Dolomites · Italy
Lago di Sorapis Circular
The hike to Lago di Sorapis is one of the Dolomites’ most famous trails, known for its striking turquoise waters and dramatic mountain backdrop. The trail climbs through forests and rocky paths before reaching the beautiful lake beneath the Sorapis peaks.
ACTIVITY OVERVIEW
📏 Distance
13.1km/8.0mi
⏱️ Duration
5 hours
📈 Elevation
400m/1312ft
🗓 Best Season
Late June – September
ESTIMATED COSTS
🚌 Transfers
~5-8 EUR
The Route
⚠️ The maps provided on this website are intended as a general guide only. Conditions, routes, and features may change at any time. Always rely on your own judgement and seek local or professional advice if possible.
🧭 Navigation Tips
Download offline maps before you go - cell signal is unreliable.
Be familiar with key safety locations and emergency shelters in case you need to bail part way.
Check weather and trail conditions before starting.
Getting to the Trail Head
🚎 Public Buses
The urban buses operated by DolomitiBus is the easiest way to get around. To get to the trail head, catch Line #51 to Passo Tre Croci. The bus comes about once an hour during the summer season and tickets can be purchased directly on the bus or via their mobile app.
5-8 EUR · 20 minutes
🚕 Taxis
Taxis are always an option for privacy and convenience but does come at a cost.
20-40 EUR · 10 min
🚎 Transfer Tips
The bus can be very busy especially because it is also the same bus which goes to the iconic Tre Cime di Lavaredo.
The DolomitiBus app is a must if you plan to be in Cortina for more than a few days. It offers multi-day passes, discount tickets making it much cheaper than buying tickets on board.
Tickets must be validated just before you get on board the bus.
There are two type of fares that DolomitiBus offers which are important in the Cortina area:
Urban services - buses operating within Cortina and its immediate built-up area. These are useful for getting around town and to nearby stops.
Extra-urban services — buses travelling between Cortina and surrounding towns, villages and mountain areas. These are commonly used to get to the trailhead for Lago di Sorapis, Tre Cime di Lavaredo and Cinque Torri.
The timetable for both the urban and extra urban likes are be found on their older official dolomitibus.it website.
Food Options
🛖 Rifugio Alfonso Vandelli
Rifugio Alfonso Vandelli is a mountain refuge at 1,928 metres, located beside Lago di Sorapis beneath the dramatic Sorapis peaks. The refuge serves simple, traditional mountain food, including pasta, soups, polenta, sandwiches and homemade cakes, along with hot and cold drinks.
The serving time at most rifugios is between 11:30am and 2:30pm but it’ll be worth while double checking if you plan to arrive outside these ours.
Please note that being the only option in the area, it can be very very busy and during times when water is scarce, the toilets will not be working.
15-25 EUR
Getting Home
🚎 Public Buses
Catching Line #51 from Passo Tre Croci will be the best bet. The bus comes about once an hour and tickets can be purchased directly on the bus or via their mobile app.
2 EUR · 15 minutes
🚕 Taxis
Taxis are always an option for privacy and convenience but does come at a cost.
20-40 EUR · 10 min
🚎 Transfer Tips
Keep an eye on the time as the last bus departs around 18:00pm in summer. It is also worthwhile to double check the timetables to ensure that you have the most up-to-date information.
The bus can be very busy. Try and avoid getting the last bus to give you some buffer and arrive extra early. (I couldn’t get on one bus as it was full and had to wait for the next one).
The buses around Cortina have different schedules for different seasons. It is best to double check the timetables on the official dolomiti.it website the to ensure that you have the most up-to-date information.
Terms of Use
A quick but important note for all visitors: we do our best to share high-quality, accurate information, but it’s always possible that we’ve missed something or that conditions have changed. All GPS tracks (GPX files and maps) and route suggestions are meant to be used as general guidelines—not exact instructions.
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