Through the Cadore to the Three Peaks

Route details

A 99 km Tourer through the Cadore Valley into the Dolomites. The route leads from Lago di Santa Croce via Pieve di Cadore and Auronzo to Cortina d'Ampezzo.

The Tourer starts in Farra d'Alpago on Lago di Santa Croce, the largest lake in the province of Belluno. The lake lies at an altitude of 386 meters and is surrounded by the Alpago mountains. From here, the route leads northwards through the Cadore Valley, a historic region of Veneto that stretches along the Piave River.

The first important stop is Pieve di Cadore at an altitude of 878 meters, the historic capital of the Cadore Valley. The town is known as the birthplace of the painter Titian and combines Venetian architecture with alpine character. Piazza Tiziano with the 15th century Palazzo della Magnifica Comunità forms the center. The road continues north along the turquoise-blue Lago di Centro Cadore.

Via the Strada Regionale 48 delle Dolomiti, a historic section of the Great Dolomite Road, the route leads to Auronzo di Cadore. This municipality is located around 120 kilometers north of Venice and includes the Three Peaks area and Lago di Misurina. The SR48 is a well-maintained regional road with moderate gradients and mostly good asphalt.

From Auronzo, the route heads west towards Cortina d'Ampezzo. You pass the junction to Lago di Misurina at 1,754 meters above sea level, the largest natural lake in Cadore. The emerald-green lake lies in front of the massifs of Monte Cristallo and the Three Peaks. From the summit of the Passo Tre Croci at 1,809 meters, there is a view of the Sesto Dolomites.

The roads in this section are mostly in good condition, with well-maintained Hairpins and medium bends. Traffic can be heavier in the high season (July/August), especially on the access roads to the tourist hotspots. The route is much quieter in the morning and during the week.

The destination of Cortina d'Ampezzo lies at 1,211 meters in a valley basin surrounded by the Tofane, Pomagagnon and Cristallo mountains. The town hosted the 1956 and 2026 Winter Olympics and is an established tourist destination. Via Antonio Cantore leads to the center.

The route is suitable for riders with intermediate experience. There are no technically demanding passages, but the route offers continuous elevation gains and variety between descents and downhill sections. The density of service stations in the Cadore Valley is sufficient, so you shouldn't expect any major gaps.