Lakes Piani

From Rifugio Locatelli both tarns lie below in a single view, pale and flat against the scree, and it is tempting to look, photograph and walk on. Going down to the water is worth the detour. At the level of the lakes the ground rises around you and the skyline opens on the Tre Cime, Monte Paterno, Sasso di Toblin and the ridges of the Sesto Dolomites. Sunset is the hour here: the low sun works on bare rock and still water at once, and the peaks hold the colour long after the hollow has gone into shade.

• Toilets and water: free toilets and a drinking water point, both under 300 m from the lakes.
• On the circuit: the lakes sit on the path between Rifugio Locatelli and Rifugio Pian di Cengia, part of the Tre Cime di Lavaredo round.
• No shelter: the basin is open rock and scree, with no trees and nothing to duck under in bad weather.
• Sunset means walking out in the dark: the return to the car parks comes after it, so carry a head torch.

No road reaches the lakes. Drivers stop at the Rifugio Auronzo car parks and walk the rest — just over 3 km of mountain path, most of it along the Tre Cime di Lavaredo circuit round to Rifugio Locatelli. From the refuge the tarns are a few hundred metres off and in sight the whole way down. Coming from the other direction, the path from Rifugio Pian di Cengia runs past the lakes on its way to Locatelli.

Better: late afternoon into sunset, when the low sun crosses the basin and lights the rock, and the two tarns read clearly from Rifugio Locatelli above.

Avoid: the hours after heavy rain, when the ground round the shore turns to mud.

Sunset here means walking back out afterwards, so the timing only works with a torch and time in hand.