are allowed on the trail to Lake Sorapis. Our dog Aaro joined us in 2022 and even went for a swim in the lake. Do keep an eye on the exposed, narrow sections along the steep slope – we’d recommend keeping your dog on a leash there so they can’t slip or startle passing hikers.

Hiking Lago di Sorapis with Dog & Kids

Often the hike to the Lago of Sorapis is described as a family-friendly hike for kids. However, we can not confirm this at all. We found the hike with its many rocky, slippery and also close to the abyss lying paths as quite dangerous. There are mostly safety ropes at the dangerous places, but not everywhere. And especially when it was wet, some places could be extremely slippery.

We had some problems with our lively dog already and with several small children it could be difficult. As a rough guideline: with one adult per child and experienced young hikers, the hike is doable from around age 5–6 – younger kids should only join if you’re prepared to carry or closely guide them through the critical sections. Be prepared for a challenging hike in some places either way.

Is the Sorapis Lake hiking trail easy to walk?

As indicated in the chapter above, we did not find the hike easy. On the one hand, this was due to the almost 500 meters in altitude that have to be overcome and also due to the very narrow and slippery places on the steep slope. Nevertheless, the hike is super varied and one of the coolest we have done so far.

Can you swim in Lake Sorapis?

Unfortunately we have to say no. Bathing is prohibited to protect nature. We wouldn’t recommend it either, because the water is really cold. By the way, there is no problem with dogs and our Aaro visibly enjoyed the bath in the cool glacier water after the long hike.

Is there a hut at Lake Sorapis?

Yes, right at the lake sits the Rifugio Vandelli mountain hut, where you can get drinks and snacks during the high season (usually mid-June to mid-September). The hut has neither a lake view nor guaranteed opening hours outside the season, so bring your own food for a lakeside picnic. Book ahead if you want to stay overnight, since it fills up quickly in the summer months.

When is the Best Time for hiking the Lago di Sorapis?

The best time to hike to Lake Sorapis is June through September – outside these months, snow often still (or already) covers parts of the trail. For fewer crowds, we’d recommend starting either very early in the morning, or – as we did – later in the day. We arrived at the starting point only around noon due to a slightly longer journey and started walking at 12 o’clock. At this time, most of the tourists already met us on their way back, and hardly anyone walked with us or even overtook us.

We were really surprised how many other tourists came towards us. In the afternoon we were of course not alone, but there were much fewer people on site than in the morning and so we had a much nicer experience. If you want the lake to yourself, an early start before sunrise is your best bet – though we haven’t tested that ourselves.

FAQ: Lake Sorapis Hike

Where does the Lake Sorapis hike start?

The trailhead is at Passo Tre Croci, about a 15-minute drive from Cortina d’Ampezzo. From there, trail No. 215 leads to the lake.

How long does the Lake Sorapis hike take?

Plan around 4 hours for the classic there-and-back route (about 2 hours each way). The loop hike via Forcella Marcoira takes 5–6 hours.

Is the Lake Sorapis hike suitable for beginners?

To an extent. Fitness-wise it’s manageable, but the narrow, exposed sections along the steep slope with the safety cable make it technically demanding. You should be sure-footed and comfortable with heights.

Is there parking at the trailhead?

Yes, though there’s no official large trailhead parking lot. You can park directly on the road, at the Hotel Passo Tre Croci lot, or at the somewhat hidden gravel lot “Parcheggio per Sorapis.” In high season, aim to arrive before 8 am.

Can you swim in Lago di Sorapis?

No, swimming is not allowed in Lago di Sorapis – it’s prohibited to protect the fragile alpine environment. We wouldn’t recommend it anyway, since the glacial water is extremely cold.

More Hikes in the Dolomites

If you want to see more of the Dolomites, check out our other hikes:

• Tre Cime di Lavaredo Hike – A Journey Through the Dolomites’ Most Famous Peaks
• Dolomites Highlights – Our Top Sights
• Seceda Hike – All Info & Tips
• Seiser Alm – Hiking the Largest High Alpine Meadow