©www.bandion.it
©www.bandion.it
This circular hike leads in a few hours through the 5 Torri open-air museum of the First World War, to a stop at the Scoiattoli refuge, from whose panoramic terrace you can admire Cortina's most beautiful mountains, and to the Cinque Torri refuge. The tour ends at lake Bai de Dones, one of the 5 beautiful, legendary lakes of the Cortina Delicious area. It is easy, educational and scenic, ideal for children.
Start at Baita Bai de Dones, at an altitude of 1,889 metres and take the 5 Torri chairlift. In a few minutes you will reach the Scoiattoli refuge at an altitude of 2,255 m: a wonderful panoramic terrace with a stunning view of the 5 Torri, the most famous climbing walls in Cortina. Here you should not miss the chocolate salami with vanilla cream and the Scoiattoli meringue. From the Scoiattoli refuge towards the 5 Torri, follow the signposts to the open-air museum and reach it in a few minutes. This one and a half-hour walk leads past information boards and museum displays and winds through communication trenches and restored emplacements of World War I: a journey through history that illustrates the life of the soldiers during the mountain warfare in Cortina.
At the end of your visit to the open-air museum, you are on the east side of the 5 Torri. Following the signposts, from there you reach the Cinque Torri refuge at an altitude of 2,137 metres in a few minutes. Popular for its excellent cuisine, this refuge is one of Cortina's historic mountain huts. It was inaugurated in October 1904 and has been a popular destination for generations of mountaineers from all over the world ever since. The hut keepers have managed to maintain an atmosphere as if time had stood still. After a stop at the Cinque Torri refuge, follow the cart track and then the hiking path that leads through the forest to lake Bai de Dones (approx. 1 hour). The Tofana di Rozes is reflected in this stunning natural water expanse. According to ancient local legends, once the lake was inhabited by the Anguàne, mythological creatures with magical powers. Continuing on the same path, in 5 minutes you reach the Baita Bai de Dones refuge, the start of the circular hike. The homemade cakes of this refuge are not to be missed as they are excellent. The figure of an Anguana hangs over the front door of the restaurant as if welcoming the visitors.
The Baita Bai de Dones hut, starting point of this circular hike, can be reached via the Great Dolomites Road (SS 48) from Cortina in the Falzarego Pass direction up to the sign “5 Torri” after approx. 20-25 minutes. Here you turn left onto the large, free and unguarded parking lot at the valley station of the 5 Torri chairlift.
If you want to get to the starting point by public transport, you can take the Dolomiti Bus or Cortina Express buses at the bus station in Cortina towards the Falzarego pass. There is a request stop directly at the Bai de Dones car park.
Information about the timetables is provided by:
Servizi Ampezzo
Via G. Marconi n° 5 (at the bus station) – Cortina d’Ampezzo
Phone: +39 0436 867921
biglietteria@serviziampezzo.it
The route is easy and can also be approached from the opposite direction.
Best time of year: from June to October; please check the opening dates of lift facilities and refuges
Recommended equipment
This description was kindly provided by the mountain guides
Gruppo Guide Alpine Cortina
info@guidecortina.com - www.guidecortina.com
+39 0436 868505
Corso Italia 69/a – “Ciasa de ra Regoles”
32043 Cortina d’Ampezzo (BL) – Italy
