Cinque Torri: Hiking Guide to the Towers, Rifugio Scoiattoli, Rifugio Averau and Rifugio Nuvolau: Visiting Cinque Torri is a great first stop in the Dolomites. You will get unique 360 degree views, get to check out a few different rifugios plus has all different levels of hiking available. This guide will give all hiking trails and routes at the top of the lift at Cinque Torri, which rifugios to stop at, what to bring and more.
Stats
For this hike we did the entire loop. The great part of this area is that it is still worth the visit if you want to shorten your hike or time here. You can just visit Rifugio Scoiattoli and the Towers. Visiting Rifugio Averau is an easy second add on and hiking up to Rifugio Nuvolau is the hardest but gives you a 360 view of the area. I would definitely hike through the towers if you make it up to the area.
Complete Loop: Towers, Rifugio Scoiattoli, Rifugio Averau and Rifugio Nuvolau
Length: 6 kilometers (3.7 miles) round trip
Time: 2-3 hours
Difficulty: Moderate
Elevation Gain: 335 meters (1,100 feet)
Trailhead: Rifugio Scoiattoli
***what we hiked.
Partial Loop: Towers, Rifugio Scoiattoli, and Rifugio Averau
Length: 3.9 kilometers
Time: 2 hours
Difficulty: Moderate
Trailhead: Rifugio Scoiattoli
Harder Partial Loop: Towers, Rifugio Scoiattoli, Rifugio Nuvolau
Length: 3.9 kilometers
Time: 2 hours
Difficulty: Moderate
Trailhead: Rifugio Scoiattoli
Only Towers and Rifugio Scoiattoli
Length: 1.9 kilometers (1.2 miles)
Time: 1 hour
Difficulty: Easy
Trailhead: Rifugio Scoiattoli
In short these are the hiking stats
Cinque Torri Towers Hike: 1.9 kilometers round trip
From Rifugio Scoiattoli to Rifugio Averau: plus 1 kilometer one way
From Rifugio Scoiattoli to Rifugio Nuvolau: plus 1 kilometer one way
Overview
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When To Go
The best time to visit the Dolomites for hiking would be in the summer months. June- September. You can plan to visit in May but there is a chance that the snow has not melted off of the trails yet. We went in September and had no issues with parking and had great weather. There are chances of snow in September. Most rifugio huts close October 1st.
The Dolomites would be amazing to ski in the winter but there is no chance of hiking.
Where To Stay
The Dolomites is a vast area. Many people recommend staying in two different places so you don’t have as long of a drive for the different areas. We went with our 18 month old child and didn’t want to repack all of our belongings so we stayed in one place. Plus we don’t mind long drives.
Our place was in Badia, Italy. We absolutely loved our apartment rental at Maso Runch. It was a beautiful view, central, and was on a farm! They had a playground, animals, and you could order fresh eggs, milk and breads each day!
How Hard Is The Hike?
Hiking here was not too difficult for the average hiker. The biggest difficulty for this hike was the heat. There is not much shade on these trails and it was in the upper 80s in September. The good thing was you could take breaks in the rifugios for some shade and a refreshing drink.
The great part about this area, and all of the Dolomites, is that you can take different routes to shorten or lengthen your hikes.
The Route
Parking
For this hike you will need to park at the bottom of the Baita Bai de Dones. The parking lot can fill up fast in the peak summer months, but we had no problem on a weekend early in the morning. We got there shortly after 9:30 am.
Ski Lift
From here you will take the ski lift up to Rifugio Scoiattoli. You will need a round trip ticket for the lift unless you plan to hike up or down on the way. In that case you can do a one way ticket.
Pricing for summer lift tickets (Summer 2023):
Adults Round Trip: 25 euros
Adults One Way: 18 euros
Check here for updated prices.
The ski lift ride was great. You can see the hiking trail below the lift.
If coming with a small child I would bring a non-framed carrier to secure them. We absolutely loved our Boba Air travel carrier for this trip. It is not meant for front forward carrying but worked perfect for the chair lifts.
Rifugio Scoiattoli
The Rifugio Scoiattoli greets you as you immediately get off of the lift. You can stop here right away for a coffee and croissant with a view. This might be a great stop as it is not as busy as lunch hour if coming here first thing in the morning. We went ahead and started hiking to the towers.
This is the nicest dining at the top, and probably the one with the best view at all of the tables. But also is the bustiest rifugio that we stopped at.
Hiking the Cinque Torri Towers
This hiking area can be hiked in a loop or create your own route as there are different paths around and through the towers. Along these hikes you can also duck into some bunkers that were used for World War I. It was pretty cool to see how well these were hidden into the mountain side.
And of course take some routes through the towers. They are beautiful and you can even spot some rock climbers on these towers.
Rifugio Averau
Once we headed back to Rifugio Scoiattoli we continued right to Rifugio Averau. It is a slow 1 kilometer climb up a gravel road. We stopped a few times for water and to take in the view behind us. It was a lot harder with a kid on our back. But having our Osprey carrier was key for hiking up these with a toddler.
You will be ready for your refreshing drink at the top. You can order outside at a booth, they had basic drinks and meals. Or you can opt in to get a table inside or on the patio for a broader menu. We got a drink then actually stopped back here again for a delicious beef carpaccio sandwich since Rifugio Nuvolau was pretty crowded.
Rifugio Nuvolau
Hiking to Rifugio Nuvolau was the hardest climb in this area. Not only is it a faster altitude change but it was a narrow path that was busy. The route is not easily marked but it should be easy to follow the crowd.
At the top the views were incredible. We took turns exploring around but at this point in the day it was very crowded and hard to get around. I would recommend hiking to this rifugio first.
Once our visit was over at Rifugio Nuvolua then we headed to the less crowded, with more shade, Rifugio Averau. Then back down to Rifugio Scoiattoli to take the lift down to end our time at Cinque Torri.
We went early and were able to pair this with a quick visit to Cortina d’Ampezzo to ride the cable car to Cima Tofana. This peak is the third highest peak in the Dolomites.
Tips For The Hike
Leave No Trace
Make sure you practice Leave No Trace 7 principles to leave minimal impact on the trails.
Be Bear Aware
Make sure you are Bear Aware while in any part of the Dolomites. We did not carry any bear spray or use bear bells in the Dolomites since we were in high trafficked areas. If we were hiking in the backcountry I would recommend it.
Watch For Weather
Make sure you keep in eye on the weather before heading out on any of these hikes. Being caught on those exposed mountain tops during a thunderstorm could become dangerous.
Go Early
Going early will help you beat the crowds and the heat. And maybe even give you a better chance at seeing some wildlife if you are interested in that. Going early also helps you secure a parking space as well.
What To Bring
Water– we carried 2 liters of water in our hydration bladders with an additional collapsible water bottle on most longer hikes.
Layers– You never know what the weather and high elevation hikes may bring you. Dress in thin layers and make sure you bring a raincoat as well.
Sunscreen– Sunscreen is essential, being on the rock face with not much shade can be a bad combo on a sunny day.
Bear Spray– We did not bring any during this trip but some people like to, and I had attached a bear bell on to my backpack.
Bug Spray– Although we didn’t seem to get bitten by bugs much during this time of year it is always smart to carry some with you.
Hiking Shoes– Good sturdy hiking shoes are a must. I love my Ahnu’s.
Snacks/Food– This is a long hike, we packed many snacks such as granola bars, jerky sticks, fruits strips and more.
Sunglasses/Hat– Again it is very bright at the top of some wide open areas. I would pack sunglasses and maybe even a hat if you are sensitive to the sun.
For hiking with children we took two carriers, a foldable travel one for the lift and a framed hiking backpack for the hikes.
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Cima Tofana
You can easily pair this with a trip to Cortina d’Ampezzo to ride the cable car to Cima Tofana. This peak is the third highest peak in the Dolomites. We wish we had more time here as there were three separate areas to stop and relax and explore on the way to and from Cima Tofana. Check summer cable car prices and times here
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