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Hike to Lake Lagazuoi

Michele Da Pozzo
Director of the Nature Park of the Ampezzo Dolomites
info@dolomitiparco.com - https://www.dolomitiparco.com/

Lake Lagaciò is a small and temporary basin of glacial origin, the highest of the Ampezzo lakes, is located immediately north of the Lagazuoi saddle. Being a basin for the collection of meltwater from the northern slope of the Piccolo Lagazuoi, it does not have a real tributary. The water that settles there temporarily runs out due to evaporation during the summer.

 

Beautiful panoramic excursion of 8.9 km in the Fanes-Senes-Braies Natural Park, Fanis Group, with spectacular views of the Conturines and Lagazuoi. The starting point is Lagazuoi refuge, situated about fifty metres above the top station of the Lagazuoi cable car. After a coffee and an incomparable panoramic view from the terrace of the Lagazuoi refuge at an altitude of 2752 metres, hike downhill on a path of the Open Air WW1-Museum to the Lagazuoi saddle. From Forcella Lagazuoi, the path leads down through a narrow valley with a difference in altitude of about 400 m.
Flanked on the right by the majestic rock walls of the Grande Lagazuoi and the Cime di Fanes, you reach Lake Lagazuoi, called 'Lagaciò' in the Ladin language. It is embedded between majestic rocks walls and reflects them. Having admired the highest of the Ampezzo lakes and the surrounding peaks, return to the  Scotoni refuge.
During the descent, the landscape gradually becomes less rocky and rugged and, soon, you will see the first meadows and pastures. Return to the starting point hiking uphill from the Scotoni refuge to the Salares gap, proceed to the Lagazuoi saddle and get back to the Lagazuoi refuge. After a well-deserved stop in the highest refuge in the Dolomites, renowned for its cuisine, the traditional ambience and its spectacular terrace, take the cable car back down to the Falzarego pass.

TECHNICAL DETAILS

Difficulty
moderate

Departure point
Lagazuoi refuge

Arrival point
Lagazuoi refuge

Total duration
3,40 h

Path number
CAI 401, 20, 18B, 20A

Total difference in altitude
= ↑ 769 m, ↓ 741 m

Maximum altitude
2.752 m

Access
From the Falzarego pass, at an altitude of 2105 metres, get up to Mt. Lagazuoi with the cable car and start your hike on path n° 401.

Approach
From Lagazuoi refuge, the hiking trail 401 leads down to the Lagazuoi saddle. There you take trail 20, keep right at the forking and thus reach the lake.

Return
From the fork of the path CAI 20, you reach the Scotoni refuge. Then hike uphill from the Scotoni refuge on path 18B to the Forcella Salares saddle, proceed again on path 20A to the Lagazuoi saddle and get back to the starting point.

Best time of year
The best time to visit the lake is spring