5 Torri in Cortina for winter adventure and history

Two years ago, I went there with my wife. It was our last trip before things got complicated. We remember the Cinque Torri as practical: good snow, easy access, and a reliable refuge.

It's part of the Dolomiti Superski, but not the most extreme or isolated area. It's one of those places where you arrive easily and find what you need.

The Dolomiti SuperskiSuperski is a large ski circuit in the Dolomites. It combines many different areas under one skipass. Basically, with one ticket, you can ski in valleys and areas far apart, from Cortina to Val Gardena, from Alta Badia to Plan de Corones.

Here's how you get up: leave your car at Bai de Dones (Passo Falzarego), take the Cinque Torri chairlift, and you're up in minutes. Or walk up, just under an hour, nothing steep. I always take the chairlift to start. I don't venture where I lack information.

We stopped at the Scoiattoli refuge. It's right on the slopes, surrounded by trails and routes. It's also near the open-air Great War museum: trenches, posts, and paths covered in winter snow. You really feel the history there.

The terrace offers a clear view of Cortina, the Towers, and nearby peaks. Inside, it's old wood, simple and Ampezzo style. Nothing fancy, but familiar. It attracts skiers, snowshoers, climbers, and those doing via ferrata on Averau and Ra Gusela. It's a starting point for the Great War Ski Tour, the Super8 Ski Tour, and various snowshoeing trips.

Tip: it gets crowded on weekends. It feels more like a transit point than an isolated refuge. They serve typical dishes. For two people, with a first course, second course, potatoes, drinks, and coffee, it cost us about €55. Normal prices for the altitude.

If you want less chaos, go early in the morning, late in the evening, or on a weekday. With ski touring, you can easily escape: woods, open slopes, and war remnants appear occasionally. With snowshoes, you can circle the Towers: fresh snow, clearings, and spires poking through. It's not hard, suitable even for kids.

In exactly one month, the Milan Cortina Olympics 2026 start (February 6-22). Unfortunately, I can't go. Maybe I'll see the places I visited on TV. Though I've read that the Cinque Torri won't host main events (women's alpine skiing is on the Tofane), they're part of the chosen area for the event.