The three pinnacles of the Tre Cime are the most recognisable rock formation in the Dolomites — three prongs of pale limestone rising above 2,900 metres above the Sesto plain, their silhouette instantly identifiable from every direction. They stand in the Sexten Dolomites at the far eastern end of the range, near the Austrian border, and the circular trail around their base is one of the most popular hikes in Italy.
The loop trail (around 10km, 500m elevation gain) takes roughly three hours and has a bit of everything: the iconic north-face view of all three towers, the deep corrie of Forcella Lavaredo, two mountain refuges where you can eat a proper lunch, and views that extend from Austria to the Marmolada on a clear day. The starting point is the Rifugio Auronzo, reached by a toll road from Misurina. The road is open from June to October; outside those months you can ski or snowshoe in from below. Go early — by late morning in summer the car park is full and the trail is crowded.