Lago di Carezza (Karersee) | Explore the Dolomite’s Rainbow Lake

Last Updated on June 12, 2026 by Charlotte

Twinkling like a tourmaline jewel in a forested tapestry, Lago di Carezza (also known as Karersee) is an alpine lake above Val’ d’Ega in the Italian Dolomites. A photographer’s dream, at Lago di Carezza, you can enjoy easy walking trails around the lake and through the surrounding woods, and splendorous views of the lake against the Latemar and Rosengarten massifs.

In this guide, we share the sights and lore of Lago di Carezza, and everything you need to know for planning your own visit.

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Our Day Exploring Lago di Carezza

Despite the typically unpredictable summer weather in the Alps, we were lucky enough to enjoy Lago di Carezza (Karersee) on a bluebird day. We arrived around noon, and the sun was at the perfect angle to light up the water in the lake.

At the start of the trail, a viewing platform just a five-minute walk from the visitor’s centre gives you an unobstructed view of the lake. Here, you can head back to the visitor’s centre cafe or continue along the walking paths that circumnavigate the lake.

Walking the Lago di Carezza (Karersee) Loop Trail

The lake itself is not too large, and the 1.1 km loop takes only twenty minutes for you to circumnavigate. What it lacks in size, it makes up for in depth. At 22 m (~72 ft) deep, these stunning shades of blue found in Karersee are in part due to the unique algal communities and waters fed by underground springs.

However, the local people of Val’ d’Ega have their lore for how this lake came to be.

Lago di Carezza (Karersee) in Local Legends

Local legend tells of a sorcerer who was enamoured with a water nymph who frequented Lake Carezza’s shore. Despite the sorcerer’s efforts, the nymph evaded his advances. Advised by a witch, the sorcerer created a captivating rainbow of jewels between the Latemar and Rosengarten massifs to ensnare her.

However, the sorcerer forgot to disguise himself when setting his trap. Although the nymph was mesmerised by the rainbow, she noticed the sorcerer and escaped into the lake’s depths, disappearing forever. Angered, the sorcerer destroyed the rainbow, scattering its jewels into the lake. This act birthed the lake’s other name among the Ladin people: “Lech de l’ercaboan”, or the Rainbow Lake.

Hiking from Lago di Carezza to Lago di Mezzo

Halfway along the trail circumnavigating the lake, we wandered away from the crowds onto another trail heading toward the mountains and a smaller lake called Lago di Mezzo (Mittersee). Because it was mid-June, the lakebed at Lago di Mezzo was a dried-out grassy pasture with no water.

The sun-warmed rocks lining the dried lakebed made a perfect place to stop for a picnic lunch. As the trail snaked deeper into the coniferous spruce forest and up a hill, we were greeted by splendorous views of the Latemar Massif mountains.

The Ancient Ocean Behind the Dolomite Peaks

The Italian Dolomites in South Tyrol have some of the wildest and most unique rock formations that I’ve seen in my life. The mountains in the Dolomites are ~250 million years old and are primarily composed of sedimentary rocks and limestone.

Many millions of years ago, the area in which the Dolomites are today was an ancient tropical primordial ocean called Tethys. Here, colossal coral reefs and active volcanoes formed layers of coral and ash that turned into sedimentary rock over time and under high pressure.

When the African continental plate met the European continental plate, these layers of rock were thrust into the sky. Over time, wind and water eroded these rock layers to form the jagged spires we see in the Dolomites today.

As we connected back to the main path around Karersee, the trail became a bit busier with foot traffic. The majority of the waterline is fenced off to prevent visitors from swimming, because the area of the lake within the fence is a protected habitat for brown trout, arctic char, and other wildlife.

Back down at the lake, we completed our lap and retired to the visitor’s centre for food and coffee, where I accidentally ordered an espresso and ice cream monstrosity when I thought I’d ordered an affogato!

Nonetheless, it was delicious and a perfect treat after a short hike.

Plan Your Visit to Lago di Carezza

How to Get to Lago di Carezza

Lago di Carezza is about 35 minutes by car from Bolzano, an hour from Ortisei, and two hours away from Verona (the closest international airport). You can get there by car, by bus, or on foot.

By Car

If you’re arriving by car, Lago di Carezza is one of the few Dolomites destinations that hasn’t implemented ZTL’s or timed-entry reservations for 2026. There are three car parks available for Lago di Carezza:

• P1 — Karersee (paid) is right at the lake, with a tunnel underpass to the viewing platform, ~1–2 min walk from the lakeside.
  • For 2026, P1 parking fees are:
    • Cars: €3 per hour, up to €30 (12–24 hrs),
    • Campers and coaches: €9 (up to 3 hrs), up to €40 (12–24 hrs).
    • Cash and card payment are both accepted.
• P2 — Schönblickweg is free with a 2-hour limit (dashboard timer required). Cars only, no campers. About a 5-minute walk to the lake via Path 6 and the suspension bridge.
• P3 — Paolina is free for cars (campers pay €10 overnight 19:00–07:00) P3 is about a 20-minute walk to the lake.

Map of Lago di Carezza (Karersee) car parks.

By Public Transit

The easiest way to reach Lago di Carezza without a car is Bus 180, which runs hourly between Bolzano and Vigo di Fassa year-round and stops directly at the lake.

If you’re staying overnight anywhere in the Eggental valley, ask your hotel about the Eggental Guest Pass. Member hotels issue it free to overnight guests, and it covers all of South Tyrol’s public transport at no cost, including Bus 180, the seasonal local shuttle, and trains across the region.

Day visitors can buy a South Tyrol Mobilcard (1, 3, or 7 days) at any train station ticket desk for similar coverage. Either one essentially turns the lake into a free trip.

On Foot

Walking to Lago di Carezza is doable but quite a serious undertaking. The walking routes from nearby villages are multi-hour hikes with meaningful elevation gain, so plan it as a full day’s outing rather than a stroll.

Best Times to Visit Lago di Carezza

For peak turquoise water colour, visiting from late May to early July is the sweet spot because the snowmelt is still topping up the lake, the forest is vivid green, and the crowds haven’t quite peaked yet. We visited in late June, and the lake looked like this:

If you visit in the shoulder season during April–May or September–October, you will be rewarded with noticeably fewer people and, in autumn, an extraordinary colour palette on the hillsides around the Latemar.

Winter visits are possible, and the tunnel and viewing platform are still open 9 am–5 pm. But, the loop trail can be icy, so pack spikes if you plan to walk the full circuit.

While Lago di Carezza is open year-round, the lake is fed by underground springs and snowmelt, so the water level swings dramatically (up to 22 metres deep in late spring, down to around 6 metres by October), and frozen solid by mid-winter.

Facilities and Accessibility at Lago di Carezza

Visitor’s Centre + Restaurant

The visitor centre sits just across the road from the P1 car park, connected to the lake by a pedestrian tunnel that passes underneath the SS241. Inside, you’ll find two bistros, a gift shop, and information boards about the lake and the 2018 Storm Vaia that reshaped the surrounding forest.

Public Toilets

Free restrooms are located in the tunnel underpass. They’re the only facilities at the immediate lake area, so worth a stop before you head around the trail. The visitor centre and toilets are open daily 9 am–6 pm in summer; in winter (from late November), hours are 9 am–5 pm.

Accessibility

Lago di Carezza is one of the most accessible lakes in the Dolomites. The tunnel, viewing platform, circular trail, and restrooms are all barrier-free, and there are reserved parking spaces for disabled visitors in P1. The loop trail is wide, mostly flat, packed gravel with only minor inclines, which makes it manageable for wheelchairs with a companion, and perfectly fine for families with little ones in strollers.

The viewing platform is raised and gives a clear sightline over the lake without needing to approach the fenced waterline.

How Much Time to Spend at Lago di Carezza

Plenty of visitors pull up, spend twenty minutes on the viewing platform taking their photos, and head back to the car. But during our visit, we accidentally spent a solid 3.5 hours here because the scenery was so beautiful that we did not want to leave!

We honestly hadn’t intended to do any hiking at all, and so I was completely unprepared in leather adidas tennis shoes and street clothes. And of course, once we made it back to the visitor’s centre, we wanted a meal! So my main advice is to give yourself more time here than you think you need, in case you too get dazzled by the lake and take an impromptu hike.

Hiking Trails around Lago di Carezza

If you have time to explore the lake, here are two trails that you’d enjoy. We did both the Lago di Carezza Loop and the larger Lago Di Carezza – Lago Di Mezzo loop, too, since we kind of got lost in the woods and wandered around for an hour before finding our way back to the lake.

Karersee (Lago Di Carezza) Loop

• Distance: 0.8 miles / ~1.1 km
• Time: 20-30 minutes
• Elevation: 85 ft / ~25 m
• Best Seasons: Trail is open year-round, but the water level might be lower in late summer
• AllTrails Profile

Lago Di Carezza – Lago Di Mezzo

• Distance: 2.6 miles / 4.19 km
• Time: ~ 1h15m (longer if you stop to take a lot of photos)
• Elevation: 531 ft / 161 m
• Best Seasons: Trail is open year-round, but Lago Di Mezzo will likely be dry in summer
• AllTrails Profile

Where to Stay Near Lago di Carezza

There are no hotels at the lake itself, but you’re spoiled for good bases within easy reach. Use the map below to browse options across the surrounding area:

There are plenty of places to stay nearby, from cosy guesthouses in Nova Levante (Welschnofen) to larger hotels in Bolzano if you want a city base, and the ski villages of Carezza and Obereggen if you’re combining the lake with hiking or winter sports.

Was it Worth the Trip?

100% yes! This was our first stop on our Dolomites road trip, and we appreciated the fact that our visit to Karersee was possible to do in just a few hours. We stopped at Karersee en route from Verona to Ortisei and enjoyed a short hike and meal. This was probably the bluest lake that I’ve seen in my life so far, and it was a joy to photograph. This also might sound really silly, but we saw some locals chopping wood while wearing real leather lederhosen, so that was pretty neat!

Ready to Plan Your Trip to the Dolomites?

The Italian Dolomites are one of my favorite places on earth! To get a feel for where to start with planning, check out our comprehensive Dolomites Travel Guide first. Then, gain inspiration for how to structure your trip through our 10-Day Dolomites Itinerary or 3-Day Dolomites Itinerary. While we came to the Dolomites for hiking, there is also plenty to do for non-hikers.