The Best of the
Dolomites Trek
is likely to have the best conditions between mid-July and the end of the
August. Huts are generally open from mid-June until mid-September, which
defines the hiking season for this trek.
Here's what
conditions to expect at different times of year:
Late June:
Huts are open and routes from the valleys to the huts are clear. Problematic
snow may still remain on the passes and at high elevations, and in some years,
it may be necessary to bypass certain sections of trail using transportation
(which is not convenient and is usually expensive). Even if the passes are
clear in time for your hike, they usually clear at the very last minute, and
June hikers always have a couple of stressful weeks leading up to their hike as
they check webcams and eagerly wait for the snow to melt in time for their
hike. In almost every year, it is not possible to predict what trails are going
to be like in June until one or two weeks before. This is true even after a
winter with low snowfall. While it is possible to reach the beginning and end
of the tour with public transportation during this time, some of the Dolomiti
Bus lines that can be used to bypass sections of the hike don’t start running
until late June or early July, and timetables are not available in advance,
which makes planning difficult. It is possible that not all lifts are running
in June.
July and
August: Problematic snow can remain on the route through the
first week of July, but it is less likely than in June. Beginning the second
week of July, trails are almost always clear. Summer settles in and days are
usually mostly sunny with an afternoon thunderstorm or two. These thunderstorms
rarely interfere with hiking itineraries and are not usually problematic. Of
course, thunderstorm safety should be practiced. The wildflowers at the higher
elevations should be all out by mid-July. Hiking conditions during this time
are often favorable, and it’s a great time to be on the trail.
Early
September: The first snow of the winter usually falls in the
first week of September. The snow rarely sticks around for more than a day, but
the visibility can be very low, making navigation problematic on this one day.
Most days in early September are beautiful and perfect, and the thunderstorms
are less, but there is a higher risk of snowstorms and conditions that may
prevent you from completing your hike during this time. Many hikers have
incredible weather in September, but some do not. It’s simply a matter of luck.
The later you push into September, the higher the risk that unfavorable
conditions (usually snow, but sometimes extremely cold temperatures) can
interfere with your hiking itinerary. We notice that customers who are on the
trail beyond September 15th are much more likely to quit their hike
early due to conditions. In early September, the wildflower season is mostly
over, with the exception of brilliant bursts of fireweed that mark the end of
summer. While it remains possible to get to the beginning and the end of the
route, many of the Dolomiti Bus lines that make it possible to bypass stretches
of trail, may stop running as early as September 8th. It is possible
that some lifts stop running by early September.
In all
months, it’s reasonable to expect 1 to 2 rainy days on the trail.
To research
more detailed information about average temperatures, precipitation, etc., we
recommend checking Meteoblue
(go to “History & Climate” and then “Climate (modelled)”) for Passo di
Falzarego and Tre Cime di Lavaredo.
Read more about Understanding the hut-to-hut hiking season in the Alps.
