Hiking the Dolomites in September
Everything you need to know to hike in the Dolomites in September, including what to wear and what weather to expect in the fall.
In September, I joined our Hiking in the Cortina Dolomites trip, led by Dan, Gabriele, and Marzia. The week offered a great mix of steady hiking, good food, and time to relax in beautiful mountain settings. A September Dolomites tour has many benefits, including pleasant temperatures, mild weather, uncrowded trails, and quieter rifugios after the peak season. Each day of our journey had a clear plan, but it never felt rushed, and every trail offered a new perspective on the Dolomites’ dramatic landscapes.
Most trails throughout the Dolomites in fall were nearly empty except for the popular hikes from Passo Giau to Lagazuoi and at Tre Cime di Lavaredo, where we crossed paths with other hikers. Even then, it never felt crowded. The peaceful atmosphere, combined with the variety of terrain and meals that always hit the spot, made this an unforgettable week of hiking.
Hiking the Dolomites in September: A Day-by-Day Guide
Below, you’ll find more details about what it’s like to visit these alpine mountains in the fall—and yes, you can hike the Dolomites in September. In fact, because of the fewer crowds and cooler weather, September is one of the best months to hike the Dolomites. Note that each day below is according to WT’s Hiking in the Cortina Dolomites trip itinerary.
To give you an idea of what an autumn Dolomites hiking tour is like, here is the day-by-day guide from my hiking trip.
Day 1
After arriving in Venice, Italy, we drove north toward the mountains and stopped in Vittorio Veneto for lunch. I had steak tartare with truffles, which was easily one of the best meals of the trip.
After lunch we continued to Selva di Cadore, where we stayed at Hotel Orso Grigio. The hotel was comfortable and quiet, with a small wellness area that had saunas and steam rooms, perfect after hiking. Sonia, who worked the restaurant and bar, did it all and made excellent cappuccinos every morning. Each morning started with a breakfast buffet that had everything you would want (and plenty of it!).
Days 2–3
Our first hikes in the Cortina Dolomites were based out of Selva di Cadore, exploring Val di Zoldo and Colle Santa Lucia. The fall weather in the Dolomites was ideal, with crisp mornings that warmed quickly once the sun hit the valleys and dried the trails.
We followed paths that wound through forests and alpine meadows, with steady climbs that opened into wide views of the surrounding peaks. Along the way we passed clusters of wildflowers, patches of colorful mushrooms, and a few grazing horses that greeted us as we walked by.
Our lunch one day was at Rifugio Croda da Lago, set beside a small alpine lake surrounded by larch trees. It was a classic Dolomites scene and an easy place to lounge after hiking. Other lunches were at different rifugios, each with its own character. Some felt more Italian, others more Austrian, but all were hearty and satisfying.
Day 4
We started the day with a drive to Passo Giau, one of the most scenic mountain passes in the Dolomites. The weather stayed clear, and visibility from the start of the hike was outstanding. The trail climbed steadily before reaching Rifugio Averau, where we stopped for lunch.
Afterward, we continued hiking toward Rifugio Lagazuoi. Some took the cable car for the final stretch, while others hiked up instead. It was a steady climb with incredible views the entire way, and we were all glad we made the effort. Along the trail we spotted several marmots popping in and out of the rocks. This was one of the few days we saw other hikers. The route between Passo Giau and Lagazuoi is popular for good reason—the views are incredible.
Note that between cable car rides, hotel spas and saunas, and museums, there are plenty of things to do in the Dolomites that don’t involve hiking.
Day 5
At dawn, a few of us stepped outside Lagazuoi into the cold air. I sipped a cappuccino while the light crept over the peaks, the mountains shifting from gray to gold as the valley woke up below.
We began hiking down after breakfast under mostly clear skies. Our Trip Leader Dan, who knows the area incredibly well, predicted the rain and had us stop to put on our rain gear. Sure enough, within a few minutes it began to shower lightly. Visibility dropped, and through the mist we spotted a herd of ibex on a nearby ridge. They were huge and barely visible in the rain, but easy to recognize by their shape and movement. It was a fun surprise.
A little later, we stopped in a meadow with mountain springs feeding small faucets of clear, cold water, perfect for refilling bottles and taking a short break. By the time we reached the forest, the sun had come back out, and the change in conditions made the descent especially nice.
We ended the day in Cortina d’Ampezzo, where we checked into Hotel de la Poste, a convenient base for the next few days of hiking and exploring.
Day 6
We hiked around Rifugio Fodara Vedla and the Marebbe Valley, an area known for its open pastures, wooden huts, and wide mountain views. This part of the Dolomites felt especially peaceful, the kind of quiet you only get outside the busier summer months. The trail wove through forest and rolling meadows, occasionally opening to vistas that stretched across the Parco Naturale delle Dolomiti d’Ampezzo.
It was one of the most relaxing days of the trip, a slower rhythm surrounded by the sounds of cowbells and moos echoing through the valley in what could only be described as a “cowcauphony” of “moosic”.
Day 7
Our final day brought us to Tre Cime di Lavaredo, one of the Dolomites’ most iconic landmarks. We left early to beat the crowds and hiked the loop trail in reverse, which gave us long stretches of quiet trail and uninterrupted views. September is a great time to hike Tre Cime di Lavaredo: cool air, clear skies, and fewer hikers than in the summer months.
The scale of Tre Cime is hard to describe. My photo almost looks like an optical illusion because it doesn’t capture how massive those towers really are. The morning light, the crisp air, and the stillness made it a perfect way to close out the trip. We returned to Cortina that afternoon and wrapped up the week with a great Farewell Dinner in town.
What to Know Before Hiking in the Dolomites
Weather in the Dolomites in September
Summer may be the most popular time to explore the Dolomites, but September proved to be an ideal month to visit. The weather was comfortably cool with a mix of overcast and clear skies during the day and only one day (out of seven!) of afternoon showers at high elevation. At night and during early mornings, the temperatures were in the high 40sF and 50sF. Daytime temperatures were in the 60sF, which, in the sun, could feel quite warm! There is always a chance of heat waves or rain so it’s important to pack a variety of gear. As someone who typically runs hot, I wore shorts most of the time. I’d usually start the morning with a jacket, but after a mile or so I was in shorts and a t-shirt. Perfect hiking weather.
What to Wear to Hike the Dolomites in September
Hiking in the Dolomites is best when you’re prepared for a variety of terrain and weather. Like any hiking trip in the Alps, it’s important to pack layers, as morning temperatures in the Dolomites are cool, but warm up quickly throughout the day. My small 15L day pack included a hooded Patagonia micropuff, beanie, gloves, and Gore-Tex top and bottoms (just in case we encountered unexpected weather on the trails), along with a 2L bottle of water, which was more than enough since there are many opportunities to fill up along the way.
Sturdy hiking shoes are crucial for the hikes up and down rocky trails. For footwear, I brought three: a proper pair of high-top waterproof hiking boots, my La Sportiva Bushido III GTX trail running shoe (my favorite and easiest for day-to-day use), and some Bedrock sandals. I wore the high-top boots only once on a trail that was known to be wet and muddy. I’m glad our Trip Leaders recommended we wear hiking boots that day because my feet would have been soaked if I wore my trail runners. If you really want to get into the nitty gritty of what to wear, check out our Dolomites packing list.
—Text and photos by WT Area Specialist Alex Jacob, Hiking in the Cortina Dolomites.
