The Best Photography Locations in the Dolomites
- Kevin Read
- 1 day ago
- 24 min read
This article is part of the Complete Guide to Photography in The Dolomites
I love exploring the Dolomites, where the huge network of hiking trails and constantly changing weather make it easy to be creative with photography and experiment with new ideas for composition. Photographers have studied the Dolomites for many years, and it’s a region where you can combine landscape photography in iconic locations with the chance to discover alternative spots and capture something different.
In this guide, I’ll share some of the best photography locations in the Dolomites, with practical advice to help you plan your visit and make the most of your time. Mountain shoots often take more preparation than other types of photography, so I’ve included timing advice, equipment suggestions, and detailed logistics to help you photograph each spot at its best.
Each entry is based on my first-hand experience and follows the Nature First Principles to offer extra guidance on protecting each location and staying safe while you explore. There’s more information on responsible photography on the Nature First website here.
Table of Contents
Tre Cime di Lavaredo
The incredible peaks of Tre Cime di Lavaredo are among the most recognisable sights in the Dolomites and one of the places I love to explore and revisit for new angles and ideas. You can wander this mountaintop location on hiking trails that take you around the three peaks and surrounding landscape, and my favourite thing about it is the variety and incredible views over this part of the Dolomites.
Tre Cime di Lavaredo is a popular place for photography and hiking, and the large parking area fills up most days in summer and autumn. You'll find plenty of photographs of this place online and it's hard to find truly original scenes. However, it’s easy to spend days here with the camera, finding fresh compositions and beautiful images.
Timing and Conditions (Tre Cime di Lavaredo)
You can only reach Tre Cime di Lavaredo after the snow has melted, usually in early June, and the road stays open until 31 October (unless heavy snow comes early). The conditions are best at the peak of summer (July and August), when the mountain catches the light at sunrise and sunset and you can use the long days to explore the surrounding landscape. You can find wildflowers in early summer for interesting compositions with the mountains, but you don't get much autumn colour this far above the treeline.
Both sunrise and sunset work at Tre Cime di Lavaredo, though you can't drive up the toll road in time for sunrise, so you'll need to stay overnight on the mountain to capture first light. During the day it can be busy, and my favourite approach is to arrive after lunch and shoot through sunset into the night for astrophotography.
Photography Advice (Tre Cime di Lavaredo)
The range of photography possible at Tre Cime di Lavaredo is huge. You can use wide-angle lenses for intricate foregrounds and sweeping views of the scene, and longer focal lengths to pick out details in the surrounding mountains. You'll want a good tripod if you plan to shoot at night, but don't bring a drone as they are not permitted at this location.
If you have only a short time for a visit, focus on the eastern view of the peaks (above) and the lookout south of Rifugio Auronzo at Cadini di Misurina. However, if you have enough time in the Dolomites and can handle a few hours of (fairly flat) hiking, you can easily spend several days exploring options at Tre Cime di Lavaredo.
Logistics (Tre Cime di Lavaredo)
Tre Cime di Lavaredo is a high-altitude location, and you can reach the main area by driving up a toll road and parking near Rifugio Auronzo. The toll currently costs €30 for 12 hours, and you pay at a barrier at the bottom of the road that has opening times throughout the season. You can leave via the automated exit barrier at any time, though you need your ticket to exit.
The barrier doesn't open in time for sunrise and there is usually a queue of traffic waiting to access the mountain in the morning for day hiking around the peaks. By mid-morning, parking is often full.
To access Tre Cime di Lavaredo during the best light, arrive when the first hikers are leaving at mid-afternoon and shoot through sunset and the soft evening light. You could stay on the mountain until sunrise if the weather is clear, or book a night or two at one of the several rifugios on the mountaintop (advance booking is required).
Environment and Safety (Tre Cime di Lavaredo)
The landscape around Tre Cime di Lavaredo is well-managed, with clear trails for the significant number of visitors who come to this location. You can capture all the most recognisable viewpoints from the trails, though the lookout at Cadini di Misurina has become famous for portraits that require a walk onto an exposed and narrow ledge that is only accessible for those with a good head for heights (not me).
Wild camping and drone flights are not allowed at Tre Cime di Lavaredo, and rangers patrol regularly. As for any mountain location, you'll need to be well prepared with good footwear and layers of clothes in case of changing weather.
Lago di Braies
The famous Lago di Braies is one of the most photographed lakes in the world, and has become recognisable to almost anyone with an internet connection over the last few years. It's a beautiful location, with rich blue water, a pretty boathouse, and peaks that surround the lake forming the ideal backdrop to this atmospheric mountain scene. However, it's one of the busiest places in the Dolomites, and it's hard not to have mixed feelings about this location as a photographer.
There's no doubt that Lago di Braies is a great place to capture. At sunrise, the vivid colours of the water come alive, and the boathouse and tied wooden boats stretching out across the lake make fantastic subjects for photography. However, the peaceful atmosphere of images from Lago di Braies can be a little deceptive, and you'll find a large hotel and crowds of visitors hoping to capture their version of the scene for social media
Timing and Conditions (Lago di Braies)
Lago di Braies is at its best in the hour before sunrise, when the refracted glow of twilight enhances the natural colours without the harsh contrast of direct sun. For the main view of the boathouse and peaks, you'll need to arrive very early (at least 90 minutes before sunrise) to get a spot on the small hill overlooking the scene. The lake is large and sensitive to wind, and much more likely to be still and reflective early in the morning, though it can also be beautiful at sunset.
You can visit Lago di Braies at any time of year, and the scene looks very similar across seasons. Autumn brings some golden colour, and winter adds snow-capped peaks, but the early mornings of summer put off some of the crowds and give you a slightly quieter experience.
Photography Advice (Lago di Braies)
The iconic compositions of wooden boats and surrounding peaks come from the north shore of Lago di Braies, near the boathouse, and most visitors stick to this area. However, there's a 3 km trail circling the lake which can offer a different perspective, quieter areas, and a chance to be a little creative with the camera. It's best to set off immediately after sunrise if you shoot from the boathouse.
You need a wide angle to capture the whole scene by the boathouse, though there are smaller details to capture with a mid-range zoom lens. Consider using a circular polariser to cut reflections and bring out even more of the vivid colour of the lake.
Logistics (Lago di Braies)
There are several parking areas at Lago di Braies, including a large facility (P4) right next to the lake. However, spaces are limited and fees can be very high. During peak season (10 July–10 September), the access road to the parking area is closed between 09:30 and 16:00 unless you have a pre-booked lunch package (€38). This won't affect you for an early sunrise shoot, but it makes spontaneous daytime trips difficult.
During busy times, there are shuttle buses from nearby towns, but these can also require advance booking, and the best approach is to arrive very early or late in the day.
Environment and Safety (Lago di Braies)
The trail around Lago di Braies is well-maintained and easy to follow, and the viewing area for the boathouse is easy to access right next to the lake. However, many of the images you can find of Lago di Braies are taken from above, and drone flights are not permitted without special authorisation.
Alpe di Siusi (Seiser Alm)
Alpe di Siusi (Seiser Alm) is the largest high-altitude meadow in Europe and one of the most rewarding landscapes for photography in the Dolomites. This enormous plateau is dotted with wooden cabins and alpine huts, framed by the peaks of Sassolunga and Sassopiatto on the horizon, and full of opportunities for creative photography.
If I had only one day in the Dolomites, I’d choose Alpe di Siusi for the variety and flexibility it offers. It's easy to explore on foot, and you can roam in every direction uncovering new angles and combinations of huts, trees, and mountains.
The meadow is popular with hikers, cyclists, and skiers depending on the season, yet it’s large enough that you rarely feel crowded and there is no need to gather at any particular spot. It works in almost any conditions, and you can spend days here still finding new scenes to capture.
Timing and Conditions (Alpe di Siusi)
You can visit Alpe di Siusi at any time of year, but the character of the meadow changes dramatically with the seasons. In summer you’ll find rich green hills and some wildflowers, while autumn brings shades of yellow and red. The landscape is snow-covered in winter and popular with skiers, but flat enough to move around and explore the cosy atmosphere of warm cabins in a blanket of white.
The sun rises behind Sassolunga, often creating dramatic skies and colourful clouds above the mountains, sometimes catching mist in the valleys (especially in autumn). The peaks glow with golden light at sunset, making Alpe di Siusi rewarding at both sunrise and sunset. During the day, broken cloud works best, casting patches of light across the meadow and revealing fresh compositions as it shifts.
Photography Advice (Alpe di Siusi)
Alpe di Siusi is one of the most versatile photography spots in the Dolomites, so bring the gear you’ll need and allow plenty of time to explore and experiment. A wide-angle lens works for classic views with cabins in the foreground and Sassolunga on the horizon, while medium focal lengths help pick out rolling hills, clusters of huts, and smaller scenes among the meadows. With a long lens, you can explore peaks beyond the meadow, especially across Val Gardena to the north.
It’s easy to wander far at Alpe di Siusi, so if you want to return to a spot for sunset, keep in mind that the walk back can be long. There is one particular location where photographers gather (here), but a better approach is to move around and enjoy the process of finding new variations.
Logistics (Alpe di Siusi)
The easiest way to reach Alpe di Siusi is by cable car from Ortisei or the village of Siusi, but the cable cars only operate during the day and between June and October. For more flexibility to be on location during sunrise and sunset, you can drive up to the meadow from the west or stay overnight in a hotel or rifugio, though this can be an expensive option.
Driving the road to Alpe di Siusi is prohibited during the day, so you'll need to arrive out of hours. The main parking (P2) near Compaccio (Compatsch) can be expensive (around €25–30 per day in peak season). However, P1, a little further down, is free but adds at least 45 minutes of walking to reach the meadow. Whichever you choose, be prepared to carry your gear, it’s not unusual to cover 10 km just moving between spots on the meadow.
Environment and Safety (Alpe di Siusi)
Alpe di Siusi is covered in hiking trails and you can capture incredible images without needing to venture off-track. Some areas around the cabins are private, and the meadow and wildflowers are very fragile, but you can reach points all around Alpe di Siusi without causing any damage or breaking any rules.
Lago Federa
Lago Federa is one of my favourite photography locations in the Dolomites, and the challenge of reaching this location only makes it more rewarding. This alpine lake sits above 2000 metres, surrounded by larch trees that turn golden in the autumn with the distinctive peak of Becco di Mezzodì providing a beautiful focal point for photography. On a calm morning, the reflections and sunrise colours make Lago Federa one of the most exciting scenes in the Dolomites.
Unlike many other spots in this guide, Lago Federa requires some effort to reach. You'll need to make a long pre-dawn hike to access this spot for sunrise, or make plans for an overnight stay at a rifugio by the lake. Either way, the photography at Lago Federa is worth the effort.
Timing and Conditions (Lago Federa)
Lago Federa is only accessible in summer and autumn, when the trails are clear of snow, and the atmosphere of the scene changes completely with the seasons. In summer, the shore is surrounded by the green shades of summer foliage, but in autumn the surrounding landscape turns a stunning golden as the larches change colour.
Sunrise is the real priority at this location, which faces east and catches the morning light throughout the year. At sunset, the high landscape west of the lake casts shadows across the water, and during the day this can be a busy location without the peaceful atmosphere of the early morning. Arrive well before sunrise when the early stages of twilight provide the best colours and the changing light gives you most variety.
Photography Advice (Lago Federa)
The best photography spots are on the north shore, where you can frame Lago Federa with Becco di Mezzodì across the water. You can shoot from the water’s edge for reflections, or climb the scree slope for the classic wide view over the lake. The higher view is popular and sometimes a little crowded, but staying at the shoreline gives you more flexibility for original compositions.
Given the effort you'll need to reach Lago Federa, the best approach is to wait for a morning of low cloud, make the early morning hike to the lake, and capture both spots with wide and medium lenses as the light changes over the scene.
Logistics (Lago Federa)
The most direct hike to Lago Federa is an 8km round trip hike from a free parking area to the north, with about 650m of elevation gain. The start of the hike is already at altitude, so give yourself plenty of time and stay hydrated, even if you have a good level of fitness.
Alternatively, you can take a longer trail from Passo di Giau which approaches the lake from the south. Combined with an overnight stay at Rifugio Croda da Lago (right next to Lago Federa), this is the easiest way to get on location for sunrise. However, you'll need to book the rifugio in advance which will lock in your dates and whatever conditions you happen to get during your visit. The day hike might give you better flexibility on the weather if you are staying for a little longer in the area.
Environment and Safety (Lago Federa)
There are clear hiking trails all around Lago Federa, and you can capture the best views of this scene without needing to climb to a difficult position or damage the surrounding woodland. However, the pre-dawn hike in the dark is demanding, so bring layers, water, good boots, and a reliable head torch.
Passo di Giau
Passo di Giau is one of the easiest high-altitude locations to visit in the Dolomites, with sweeping views over the mountains in every direction and a wonderful variety of photography spots to explore. The distinctive blocky outline of Ra Gusela rising over the pass has become an iconic composition in the Dolomites, but I love this location for the variety of angles and viewpoints to work with.
The accessibility of Passo di Giau makes it a fantastic place to revisit in different conditions, and you’re likely to find yourself here more than once if you’re based in Cortina d’Ampezzo. You can photograph in different directions from the pass, hike into the landscape in almost every direction, and discover interesting foregrounds to pair with a variety of peaks. While the main composition over the pass is highly recognisable, there’s much more to this place than that one arrangement.
Timing and Conditions (Passo di Giau)
You can access Passo di Giau in any season, even in the depths of winter, though the road does occasionally close during heavy snow. In the summer, the hillsides are green and dotted with wildflowers, while autumn brings warmer shades of yellow and brown to the trees that carpet the surrounding slopes.
Passo di Giau is great at sunrise and sunset, as you can shoot in every direction and take advantage of wherever the light falls. At sunrise on a clear day you can capture the alpenglow on Ra Gusela, while at sunset the peaks to the west are lit in warm tones. Some of the surrounding mountains can be lost in low cloud, but this is a flexible location where you can find something to shoot in any weather.
Photography Advice (Passo di Giau)
The famous view of Ra Gusela and the mountain hut is just south of the main parking area on the hill above the pass, and you can frame the scene in a variety of ways, with options to include features like the small church or the restaurant. However, there are other positions and angles to explore, including a small pond by the road towards Cortina d’Ampezzo that often creates a beautiful reflection scene in the early morning.
A long lens works well for isolating distant peaks and ridges, while a wide-angle lens can capture more expansive views from the hillside. This location is ideal for quick stops between other nearby spots if you’re travelling by car, or you can explore the trails north towards Cinque Torri or south towards Lago Federa for more unusual options.
Logistics (Passo di Giau)
Passo di Giau is extremely easy to reach via the winding road that connects Cortina d’Ampezzo with Selva di Cadore. The road is open most of the year and cleared quickly after snow, with a large parking area at the top of the pass and a mountain hut serving food and drink. The parking area can get busy during the daytime in peak season, but arriving early or late for the softer light usually makes it easy to find a space.
Environment and Safety (Passo di Giau)
Passo di Giau has clear trails and you can capture most angles without trampling wild spaces or breaking any rules. You may need a few layers and be prepared if you take on any trails, as the area is deceptively high and vulnerable to quick changes in the weather.
Seceda Ridge
Seceda Ridge is a stunning fold in the landscape, where a striking line of jagged peaks overlooks a steep drop into the valley and the forests of the western Dolomites. It's another location that has become incredibly well-known in the last few years, and the limited angles from which you can capture this iconic scene can make it a crowded place during peak season. However, there are ways to approach Seceda Ridge that make it possible to capture great images and avoid the busiest moments.
Accessing the ridge is relatively easy given how wild the landscape appears in photographs, and it's a simple cable car ride from the popular town of Ortisei in Val Gardena. The sweeping ridgeline marks the western edge of the Odle group of mountains, with a pretty alpine meadow to the south and a vast drop into the valleys below to the north. You may appreciate a full day on Seceda Ridge to explore the other features, but the priority here should be getting into position for the best light.
Timing and Conditions (Seceda Ridge)
It's possible to reach Seceda at any time of year, and this is a popular area for skiing in the winter and simple day trips in the summer. There isn't much foliage on the ridge, so the scene doesn't change appearance with the autumn colours as much as other locations nearby. However, the valleys below are covered in deciduous trees, and you have a better chance of seeing cloud inversions in the autumn.
Seceda looks great at sunrise and sunset, and you get a different effect at each end of the day. The scene faces east and the sun rises directly behind the peaks at certain times of year, sometimes creating sunstars, light rays, or vivid colourful skies at dawn. At sunset, the light is behind you, illuminating the ridge in golden light if the sky is clear. Evening twilight often brings beautiful alpenglow. The ridge can also look good under broken cloud with patches of light, but it looks best at sunrise or sunset.
Photography Advice (Seceda Ridge)
The highlight of Seceda is the ridge itself, where a well-constructed trail follows the mountain edge with a wooden safety barrier. The ridge changes shape slightly as you adjust your angle and position, and you can take some control over your composition by testing different viewpoints along the path.
The trail continues towards the jagged rocks, cutting across the field in front of them and providing viewpoints right up to the peaks. The sloping meadow to the south also gives plenty of scope for compositions, with mountain huts and views over the peaks across Val Gardena. It's not as varied and interesting as Alpe di Siusi, but you can fill a day here by exploring the landscape and finding new arrangements of the huts and mountains in the distance.
Logistics (Seceda Ridge)
Seceda is one of the more accessible Dolomites photography locations, but you'll have to make a careful plan to be there for the best light. The simplest way to access the ridge is a two-stage cable car from Ortisei, which has great views on the way up. It's quick and convenient, but relatively expensive, and you may need to add parking charges in Ortisei to the cost. The cable car stops for the off-season in November, and only runs during daylight hours.
To reach the ridge for sunrise, you could use a shuttle taxi from Ortisei (though this can be expensive) or stay overnight in one of the hotels or rifugios on the meadow. If you don't want to lock in your visit date, you can hike up from Ortisei, but the walk is 9km with 1,200m of elevation - a demanding endeavour before sunrise.
My favourite option is to ride the cable car up to Seceda after lunch, let the crowds thin out after the last cable car leaves, and then shoot through sunset. The walk down is much easier, even after dark, and during the early summer months (when the nights are shorter) you can shoot through until sunrise.
Environment and Safety (Seceda Ridge)
Seceda is overcrowded in peak season, and taking steps to protect this area is especially important. There is a huge network of trails, and you can capture some great angles of Seceda Ridge from behind the barrier on the walkways. All my images from Seceda Ridge were taken from a constructed path.
However, there are numerous compositions online taken from positions around Seceda which are restricted to protect the environment or keep visitors away from the incredible drop from the mountain edge. The meadow along the ridgeline is protected because it would be destroyed if every visitor crossed it, and many of the wildflowers that used to line parts of the ridge are gone. You can also find a lot of drone shots of Seceda, though drone flights here are not allowed.
It's possible to visit and capture the full drama of Seceda Ridge without damaging the area, but you may be disappointed if you research some of the more dramatic compositions and find they are only possible if you break the rules or risk damaging the location.
Lago Limides
Lago Limides is the highlight of Passo Falzarego and one of the most photographed mountain lakes in the Dolomites. It takes only a short hike to reach the lake, which is enough to put off some visitors and prevent significant overcrowding, but it’s accessible enough that many photographers stop here for a dedicated sunrise shoot or a brief visit.
At barely 200 metres around, Lago Limides is small but surprisingly varied. The lake is surrounded by large trees that turn golden in autumn, yet they are spaced widely enough to allow views of the peaks beyond. From just a short stretch of shoreline, you can capture a wide range of compositions, making this a rewarding yet accessible photography spot near Cortina d’Ampezzo.
Timing and Conditions (Lago Limides)
Lago Limides sits in sparse woodland, where a few trees turn golden in autumn. There aren’t enough of them to make a huge difference to the atmosphere of the scene, and this location is equally pretty across the seasons. The lake is accessible in winter, though deep snow can make the walk tough and the frozen surface removes the reflections that make this place special.
The best time to photograph Lago Limides is sunrise, when the water is more likely to be still and you can use the reflections in your composition. The light at sunset is just as good, and hits the same row of peaks from a slightly different angle. Be sure to arrive early or stay late for the rich colours of twilight.
Tofana di Rozes and Mount Lagazuoi are important subjects here, but they are easily hidden by cloud. Check the forecast for low and mid-level clouds before committing to the hike.
Photography Advice (Lago Limides)
You can walk the trail all around Lago Limides, but the best angles are from the southwest shore, from which you can capture Tofana di Rozes or Mount Lagazuoi across the water. On calm mornings, both peaks reflect beautifully in the lake, and you can create different compositions from roughly the same position.
Allow extra time to explore the hills around the lake, where you’ll find wider views of the valley towards Cortina d’Ampezzo. A good approach is to start by shooting twilight and first light at the lake itself, then move uphill as the sun climbs to capture the wider landscape.
Logistics (Lago Limides)
You can access Lago Limides on an easy 30-minute hike from one of the parking areas at Passo Falzarego, near Ristorante “da Strobel”. The trail to Lago Limides is not well marked and winds through the trees south of the road, branching off in several places. It’s hard to get lost in this small area, but GPS can help if your first visit is in the dark before sunrise.
Environment and Safety (Lago Limides)
If you are hiking to Lago Limides in the dark, bring a head torch, sturdy boots, and give yourself enough time to find the route. From late autumn, the path can be slippery.
Lago Limides is well known and its shoreline is already worn in places, but you can help preserve it by sticking to the established trails and avoiding trampling the vegetation around the water. With a bit of care, it’s possible to enjoy the location fully without adding to the impact on the environment.
Val di Funes
Val di Funes is one of the most picturesque valleys in the Dolomites, with small alpine villages, easy access to hiking trails, and a wonderful peaceful atmosphere. Val di Funes is separated from Val Gardena (where most people stay in the area) by tree-covered ridges, and the landscape of this part of the Dolomites opens into rolling hills, forests, and open pastures, with the jagged Puez-Odle peaks dominating the horizon.
Val di Funes is no secret, drawing hikers, cyclists, and coach tours in summer, and featuring some of the most recognisable photography locations in the Dolomites. However, you can choose between capturing the famous views of Santa Maddalena or Chiesetta di San Giovanni, or heading deeper into the valley at Zannes, where you can hike into the more rural areas and escape all but the dedicated hikers.
Timing and Conditions (Val di Funes)
The rolling meadows of Val di Funes look their best in the rich greens of summer, though you’ll only find peace in the valley if you arrive early in the morning. It’s just as popular in autumn when the larch trees turn yellow, and you can visit Val di Funes even in the depths of winter, when your images may be more unique during this quiet season.
The most popular views of Santa Maddalena and Chiesetta di San Giovanni stay in shadow until the sun climbs high above the peaks, making Val di Funes more of a sunset spot, especially in June and July when the sun lines up more with the valley and casts its light longer into the evening. If you have a cloudy day in this part of the Dolomites, Val di Funes is a good place to spend it, as most compositions don’t rely on visible peaks.
Photography Advice (Val di Funes)
Most photographers visit for views of the historic centre of Santa Maddalena and Chiesetta di San Giovanni in Ranui. These are very familiar compositions with little chance for creativity, as the viewing platforms are fixed and the best shots come from the same popular angles. However, the wider landscape has plenty to offer, and you can hike on long trails deep into the valley if you want to explore more original scenes.
The iconic view of Chiesetta di San Giovanni in Ranui has been carefully managed, with a wooden viewing platform and strict rules about entering the field to change your angle. Similarly, the best view of Santa Maddalena is from a fixed spot north of the village. I recommend stopping at both if you want your own take on the classic views, but also leave time to wander the hills and take in some of the other features.
Logistics (Val di Funes)
Val di Funes is extremely easy to reach on a busy road that you enter near Chiusa (Klausen) from the west. The road continues through several villages before arriving in Santa Maddalena and eventually Zannes, where you’ll find the main parking for hiking trails into the meadows and mountains.
Parking is the biggest challenge, with only small designated areas near each location and strict rules against leaving your car on streets or side roads. There is a larger parking area in the modern village of Santa Maddalena and you can walk to most viewpoints from here, though it’s worth planning your visit for the early morning or late afternoon in summer to avoid the crowds.
Environment and Safety (Val di Funes)
Val di Funes is a fragile and carefully managed landscape, with strict rules about parking, private land, and hiking trails due to the incredible number of visitors. Chiesetta di San Giovanni is on private land, and you’ll find that many of the most striking compositions online have been taken by people entering the fields or flying a drone above them (not permitted so close to the road).
Santa Maddalena, however, is easy to photograph from the hiking trails, with plenty of permitted routes to explore with your camera.
Passo della Erbe
Passo delle Erbe is a beautiful mountain pass with hiking trails that run through forests and across meadows dotted with the traditional wooden huts found all over the Dolomites. It sits north of Val di Funes, just beyond the striking peak of Sass de Putia, which forms a fantastic backdrop for images of the area.
Unlike the steeper, saddle-shaped passes further east, this landscape has the calm atmosphere of the western Dolomites, and the surrounding meadows provide plenty of options for exploring compositions in a landscape that feels both open and accessible. Passo delle Erbe has long been popular with cyclists and hikers, but it’s less photographed than other parts of the Dolomites, making it an excellent spot for a peaceful sunrise.
Timing and Conditions (Passo della Erbe)
The peak of Sass de Putia is a dominant subject here, and the view faces due south, making it the ideal subject for both morning and evening light. It’s best in the summer when the sun rises and sets further north, and the scene changes over the seasons as the surrounding forests change colour. You can access the pass in winter, but some of the roads close for the season and you need to be well prepared for hiking in the snow to get around.
Many locations in this part of the Dolomites are difficult to access for sunrise, so Passo delle Erbe can be a great place to start the day, with a drive to the pass and a short hike to the best views of Sass de Putia.
Photography Advice (Passo della Erbe)
Passo delle Erbe is a great place to explore, and the surrounding landscape is filled with alpine huts, small ridges, and open pastures. Spending some time at this location will reveal plenty of new features and angles, making Passo delle Erbe a place where you can easily spend several hours searching for compositions.
A good place to start is the open meadow north of Sass de Putia, which has several mountain huts and enough space to move around and adjust your compositions. It feels like a smaller, more intimate version of Alpe di Siusi, with the jagged mountain rising behind and features in the fields that can be used as foregrounds..
An increasingly popular spot is very close to the parking area, where a group of exposed tree roots offer the perfect foreground for a view across a ravine with Sass de Putia rising above the scene in the distance. It’s a small spot and can feel crowded with just a few photographers, but it’s an excellent place to practice precision and attention to detail in your compositions.
Logistics (Passo della Erbe)
Passo delle Erbe is easy to reach by mountain road, though the road is narrow and can be busy during the day. There is a large (paid) parking area at the pass, and a rifugio and restaurant on location that stays open into the autumn. The parking can get full in peak season, but most visitors come for day hiking, so arriving in the early morning or late afternoon usually makes it easier to visit.
From the parking area, it’s about a one-kilometre walk uphill for the best views of Sass de Putia. It’s an easy hike and there are more trails to explore if you want to combine photography and some hiking.
Environment and Safety (Passo della Erbe)
Passo delle Erbe is another area with fragile meadows where you should stick to the trail and avoid trampling the wildflowers and foliage. The exposed root viewpoint near the parking area is especially sensitive, but you can set up your camera in a way that does not further erode the roots.
A well-known composition shows Sass de Putia reflected in a pond, but the water lies on private land with clear signs asking visitors to keep out. You could ask at the nearby hut for permission to enter, but there are animals living around the pond and it may not be possible to capture that scene. However, there are plenty of beautiful alternatives, and you can find more creative opportunities in the surrounding fields.
Finding the Best Photography Locations in The Dolomites
The Dolomites are one of the most photographed mountain ranges in the world, and countless photographers have researched this landscape over the years. The locations in this guide are some of the most exciting, and they’ve become well known as great places to explore with a camera. Everything in this blog is based on my own experience, and these are the places I’ve found to be especially rewarding for photography.
The popularity of these spots does mean they can get crowded, particularly in peak summer and during the middle of the day. Visiting early in the morning, later in the evening, or outside the busiest months can make a huge difference, and at times you might even have these iconic places to yourself. That said, the Dolomites are full of accessible trails, hidden meadows, and quieter viewpoints. Often the most rewarding images come from searching out personal compositions in less obvious locations.
When planning a photography trip here, the best approach is to balance the famous viewpoints with your own discoveries. At the start of your trip, focus the best light of sunrise or sunset on the classic locations, building on the knowledge of photographers who’ve worked these scenes before. As you get to know the area, spend the rest of the day scouting and exploring. Once you’ve discovered scenes that feel more personal, you can dedicate the best light to more unusual places. Good luck on your search.
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