Lago d’Antorno Scenic Spot and Easy Loop Walk – Dolomites, Italy

The scenic spot of Lago d’Antorno (or Antornosee), is one of the easiest to get to in all of the Dolomites. A beautiful, small alpine lake surrounded by trees, with a direct view of the most famous Dolomites landmark, the Tre Cime di Lavaredo.

The Scenic Post of Lago d'Antorno on an early summer day with flowers around the lake, sidelight from the early morning sun, and a view of Le Tre Time in the background.

One of the classic photo spots at Lago D’Antorno, with Le Tre Cime di Lavaredo in the background.

This beautiful little lake is also one of the easiest photo spots to visit, as it’s a quick roadside stop if you are heading to Le Tre Cime.

However, there also is an easy hiking trail that loops around Lake Antorno and can be completed in about ten minutes.

Wooden bridge in front of a small lake caled Lago d'Antorno with Le Tre CIkme mountains in the background

The wooden bridge next to Lago d’Antorno.

Table of Contents

How to get to Lago Antorno

Lago d’Antorno is conveniently located next to road SP49, on the narrow road that leads to Le TreCime. So this is a spot that can easily be reached either from Cortina d’Ampezzo or from Dobbiaco. The drive from either Cortina d’Ampezzo or Dobbiaco takes about 30 minutes.

Tip: The lake is also conveniently located between two major attractions in the Area. Le Tre Cime and Lago di Misurina. So you can plan a visit on your way to or from Le Tre Cime di Lavaredo, adding a stop to Lago di Misurina, which is also on the way if you are coming from Cortina.

Yellow flowers by a small mountain lake in the dolomites, with mountains in the background.

Lago d’Antorno Parking

Free, limited-time Parking is available next to the lake, for up to two hours on the right side of the road. Make sure to display your parking disk.

If you park on the left side of the road, opposite the Lake and before the “Chalet Lago d’Antorno”, parking isn’t time-limited. This is also where you would park if you want to hike to Le Tre Cime instead of paying for the expensive toll road/parking.

If those two parking areas are full, there is a third parking space further down the road, on a partly-hidden side street. Parking there is free too, and just a five-minute walk from the lake.

Here are the parking areas, marked in green:

Lago Antorno by Public Transport

You have two options to get to Lago Antorno by Bus:

  • Dolomiti Bus 31 running between Tai di Cadore – Calalzo Train Station – Auronzo – Rifugio Auronzo/Tre Cime – check the timetable on Dolomiti bus.
  • The bus/Shuttle like 444 from Dobbiaco stops here too – more info and timetable on suedtirolmobil.info.

Moody image of thre cime di lavaredo reflectig in the calm watrs of Lago d'Antorno.

Lago Antorno Scenic Spot(s) & Easy Loop Walk

First of all the Scenic spot. Located right in front of the Hotel, the scenic sport with the little wooden bridge by the lake, it’s right in front of the main, roadside parking area.

Here is the map of the area, showing the scenic spots and the trail around the lake. You can check the map on Komoot to see exactly where each photo was taken.

As you can see from the map, there are two main scenic spots, right next to Lago d’Antorno; the wooden bridge and the lake-side view with Le tre Cime reflecting in the lake.

The bridge will be the most contented subject, so you may have to queue up a little or wait for people to finish their shooting. That’s also the downside of that view, as sometimes people spend 10-15 minutes occupying the bridge to take photos.

Wooden bridge by Lago d'Antorno, a scenic spot overlooking a small lake with le tre cime di Lavaredo in the background.

Mountain reflection in the quiet waters of a small alpine lake

That’s also one of the reasons why I usually prefer just shooting the view right next to it, with flowers in the foreground in late spring/early summer, or with le Tre Cime reflecting in the lake.

Other than that, this is a good spot to catch sunset and sunrise. Even later in the morning, when the sun rises above the mountains and the light hits the lake.

idyllic mountain scene of Lago d'Antorno with flowers lit by the early morning sunlight.

Photo taken about 40 minutes after sunrise when the sun peeked through the clouds and the light hit the lake.

Lago d’Antorno easy loop trail

The trail around Lake d’Antorno takes about 10/15 minutes to complete. It is a flat, well-maintained trail, but some parts could be muddy if it rained recently.

Compared to the scenic spots, it offers a few more nice views that are worth the short walk around the lake – though, to be fair, none as good as the scenic spot

Dolomites Mountain reflection in the calm waters of a small lake on a cloudy and moody day.

bench overlooking a small lake with a hut in the background.

view of a mountain lake surrounded by trees

Where to stay

Hotels

The “Chalet Lago d’Antorno” is right in front of the lake, this is a good option if you are thinking about catching sunrise or sunset from here. Staying around Lago di Misurina is also an option.

Otherwise, I can recommend staying in Cortina d’Ampezzo, which is 30 minutes away by car and it’s the ideal base to explore this corner of the Dolomites.

 

Camping

It’s not possible to overnight at the lake in a van or a tent, but there is a campsite a little further down the road, “Camping Alla Baita Misurina“. The camping offers basic facilities, and it’s also a good option if you want to hike to le The Cime and pass by the Lago di Antorno on your way up.

 

Additional Resources