You’ve probably seen the Cadini di Misurina viewpoint photos and videos and I can confirm it is one of the most breathtaking hikes in the Italian Dolomites. The good news is, it’s also dog friendly. We took our dogs to the Cadini di Misurina hike and took the most amazing scenic photos of Mishka and Lilo with the jagged peaks that do look like the Mordor Dolomites.
Key Takeaways
The Cadini di Misurina viewpoint is definitely worth it. The narrow ridge with steep drops makes for the perfect place to photograph the Cadini peaks rising like jagged peaks in the background. The view is absolutely breathtaking and worth the trip. It is one of the best hikes in the Dolomites.
The Cadini di Misurina hike is an easy to moderate hike with some steep drops. The trail is about 2 miles or 3.2 km long and about 2 hours—depends on how fast you walk it and how much time you spend enjoying the views.
Yes, dogs can hike the Cadini di Misurina trail. They must be on kept on a leash at all times, and be careful, especially, with the steep drops and when walking up to the viewpoint ridge.
To get to the Cadini di Misurina Viewpoint, drive to Rifugio Auronzo. The trail starts here at 2,333 meters above sea level and you take the hiking trail to the right of the mountain hut, instead of the Tre Cime di Lavaredo hike.
For hiking, you should visit the Dolomites from June to September as fall and spring could mean snow. We went in late October and found the weather in the Dolomites to be wonderful. If you want an adventurous alpine hike, winter would be a good time to visit the Dolomites if you have the right gear and preparation.
Getting to the Dolomites from Rome
When CJ and I moved to Rome, I wanted to do something special for his birthday in October, so I planned a week in the Dolomites in October to celebrate his birthday. I wanted him to see one of the best places for holidays in Italy, so we rented a car, loaded the dogs, and drove from Rome to the Dolomites!
We stopped at this amazing Tuscan restaurant in a small town called Montecarelli and then continued on to this cute little farm stay in Merano. This became our base for the Dolomites, even though we added a little detour one day where we went to where CJ’s Italian grandfather was from— Tresché Conca in Veneto.
Choosing Where to Hike in the Dolomites
Of course I planned to hike the Dolomites with our dogs, but the question was where. There are so many amazing hikes in the Dolomites so now I had to choose just one. I needed an easy hike—my health was still not great to do a longer one— but that still had breathtaking views.
I had seen the Tre Cime di Lavaredo on social media, but then I played around on Google Maps and saw the place where those jagged cliffs and incredible photo spots were. Yes, I sometimes spend so much time on Google Maps just looking at what I can find and that’s how I find cool travel locations!
I settled on the Cadini di Misurina viewpoint. It was easy to get to, a dog friendly hike, and we could drive up to the start of the trail.
Getting to Cadini di Misurina
We drove up towards Tre Cime, stopping at the Lago di Landro and the Lago di Antorno. We had lunch at the Chalet Lago di Antorno before continuing on to Rifugio Auronzo di Cadore.
Since there was still no snow, the mountain huts were still open and we took advantage of eating some good pasta to fuel for our hike!
We parked at the Rifugio Auronzo di Cadore for free and then set out to the right instead of to the left— the left is for the more known Tre Cime di Lavaredo hike.
The dogs were free to run for the first part as it was a thick trail and then we leashed them as CJ gets nervous they’ll fall! Even with how dog friendly Italy is, legally we do need to leash our dogs, but it’s always nice to let them free to explore, especially on less crowded places and low-season.
Cadini di Misurina Trail
The Cadini di Misurina trail is about 2.10 miles (3.2km) roundtrip with about 692 feet (210 meters) of elevation gain. It has a mix of gravel, dirt paths, and rocky sections.While it is not a very adventurous hike, it was still fun with some parts of the trail being thinner with a deep cliff drop on one side.
We walked the trail with our dogs up to the famous viewpoint. The trail goes a bit further and then doubles back to the refuge. But this long, narrow ridge makes for the perfect place to take photos with the jagged Dolomite cliffs in the background.
The Cadini peaks look like jagged spires rising straight from the valley. Truly breathtaking.
This ridge does have steep drops so if you’re hiking the Dolomites with your dog, make sure they are sure footed and on a leash. It’s always better to have them in a good harness for better and safer control.
There were some people in line waiting to take photos, and while I normally don’t wait for photo ops, this one was worth it. Just look at the photos!
Best Time to Visit the Dolomites
We decided to go in October because it was CJ’s birthday, and I am so glad we did. So many people say that the best time to visit the Dolomites for hiking is June to September, and I’ve even heard to not go after September. Mostly because snow means most mountain huts close and technical hikes— do not hike snowed mountains unless you have the right gear.
Honestly, October in the Dolomites was amazing. The weather was cool but not cold, even for someone like me that has problems regulating temperature. There was no rain, but we did hear from someone who had tried to do sunrise photos that it was cloudy during sunrise. For us, the sky cooperated for some dramatic photos.
I was also happy we went in October as there were way less people. I have seen photos and videos of what these hikes look like during the summer or how the line for the gondolas are hours long to even go to the mountain huts.
We did encounter some people but we also found a parking spot easily and very few people on the trails. A nice man offered to take our photo so we could have one of all four of us together, which was amazing.
While some people are nice and thoughtful, others are not, especially in a popular hike in the Dolomites. One person tried skipping the line but was promptly told we were all not just lounging in this area for no reason. A couple took so long to take photos, more than 15 minutes. Even with that, we didn’t wait more than 30 minutes for the gorgeous photos.
Other Things To Do
Since the Cadini di Misurina hike is not too long, you could do both the Tre Cime di Lavaredo hike and the Cadini di Misurina viewpoint in one day.
We were driving all the way back to Merano in the Province of Bolzano which was a 2.5 hours drive back and fall meant shorter days, so we decided to visit the Lago di Misurina instead.
The Lago di Misurina is a beautiful lake surrounded by mountains. It was a good scenic stop where we walked around the lake a bit before finally making our way back.
🐾 Dog Tip: If your dog is reactive, adventurous, or tends to pull on the leash, consider using a harness for better control. Find out what my favorite dog gear for great dog friendly vacations.
Cadini di Misurina was a fun place to take our dogs in Italy. I struggle to find great natural wonders that I can access with my dogs and with my chronic illnesses. The Cadini di Misurina viewpoint hike was worth it. Few places combine accessibility, epic views, and pet friendly policies as well as Cadini di Misurina. If you’re traveling through Europe with your dog, then this dog friendly hike in the Dolomites belongs at the top of your list.
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