The Milky Way over the Tre Cimes in the Dolomites - Italy

The Three Peaks - The Milky Way behind the most famous summits of the Dolomites.

The Tre Cime (Three Peaks) are the most famous peaks in the Dolomites and a popular destination for astrophotographers. The unique rock formations and the surrounding area are already an enticing attraction during the day, and they have great potential under the night sky as well. The best time to visit is in late summer (August/September) when the core of our Milky Way rises directly above the Tre Cime...

Hence, it was one of the top destinations on my list of places to visit. Unfortunately, I encountered challenges in previous attempts due to the distance, meticulous planning, and often unfavorable weather conditions. However, during our road trip in Italy in August 2021, we were finally able to make it happen with the help of my parents' old campervan.

Arrival / Stay

There are various options to stay around the Three Peaks, including using one of the huts, camping, public transportation or staying up all night.

Huts

If you're planning to capture a default shot with the Milky Way in the background of the Three Peaks, the 'Drei Zinnen Hütte' is the closest hut to the location. The hut is open from the end of June to the end of September. Other options include the 'Rifugio Lavaredo hut' which is about 20 minutes away by walking/hiking, and the Auronzo hut hut which is located just behind the three peaks. You can find the prices for these huts on their respective websites, and it's always recommended to make your reservations early enough. Additionally, keep in mind that not all huts accept card payments.

Camping

There is a parking area located in front of the 'Auronzo' hut where camping is permitted. However, the prices for parking may be quite high, and the area can become very crowded. Therefore, if you choose to park here, it is recommended that you start your journey early in the morning. Additionally, it is important to note that the road leading to the parking area contains several steep inclines, and there have been reports of accidents occurring in the past due to the challenging terrain.

Instead of camping or using huts, visitors to the Three Peaks area can take a bus or shuttle to the Auronzo hut. The cost for adults is approximately 16€ for a round trip. Moreover, it's important to note that wild camping is prohibited in Italy, including in the area around the Three Peaks. This means that it is not allowed to camp there in a tent or Biwak. Despite this, many hikers still attempt to do so without realizing it is not permitted.

As we were able to borrow a camper from my parents for our trip to Italy, it was easy for us to park at the 'Auronzo' hut and use the option of camping. Prior to that, we spent several nights at the 'Camping Alla Baita' campground, located just before the start of the street. Unfortunately, the weather was terrible, and I started to lose hope of clear skies, especially with the steep streets ahead of us that our old camper might not be able to handle.

On the day we started our ascent, we woke up very early in the morning. We aimed to be one of the first vehicles at the tollbooth to have ample time to ascend and avoid having too many vehicles behind us. Thankfully, the weather was still poor, so there were no other cars on the road. We paid around €40 for the camper and were allowed to stay for 24 hours. Surprisingly, the camper managed to navigate the steep streets quite well, albeit with the help of the first gear and the emission of black smoke from the exhaust. Once we arrived at the parking ground, we were able to secure the last spot in the first row, which, in our opinion, is the best spot as it offers an unobstructed view of the 'Cadini di Misurina' mountain range. The weather had improved slightly by this point, so we were able to begin a day hike around the TRe Cime.

Planing the Nightscape

General

The overall plan was quite simple as the destination and the main attractions had been fixed for years. I was already familiar with the area from Google Maps, various blog reports, and social media. The ultimate aim was to capture the Milky Way behind the Three Peaks, possibly creating a short timelapse, as well as taking additional shots at traditional spots such as the cave and chapel. You can get an idea of what I am looking for by comparing the images available online.

It is crucial to ensure that the Milky Way can be observed at night. Therefore, it is important that there is minimal light pollution and the moon's light doesn't interfere with your plans. There are several apps and websites available to check the visibility of the Milky Way. One of the best App which I can highly recommend is fore sure 'PhotoPills'. To check for a very less light polluted area, the 'DarkSkyMap' website is perfect. Make sure to check for minimal light pollution in the direction you plan to photograph too. As for the moon, you can refer to a default moon calendar or search for information about it online.

On the day we had planned to go there, the moon phase was perfect, the light pollution was acceptable as it always is, and the position of the Milky Way was excellent for this time of year. Therefore, the primary conditions for capturing the night sky were ideal.

Weather

Despite all the planning that goes into it, the weather plays a crucial role in capturing the perfect shot of the night sky. One hopes for clear skies or at least few clouds to witness the beauty of the stars. Unfortunately, the weather was terrible during my trip, with only a small glimmer of hope in the form of a 3-hour window without clouds predicted in the forecast during the right time at the Three Peaks. Luckily, the forecast was correct, and it reinforced my trust in the reliability of 'zmag' services.

On-Site / Scouting

As we all know, planning our shots in advance is crucial when we want to capture a beautiful nightscape. By exploring the location beforehand, we can come up with creative ideas, identify potential risks, and find the best spots to shoot from. This way, we can make the most of the limited time we have during the night and capture stunning photographs.

I often make a mistake by relying solely on Google Maps and social media images to explore a place before visiting it. While these tools give a rough idea of what to expect, they can never replace the experience of actually being there in person.

As we did a extended day-hike around the Tre Cime I didn't screwed up at this point and I could find exciting spots like a small pond, flowers, check out the pre-planed caves, and the location of the small chapel.

Another fascinating point during an on-site exploration is the opportunity to meet like-minded individuals. It's a great feeling to know that you're not the only one who enjoys going out at night to capture photos of the night sky. This is what happened during our day-hike when we met Andreas. Andreas is a talented photographer from Munich who specializes in landscapes and wildlife photography. He spontaneously joined me during the night to capture some amazing shots.

Results

Tre Cime and some stars

This has been one of my favorite destinations to capture the Milky Way for the past two years. During our recent trip to Italy, we made sure to visit this place. Luckily, the weather forecast was accurate and after a brief spell of bad weather, we were blessed with a clear sky in the middle of the night. To top it off, I found great company in the form of another hiker we met during the day. The outcome was truly stunning - a detailed Milky Way, a beautiful reflection in the small lake, and a thunderstorm brewing behind the mountains.

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