September changes everything. The trails empty out, the air loses that humid summer weight, and the woods begin to turn—first the larches, then the beeches, then everything else. In the Belluno Dolomites, within the territory of the Tre Cime Dolomiti Tourism Consortium, this passage has something theatrical about it: alpine lakes reflect the golden trees with peaks in the background, and silence reclaims the trails.
It is the time of year when the mountain is seen differently. Less adrenaline, more attention. And the routes that seemed ordinary in July reveal an entirely new character in October.
The Loop Around Lake Auronzo: Six Kilometers for Everyone
Lake Auronzo—also known as Lake Santa Caterina—is one of those places that works in any season, but in autumn becomes something else. The loop that encircles it measures six kilometers, flat, on well-packed dirt: a route that excludes no one, from children to hikers whose knees are no longer young.
The waters are emerald green, artificial—the lake was born from a dam—but the color is real and changes with the light of day. Two points deserve a pause: the Transacqua bridge, where flags from around the world lend an unexpected note of color, and the wooden bridge that crosses the lake, the kind of structure that almost asks to be photographed. The Santa Caterina dam, with its vertical drop, closes the loop with a scenic presence difficult to ignore.
Lake Antorno: 500 Meters and the Tre Cime Reflected in the Water
Less known, decidedly more intimate. Lake Antorno sits at 1,866 meters altitude, in the heart of Tre Cime Dolomiti territory, and has a characteristic that makes it unique: from its surface, the Tre Cime di Lavaredo are reflected. It is not a view to seek out—it is simply there, available, every time you pause.
The complete loop around the lake is only 500 meters, with walkways and small bridges, benches for a picnic, open spaces. No technical difficulty, no athletic pretense. It is the kind of place that invites you to slow down without needing to justify it.
From here, for those who wish to extend their walk, some of the area’s most beautiful routes depart: the Tre Cime di Lavaredo loop, the Monte Piana loop—where the trenches of the Great War are still legible in the landscape—and the trail toward the Cadini di Misurina. Two kilometers away lies Lake Misurina, where Sorapis, Cristallo, and the Cadini are mirrored.
22 Kilometers by Bike Through the Woods of Val Ansiei
Those who prefer two wheels have a route worth the journey on its own. The cycle path connecting Lake Auronzo to Lake Misurina measures just under 22 kilometers, with a total elevation gain of about 923 meters—manageable with ease on an e-bike, challenging but rewarding on a traditional bicycle.
You start from the Transacqua bridge, on Lake Auronzo, and immediately enter the slow rhythm of Val Ansiei: the dirt surface, the average gradient of 3.5%, the sound of the Ansiei river accompanying the entire first part of the route. The wooden rest areas are well distributed—bike racks, benches, tables, some covered—and convey the measure of an itinerary designed for those who want to stop, not just arrive.
You pass the Malon bridge and then Taiarezze, Giralba, Val Marzon, Ponte Argentiera, Pralongo, Palus San Marco. The Somadida Forest, at 1,136 meters, marks a shift in the route’s character: the trees grow taller, the gradient steepens, the landscape becomes denser. Val Bona, Bivio Misurina, and you arrive at Lake Misurina, in front of the small church of Col de Varda. From there, those with energy left can continue toward the Tre Cime. Those who prefer to return find the same road—but all downhill.
Refuges Open (But Best to Verify)
September and October are still good for excursions to the refuges, with culinary stops and views of the Dolomite groups. It is worth checking opening times before setting out, however: autumn is a transitional season and some refuges close early to prepare for winter. A phone call solves everything—and spares disappointment at 2,000 meters.
Tre Cime Dolomiti: Slow Mountain, for Real
The territory of the Tre Cime Dolomiti Tourism Consortium is not the mountain of large structures and crowded slopes. It is Auronzo, Misurina, the Belluno Dolomites—unspoiled landscapes, genuine hospitality, unhurried rhythm. What tourism now calls “slow mountain” here is not a slogan: it is simply the way this place works.
In autumn, perhaps more than in any other season, that philosophy becomes tangible. The trails return silence, the lakes return color, and the mountain—finally—returns time.
Info: Tre Cime Dolomiti Tourism Consortium, Via Corte 18, Auronzo di Cadore—tel. +39 0435 99603—auronzomisurina.it
