I’m so glad you are here because Lago di Sorapis just became one of my favorites lakes and I cannot wait for you to see the milky blue color of the water, the flowers on every color of the rainbow, and the imposing peaks that surround it.
Sorapis is located in the Dolomites, Italy. More exactly in Passo Tre Troci, between the towns of Cortina d’Ampezzo and Misurina.
The Trail
The thing about hiking to Sorapis is that it is not just about the lake, the hike itself is a fun one and the views are amazing.
- Distance: 11.6 km
- Time: 4 hours
- Difficulty: intermediate
- Altitude gain: 300 m
Sorapis can be reached by taking trails 215, 216, or 217. But in this post, I will show you trail 215. Let’s start by finding the trailhead which you can find with the following coordinates: 46,5561443, 12,2046220.
The first half of the trail is easy and with excellent views of Monte Cristallo, Cadini Peaks, and the valley. Towards the second half is where it gets narrow with a high cliff in some sections and you gain most of the altitude. Therefore, if you are afraid of heights, it will put you to test.
The Lake
Lago di Sorapiss is at an altitude of 1923 m above the sea level and it is part of the mountain group of Sorapiss, hence the name. And no, the extra s is not a typo that is how it should be written even though in almost every writing it appears with one s.
Why is the water so blue? The enchanting of the water is thanks to the suspended fine rock flour that flows to the lake when the snow melts from the small glacials above.
At the end of the lake, there is like a beach area where you can seat to take a break, eat, or relax. But be aware that is prohibited to bathe in it and I advise you to not try it as there are policemen in the lake. Yes, we saw two policemen up there!
Don’t be fooled by the size of the peak above as it is way higher than it looks in photos.
The milky turquoise color of the water is so alluring you will not be able to stop looking at it. It reminded me of Moraine Lake and Peyto Lake in Banff, Canada.
For views like these is why you need to hike around the lake. The views of the lake, Tre Cime di Lavadero (in the left), and Cima di Cadini (in the center) are amazing.
What to Bring
- Good hiking shoes or running trail shoes.
- Snacks and plenty of water.
- Sunblock as most of the trail is open air.
Parking
If you don’t arrive early in the morning parking can be tricky and after a good hike like this one, you will want your car as close to the trailhead as possible.
By the trailhead, we saw cars parked on both sides of the road and did not see any tickets, so it seems that is ok to park there.
In the photo above, the red pin is the trailhead, the blue marks are parking lots, and the green mark is where you can stay if you have a van or a camper.
Where to Stay
The two closest towns are Cortina d’Ampezzo and Misurina, so there is probably where you will stay at.
If you are in a van or camper I have great news for you. You can stay for free in the parking lot of Rio Gere Cable Car with great views of Monte Castello.
Another option is to stay at Refugio Vandelli, just a few meters from the lake.
Best Time to Visit
Lago di Soparis is one of the many lakes that drain, therefore it is best to visit from mid-spring until mid-summer when it is at its fullest. If you go in October you may find it almost empty.
In terms of the time of the day you have two options. You can either wake up very early to beat the crowds or go in the afternoon when all the morning hikers and most of the mid-day hikers are gone.
I recommend going in the morning no later than 8:30 AM. After that, the trail gets packed and you will have to make lines for most of the second part of the hike. The four-hour hike can easily turn into a six-hour hike.
Lago di Soparis is one of the many lakes that drain, therefore, it is best to visit from late-spring (when most of the snow has melted) until mid-summer (when it is at its fullest). If you go in October you may find it almost empty.
In terms of the time of the day you have two options. You can either wake up very early to beat the crowds or go in the afternoon when all the morning hikers and most of the mid-day hikers are gone.
I recommend going in the morning no later than 8:30 AM. After that, the trail gets packed and you will have to make lines for most of the second part of the hike. The four-hour hike can easily turn into a six-hour hike.
There is something you would like to know about Lago di Sorapis that we did not mention. Ask us in the comment section below or Instagram.
Thanks for reading
And keep exploring
j ⋀⋁ i e r ✧ ☽
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