Rifugio Tre Scarperi: all you need to know about this easy and stunning walk on the Dolomites
All you need to know to reach Rifugio Tre Scarperi in San Candido, Italy. How to get there, what to expect on the trail, tips for visiting Rifugio Tre Scarperi with kids.
Rifugio Tre Scarperi is a beautiful mountain hut and restaurant in Val di Dentro, a small and scenic valley in Val Pusteria, Italy.
The hut is at the end of a beautiful yet scenic walk and it is both a destination and a starting point.
You can hike here and then spend the day enjoying the beautiful views or you can use it as a pit stop before tackling serious hikes towards Mount Baranci, Lake Dobbiaco and the Three Peaks of Lavaredo.
The hike to Rifugio Tre Scarperi is one of the most beautiful family walks in the Dolomites and it is suitable for all ages and most levels of fitness.
In summer, you can choose to walk here from the parking at the base of Campo di Dentro, near San Candido or opt to catch the shuttle to the second parking (2km up the road) and then walk.
From the second parking, you can either use the while road or the mountain path. In either case, you will get to the end of Valle di Dentro, where Rifugio Tre Scarperi will welcome you to its beautiful terrace and out of this world delicious cuisine.
This is all you need to know about the hike to Rifugio Tre Scarperi.
Rifugio Tre Scarperi: where it is and where to park
Rifugio Tre Scarperi (Dreischusterhütte, in German) is in Val di Dentro, a small valley near San Candido, in Val Pusteria, Trentino Alto Adige, Italy.
The starting point to the trail is immediately outside the town of San Candido, towards Sesto, and has a large parking space with free access.
During the low season (aka outside the summer), a road leads up to second parking lot 2Km up the road, while in high season, the road is closed to private cars and the stretch is served by a shuttle.
The shuttle ride costs 3 Euro each way and only takes a few minutes.
The walk up to Rifugio Tre Scarperi
From the second parking lot, you can reach Rifugio Tre Scarperi in about 30 minutes following a large, white road.
The road is large and well kept and has some paved stretched and some with rougher terrain.
All of it is stroller friendly however, there is some elevation gain and the walk is in the sun so you want to tackle it with care or you may find yourself exhausted soon!
Without a stroller, the walk can be done in 20-30 mins and you don’t need hiking shoes: walking runners are enough and kids can easily tackle the trail too.
Good to know! If you prefer a more adventurous and harder terrain, you can also reach Rifugio Tre Scarperi by trail. You find the sign towards the mountain trail about 100 mt after the parking and it is a fun option if you have time and want a bit of a challenge. while not difficult, the trail is steep and get tiring fast! It is however a pretty trail, that leads you across a nice forest with fir, mountain pines and rhododendron. Fantastic!
Rifugio Tre Scarperi by bike
Rifugio Tre Scarperi is a popular destination for beginner mountain bikers.
You can find a detailed descroption of the biking experince here
What to do at Rifigio Tre Scarperi
Rifugio Tre Scarperi is a lovely mountain hut and restaurant with stunning views over Valle di Dentro, Mount Baranci, Mount Tre Scarperi and Monte Mattina.
The easiest way to enjoy the ‘rifugio’ is by indulging in their glorious food.
The hut has tables both indoors and outdoors and you can choose between cold platters, Alto Adige food specialties and cakes.
Kids can have fun in the small playground beside the hut and they will also love to see the friendly cows always grazing in front of it!
More active hikers can stretch their legs towards the mountains at the end of the valley: from here, you can reach rifugio Locatelli at the Three peaks of Lavaredo in about 3 hours of reach Lake Dobbiaco via Mount Baranci (both strenuous hikes, not for beginners).
The refuge also has a pretty mountain chapel.
Rifugio Tre Scarperi with kids
Enjoying Rifugio Tre Scarperi with kids is easy.
Thw trail up to it is stroller friendly and the restaurant is also family friendly. Small portions for kids are avaiable, you can order simple pasta, the restaurant has high hairs and there is a small playground with slide and swings just beside the restaurant.
What to pack for a day hike to Rifugio Tre Scarperi
The walk up Rifugio Tre Scarperi via the main road is easy and requires no special equipment. However, on a sunny day it is important to have a sun hat, sun screen and water: please note that there is not drinking water on the trail.
For the main road, runners are sufficient.
If you want to tackle the harder trail, you will need your hiking gear, inlcuding proper hiking shoes, water, first aid kit and all you may need on a trail.
The walk to Rifugio Tre Scarperi is one of the most beautiful family hikes in the area and a favorite of ours. We highly recommend you to go!
Additional resources about visiting the Dolomites
Our guide to the best places to see on the Dolomites
Our guide to the best places to visit on the Dolomites with kids
Marta Correale
Marta Correale is an Italian mama of two. Born and raised in Rome, Marta has a passion for travel and especially enjoys showing off Italy to her kids, who are growing up to love it as much as she does! A classics graduate from the University of Rome, Marta channeled her passion for culture and travel into the creation of family travel websites that inspire, support and help curious visitors to make the most of a trip to Italy and learn about Italian culture on the way. Marta also manages the thriving online community of parents 'Italy with kids' who turn to her for expert advice and competent Italy travel planning support. She is the author of the travel guides 'Best of Rome with kids' and 'Best of Florence with kids' available on Amazon and of an array of kids printables (scavenger hunts, info booklets etc) available on her Etsy shop 'Mama Loves To Print'
