Dolomites Alta Via Military Roads Circuit

These WWI Austrian military roads—Strada Militare 52 and connecting routes—snake through the Dolomites at elevations that’ll make your passenger grip the door handle. Starting from Cortina d’Ampezzo, you’ll climb past Lago di Misurina to tackle the Tre Cime approach, where limestone towers rise 3,000 feet straight up from your driver’s side door. The route connects Passo Tre Croci, Passo Falzarego, and the terrifying Strada delle 52 Gallerie—a road literally blasted through solid rock faces during the Great War.

Moderate difficulty for experienced mountain drivers, but the exposure is what separates tourists from overlanders. High-clearance 4WD recommended for the unmaintained military sections, though some portions are passable in a capable AWD. June through September only—snow blocks the high passes otherwise. No permits, but carry chains and emergency supplies. Fuel in Cortina before committing. You’ll earn views of Marmolada glacier, walk through carved tunnels, and understand why soldiers called this the ‘vertical war.’