Sorapis lake hike

The shimmering turquoise Sorapis lake, enclosed by the steep rock faces of Sorapis, is one of the most famous mountain lakes in the Dolomites.

Directions to Sorapis lake

The starting point of the hike to the Sorapis lake is the Passo Tre Croci (Tre Croci pass), located between Misurina and Cortina d'Ampezzo.

Here you first follow the signpost in the direction of the rifugio Vandelli mountain hut. Soon, on the right side of the path, path 215 branches off with the inscription Sorapis lake.

It goes up and down through a forest and then becomes a narrower, gently ascending path.

Along the way you will encounter some exposed passages that are quite easy to overcome thanks to the attached ropes and iron steps. Behind, the path winds leisurely again towards the rifugio Vandelli mountain hut, which invites you to stop for a break at 1,930 m above sea level.

From the moutain hut, the fairy-tale shimmering Sorapis lake is not far away. Surrounded by gentle alpine meadows and the rugged rock walls of the Sorapis group, lake Sorapis is one of the most beautiful lakes in the Dolomites. By the way, its striking turquoise color is due to its high lime content.

The way back from Sorapis lake is the same as the way there.

Hiking tip Sorapis lake

As an alternative to the route suggested here, lake Sorapis can also be reached from the hotel Cristallo in Federavecchia.

The legend of the Sorapis lake

There is a touching legend about the 3.205 m high Sorapis peak, which frames the Sorapis lake: King Sorapis had a beautiful, but vain and spoiled daughter named Misurina, whom he loved more than anything.

One day, however, she desired the mirror of a fairy. In vain king Sorapis tried to deny her this wish. Finally, he gave in to her pleas and accompanied her to Monte Cristallo, where the fairy lived.

He pleaded with the fairy for the mirror, but in vain: she would not relent. Only under one condition was she willing to give up the mirror: If king Sorapis would transform himself into a mighty mountain that would cast high shadows on their flower garden and thus protect it from the glaring sunlight, she would hand over the mirror to them.

Out of love for his daughter, king Sorapis agreed to this cruel pact. But as he gradually turned to stone, the deeply troubled Misurina staggered and fell to the valley. When Sorapis became aware of her death, tears flowed from his eyes and gathered into a lake: the Misurina lake.

Infos Sorapis lake hike

• Duration:03:45 h
• Length:11.9 km
• Height gain:400 m

• Min. elevation:1723 m
• Max. elevation:1926 m