The Italian Alps | WorldStrides

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After spending a few months within cities and urban environments, the outdoorsman in me yearned for the mountains. So I gathered a group of friends, geared up, and headed off in a rental car north to one of my new favorite places on Earth: the Dolomites.

A scenic autumn view of Lago di Braies in the Dolomites, Italy, with clear turquoise water, vibrant fall foliage on mountainsides, and a few people walking along the shore.

After a short six-hour drive from Florence, we finally arrived at the first stop on our journey, Lago di Braies. It is here that we first experienced the celestial beauty of the Eastern Italian Alps. This first hike set in motion the remainder of our amazing weekend trip.

Golden Larch Forest Path in Autumn Sunlight

Morning light peeked through the trees, gently warming us as we passed through its rays. Our second hike had begun, heading toward the famous Lago di Sorapis. We were only at the beginning and had a couple thousand feet to climb… but we were ready.

Golden Larch Forest Path in Autumn Sunlight

Autumn Sunlight on Majestic Mountains

After about a thousand feet of elevation gain from the trailhead, we reached a clearing that looked over a vast and sprawling landscape of cliffs and valleys. The drop-off from this scenic view was steep and treacherous, definitely not the best for my friends with a fear of heights. They made me give them the car keys because they claimed I “kept walking too close to the edge.”

Majestic mountain range with autumn trees and clouds under a clear blue sky.

Heading back from the lake, the clouds beautifully caressed the peaks of a nearby mountain. And as I’m sure you’ve noticed, there was no photo of the lake in between this photo and the last. This is because the lake was not only completely frozen over, but also mostly grey mud. It definitely did not look as photogenic as it did in all of the photos we had seen online when planning the hike.

Majestic mountain range with autumn trees and clouds under a clear blue sky.

A golden hour sunset over a majestic mountain peak, with traditional houses and trees in the foreground.

The sun was setting as we made it back to our Airbnb, and we had a moment to appreciate the opportunity we had to witness such magnificence. While the lake may have been frozen over, it was still a wonderful hike and one that we did not regret doing at all. We were ready to eat and turn in early to catch sunrise for our final day of hiking tomorrow.

Mountain Sunset Silhouette

Climbing thousands of feet of winding mountain road in our car, we reached the parking lot between our final two hikes. As we were layering up and gathering our gear, we noticed light breaking the horizon. This is when we realized we managed to beat sunrise and made it just in time to catch first light.

Mountain Sunset Silhouette

Mountain peak emerging through clouds under a pink sunrise sky

We settled in and watched the colors start to stream across the sky. And if not for a bird whizzing by, we would have missed the brilliant swirl of colors happening behind us. The sky swelled with gorgeous pinks and purples, dancing in the clouds and around the mountain tops.

Fiery Mountain Sunset

As the sun finally broke through the jagged peaks, its light instantly warmed the air. The birds erupted in a symphony, and it almost felt as if I was still dreaming. Out of all the sunrises I have seen, this has been one of the best—not often am I several thousand feet closer to the sun.

Fiery Mountain Sunset

Mountain Vista at Golden Hour

Reaching our destination at Cadini di Misurina, it was time to recreate some viral photos. I really enjoyed how sheer a drop the cliff had and how well it gave an “end of the road” effect. It was a lot of fun photographing my friends and then telling them to replicate it for photos of me.

Golden Hour in the Mountains

The beauty of the world never ceases to amaze and awe me. The spectacle of split colors between the early morning sky and the haze-filled valley truly baffles me and reminds me why I get out of bed every morning—to experience things such as this.

Golden Hour in the Mountains

Sunrise over Tre Cime di Lavaredo, Dolomites

From one hike to the next. Looking across the valley from the end of our hike of Cadini di Misurina, we could see the backside of Tre Cime di Lavaredo… the main landmark of our final eight-mile loop hike. They were ominous and foreboding, but our hearts were full of determination.

Italian Flag Over Dolomites at Dawn or Dusk

An amazing reminder of the country that these mountains call home, the Italian flag blows valiantly in the freezing cold wind. It is crazy to think about how diverse the ecosystems are within one single country, and it reminds me a little of being back home. Only a few weeks prior, I was swimming in the sea with a hot sun beating down, and today I’m 8,000 feet above that in sub-freezing weather.

Italian Flag Over Dolomites at Dawn or Dusk

A majestic view of the Tre Cime di Lavaredo mountain range with snow-dusted slopes, framed by the dark, rugged entrance of a cave.

I had seen one photo like this when I was searching for hikes to do in the Dolomites, and it is one of the reasons why we chose this specific trail. Throughout the hike, I was worried because I had yet to come across anywhere that resembled the spot the photo was taken from. (Obviously) I eventually figured out where it was taken and was able to get the shot myself. I couldn’t be happier with the outcome and think it demonstrates why it’s called Tre Cime di Lavaredo (Three Peaks of Lavaredo).

Dolomites Autumn Hike

A few thousand feet of elevation gained, over a dozen miles trekked, and an excellent day of hiking concluded… it was finally time to make the journey back to Florence. I was sad to leave such an extraordinary place, but I know that I will return soon in the future. A new spark of love has been struck in my heart for the Dolomites, and I cannot wait for my next hike.

Dolomites Autumn Hike

Man in cowboy hat standing by rocky coast under cloudy sky.

Robbie V.

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