Val Badia, a discreet gateway to the Dolomites

There are several ways to enter the dolomites. You can arrive from Venice and go up towards Cortina d'Ampezzo, cross the Passo Rolle to discover the Pale di San Martino, come from Bolzano/Bozen and go into the Val Gardena/Gherdëina or follow the great Adige valley before turning towards the Val di Fassa.

Arriving from the north offers a very different experience.

From Brunico/Bruneck, in the heart of the Val Pusteria/Pustertal, a road gradually leaves the main traffic arteries and heads south. The mountains draw closer, the villages become smaller, and the slopes are covered with forests and meadows. Then the first towering limestone cliffs appear.

We enter the Val Badia.

This valley, about thirty kilometers long, forms one of the major northern gateways to the Dolomites. It begins near San Lorenzo di Sebato/St. Lorenzen, at an altitude of approximately 810 meters, then follows the Gadera River upstream to Corvara, where it splits into the Passo Gardena/Ju de Frara and the Passo Campolongo/Ju de Ćiaulunch. Another branch leads from San Cassiano/San Ciascian to the Valparola and Falzarego passes.

This geography explains much of the valley's history and identity. Val Badia administratively belongs to Südtirol/Alto Adige, but it lies at the heart of one of the main Ladin-speaking territories of the DolomitesAs one ascends towards the mountains, the names of the villages, the traditions, the architecture and the language tell the story of a particular alpine culture, born from several centuries of relative isolation between large mountain ranges.

The landscapes are also changing. The lower valley remains rural and secluded, dotted with hamlets, farms, and forests. Around La Valle/La Val and Badia, meadows stretch out at the foot of the Sas dla Crusc cliffs. Then come the grand Dolomite landscapes of La Villa/La Ila, San Cassiano/San Ciascian, Corvara, and Colfosco/Calfosch, dominated by the Gardenaccia, the Sassongher, the Sella massif, and the mountains of the Fanes-Senes-Braies Natural Park.

La Val Badia It is thus much more than a destination for a few days. It is a valley of passage, but a passage that deserves a stop. One can follow the traces of Ladin history, walk between centuries-old farms, reach sanctuaries located at the foot of cliffs, climb peaks exceeding 2,500 meters, ski on more than one hundred kilometers of slopes and cross some of the most famous passes in the Alps.

It is a shortcut of all that is most beautiful in the Dolomites region and you simply have to accept to travel it slowly, from north to south, taking the time to watch the "Pale Mountains" get closer.

Val Badia, a long valley leading into the Dolomites

From the Brunico/Bruneck basin to the first Dolomite walls

The Val Badia route truly begins when you leave the Val Pusteria/Pustertal at San Lorenzo di Sebato/St. Lorenzen. The SS244 then heads south, following the Gadera.

The first few kilometers are quite different from the spectacular image one usually associates with the Dolomites. The valley is narrow, heavily wooded, and deeply incised. The villages are sometimes located away from the main road, perched on the sunniest slopes.

This first part is important for understanding the geography of Val BadiaThe valley does not begin in Corvara and is not limited to Alta Badia, its most famous tourist area. Before the large ski resorts and hotels located at the foot of the ski lifts, there is a more rural mountain, long organized around agriculture, livestock farming and small village communities.

The first major fork appears at Longega, at approximately 1,000 meters above sea level. Towards the west, a road leads to San Vigilio di Marebbe/Al Plan de Mareo and to Val Marebbe/Val de Mareo. The main road continues south towards Piccolino/Piculin then San Martino in Badia/San Martin de Tor.

The mountains then begin to open up. The Sas de Pütia stands out above the wooded slopes, while the Sas dla Crusc massif gradually announces the great dolomitic cliffs.

The landscape transformation continues for about thirty kilometers. Between San Lorenzo di Sebato/St. Lorenzen and Corvara, the altitude increases by approximately 750 meters. Forests remain, but meadows become more prevalent, limestone peaks become ubiquitous, and villages gradually establish themselves amidst more open landscapes.

It is this progression that makes the arrival in Val Badia particularly interesting. You don't enter the Dolomites abruptly. You see them appear.

A valley organized around the Gadera

The Gadera, Gran Ega in Ladin, forms the backbone of the valley. This watercourse originates in the Alta Badia mountains, collects the waters of the numerous torrents descending from the surrounding massifs and joins the Rienza/Rienz in the Val Pusteria/Pustertal.

For centuries, the valley has been organized around this natural axis. Roads, villages and agricultural lands have adapted to a challenging terrain, composed of narrow valley bottoms, wooded slopes and plateaus more favorable to agriculture.

Increasing altitude also plays an essential role. San Martino in Badia/San Martin de Tor is at approximately 1,127 meters, La Valle/La Val at 1,348 meters, La Villa/La Ila at 1,433 meters, San Cassiano/San Ciascian at 1,537 meters, Corvara at 1,568 meters and Colfosco/Calfosch at 1,645 meters.

In just a few dozen kilometers, one thus passes from a landscape still marked by the shapes of the Val Pusteria to a true high mountain world.

This progression also allows you to discover several facets of the valley. The traveler who simply goes directly to Corvara misses an essential part of Val Badia: the more discreet villages, the old farms, the isolated churches and the agricultural landscapes that tell the story of the Ladin population.

A Ladin valley in the heart of South Tyrol/Alto Adige

An ancient language that is still alive

La Val Badia belongs to the five great valleys where the spruce dolomite is still spoken: Val Badia, Val Gardena/Gherdëina, Val di Fassa/Fascia, Livinallongo del Col di Lana/Fodom and Cortina d'Ampezzo/Anpezo.

Ladin is a Romance language that emerged from the Latinization of Alpine populations after the Roman conquest. Its survival in the Dolomites is explained in particular by geography: for centuries, the high valleys separated by large mountain ranges have preserved relatively isolated communities.

Today, the language remains very present in the daily life of the Val BadiaIt is taught in schools alongside Italian and German, and used by local administrations, the media, and cultural associations.

This linguistic peculiarity is immediately visible on the signs. Place names appear in several forms, and the traveler gradually discovers a vocabulary specific to the Ladin mountains: ücia to designate a mountain refuge or inn, viles for the old rural hamlets, ju for the mountain passes.

Language is therefore not a folkloric element added to the tourist experience. It constitutes one of the foundations of local identity.

The villages, an ancient way of inhabiting the mountains

To understand the landscape of Val Badia, you have to leave the main road.

On the slopes, small groups of farms and houses appear, organized around common spaces. These are the viles, one of the most characteristic forms of habitat in the Ladin world.

These hamlets comprised several families who shared certain resources, including paths, water sources, pastures, and sometimes ovens. Agricultural land was distributed around the dwellings according to an organization adapted to the constraints of the mountain environment.

This structure is particularly visible around La Valle/La Val, where farms, barns, and meadows still form a remarkably coherent agricultural landscape. Some farms have been documented for several centuries.

The modernization of agriculture and the development of tourism have profoundly transformed the valley, but the viles These sites allow us to understand how populations organized their territory long before the arrival of modern roads and ski lifts. The official territory of Alta Badia still presents these rural hamlets today as an essential component of Ladin culture.

The Museum Ladin Ciastel de Tor

The best place to delve deeper into this story is in San Martino in Badia/San Martin de Tor.

Le Ciastel de Tor It dominates the valley from a rocky spur. The castle, whose origins date back to the 13th century, was for several centuries the administrative seat of the Tor jurisdiction.

It now houses the Ladin Ciastel Museum of Tor.

The visit provides an understanding of the history of the Ladins, their language, their social organization, their beliefs and the profound economic transformations that the Dolomite valleys have undergone.

The museum's appeal goes far beyond simply displaying traditional objects. It explains the links between geography and culture.

For centuries, mountain passes isolated communities during the winter but also facilitated trade with neighboring valleys during the warmer months. The inhabitants developed agriculture adapted to steep slopes, a unique land ownership system, and a culture deeply rooted in the mountains.

After the visit, the landscapes of Val Badia are interpreted differently.

San Martino in Badia/San Martin de Tor, the cultural gateway to the valley

A village between history and mountains

San Martino in Badia/San Martin de Tor is located at approximately 1,127 meters above sea level, above the Gadera.

The village makes an interesting stop before continuing on to the vast landscapes of Alta Badia. Tourism is less developed here than in Corvara or San Cassiano/San Ciascian, and the atmosphere remains more rural.

The parish church, the scattered farms and the Ciastel de Tor make up a landscape characteristic of the lower Val Badia.

Nearby, the village of Longiarù/Lungiarü is nestled in a side valley dominated by the Puez group and the Sas de Pütia.

Longiarù/Lungiarü and the valley of the mills

Longiarù/Lungiarü is located at an altitude of approximately 1,400 meters in a much more isolated environment.

The village is particularly known for the Morins Valley, the valley of the mills. A collection of watermills installed along the stream recalls the importance of water in the traditional economy.

These installations were used to grind cereals grown on the slopes and bear witness to the ancient organization of rural communities.

Longiarù/Lungiarü is part of the network of Mountaineering villages and European hiking. This recognition is based on the quality of the landscapes, the preservation of mountain agriculture and the importance given to hiking.

Longiarù/Lungiarü is also an excellent starting point for hiking.

Experienced hikers can reach the Puez-Odle/Pöz-Odles Nature Park and the Puez/Ütia de Puez mountain hut, located at an altitude of 2,475 meters. The ascent involves an elevation gain of over 1,000 meters and requires several hours of hiking.

More accessible routes allow you to discover the farms, alpine pastures and landscapes dominated by the Sas de Pütia.

La Valle/La Val, the vast rural landscape of Val Badia

A village situated at an altitude of 1,348 meters

The Valley/The Val occupies a position slightly off the main road.

A few switchbacks lead to the village, situated on a sunny slope at an altitude of approximately 1,350 meters.

The change in atmosphere is immediate.

There are no large ski areas or strings of ski lifts here. Farms, meadows and forests dominate the landscape.

Above the village rise the great cliffs of Sas dla Crusc and the peaks of the Fanes-Senes-Braies natural park.

The meadows of Armentara

The meadows of Armentara constitute one of the most beautiful landscapes in the valley.

They extend between approximately 1,600 and 2,000 meters in altitude at the foot of the Sas dla Crusc.

In spring and early summer, the meadows are covered with flowers while the old barns, chalets and small farm paths make up an almost pastoral landscape.

Several routes allow you to travel through them.

From La Valle/La Val, a hike can reach the meadows by passing through hamlets and forests. Depending on the starting point and the chosen loop, it takes between four and five hours of walking and approximately 500 to 700 meters of elevation gain.

It is also possible to start from higher hamlets, notably Spëscia, to reduce the length of the hike.

The contrast between the meadows and the immense walls of the Sas dla Crusc constitutes one of the most characteristic landscapes of the Val Badia.

The Sas dla Crusc and the Sanctuary of Santa Croce/La Crusc

Above the meadows rises the Sas dla Crusc massif, whose main summit reaches 2,907 meters.

At an altitude of 2,045 meters, the sanctuary of Santa Croce/La Crusc is located at the foot of the cliffs.

The origin of the pilgrimage site is ancient. A small church already existed in the Middle Ages, before being enlarged in the 18th century.

From Badia, ski lifts provide access to the area surrounding the sanctuary in both summer and winter. Hikers can also reach it from the villages of La Valle/La Val or Badia.

From Spëscia, the route to La Crusc represents approximately 570 meters of positive elevation gain for a little over three hours of walking depending on the route chosen.

The site is spectacular.

On one side rise the immense cliffs of Sas dla Crusc. On the other, the view extends to the villages of Val Badia and the massifs of Puez, Gardenaccia and Sella.

Badia, between villages, farms and mountains

Pedraces and San Leonardo/San Linert

La Badia commune is organized around several villages and hamlets.

Pedraces is located in the valley bottom while San Leonardo/San Linert extends over the slopes at the foot of the Sas dla Crusc.

This dispersed layout reflects the agricultural history of the area. Farms, pastures, and small hamlets remain very much a feature of the landscape despite tourism development.

Badia also constitutes one of the gateways to the Alta Badia ski area thanks to the La Crusc ski lifts.

Hiking around Badia

There are many hiking opportunities.

One of the most beautiful is to cross the meadows of Armentara before reaching the sanctuary of Santa Croce/La Crusc.

Another option is to head up to the Gardenaccia alpine pastures. Hikers can also follow the old paths connecting the viles and the farms on the slopes.

These routes, less spectacular than the great high-altitude hikes, nevertheless allow you to discover another facet of the valley: that of a landscape shaped for centuries by agriculture.

The Villa/La Ila, at the foot of the Gardenaccia

A central village in Alta Badia

At an altitude of approximately 1,430 meters, The Villa/The Island occupies a strategic position in the center of Alta Badia.

The road splits here. One branch continues towards Corvara while another climbs back up towards San Cassiano/San Ciascian and the Valparola passes. Falzarego.

The village is dominated by the Gardenaccia plateau and by Piz La Ila, whose summit reaches 2,077 meters.

La Villa/La Ila is also one of the main centers of the ski area.

La Gran Risa, one of the legendary slopes of the Dolomites

The Gran Risa descends from Piz La Ila towards La Villa/La Ila.

This black run hosts men's Alpine Ski World Cup events every winter.

Over a length of approximately 1,250 meters, it has a vertical drop of approximately 450 meters and a maximum gradient that exceeds 50%.

Gran Risa has largely contributed to the international renown of Alta Badia.

From Piz La Ila, the ski area extends towards Corvara, San Cassiano/San Ciascian and other sectors of the valley.

Head towards the Gardenaccia

In summer, the mountains above La Villa/La Ila offer excellent hiking opportunities.

The climb towards Ütia Gardenacia allows you to reach the edge of the Gardenaccia plateau.

The refuge is located at an altitude of 2,050 meters. Using the chairlift significantly reduces the elevation gain, allowing you to reach the refuge in approximately two hours of walking, with less than 300 meters of ascent.

More experienced hikers can continue towards the plateau and reach the Puez-Odle/Pöz-Odles nature park.

The landscapes then change completely. Forests and meadows disappear in favor of a mineral world composed of limestone plateaus, cliffs and high-altitude valleys.

San Cassiano/San Ciascian, between Fanes and Lagazuoi

A village at the foot of the Conturines mountains

San Cassiano/San Ciascian is located at an altitude of 1,537 meters, in a side valley surrounded by some of the great massifs of the Dolomites.

To the east rise the Lagazuoi and the Fanes mountainsTo the south appear the Conturines and the Settsass. To the west, the Pralongià alpine pastures gradually connect San Cassiano to the La Villa and Corvara sectors.

The village has a more discreet atmosphere than Corvara, despite significant tourist activity.

Its church overlooks the houses while hotels and ski lifts have developed on the slopes.

Piz Sorega and Pralongià, the great balcony of Alta Badia

A cable car allows you to go up from San Cassiano/San Ciascian to Piz Sorega, at about 2,000 meters altitude.

The summit provides access to the vast Pralongià plateau.

This is one of the most beautiful areas to discover the Dolomites without undertaking a difficult hike.

The trails run through vast open alpine pastures offering panoramic views of the Sella, the Sassongher, the Sas dla Crusc, the Conturines, the Lagazuoi and, further on, the Marmolada.

A beautiful hike involves traversing the ridges and alpine pastures between Piz Sorega, Bioch, and Pralongià. The official panoramic route takes approximately three hours to walk, with an elevation gain of 250 meters.

It is also possible to reach Corvara or La Villa/La Ila on foot using the ski lifts to organize crossings.

Capanna Alpina and the gateways to the Fanes-Senes-Braies Natural Park

Beyond San Cassiano/San Ciascian, the road climbs back up towards Armentarola and then reaches Capanna Alpina, at approximately 1,730 meters altitude.

The road ends here. Several major hiking trails begin at the foot of the mountains. You are in the heart of the legends of the Dolomites.

You can reach the Fanes plateau, climb towards the Col de Locia or undertake the hike towards the Lagazuoi/Lech de Lagació lake and the Ütia Scotoni.

This final hike crosses a spectacular landscape.

From Sciaré, the route crosses the Forcela dl Lech before reaching Lake Lagazuoi and then the Scotoni refuge. The route involves over 800 meters of elevation gain and takes approximately five and a half to six hours to complete.

Corvara, the great crossroads of the Dolomites

A village at the foot of the Sassongher and the Sella

Corvara is located at an altitude of 1,568 meters in the heart of one of the most impressive landscapes in the valley.

Mount Sassongher, reaching an altitude of 2,665 meters, directly overlooks the village. To the east rises the Sella massif. To the south, the road climbs to the Passo Campolongo/Ju de Ćiaulunch. To the west, it leads to Colfosco/Calfosch and then to the Passo Gardena/Ju de Frara.

This position explains the early tourism development of Corvara.

The village is now one of the main centers of Alta Badia, but it remains surrounded by immediately accessible mountains.

Ascend to the Sassongher

Sassongher is the iconic mountain of Corvara.

Its summit is one of the great viewpoints of the Alta Badia.

The entire hike from the valley floor is demanding. Depending on the route chosen, it can exceed 1,200 meters of positive elevation gain.

Using ski lifts helps to reduce effort.

The route crosses the landscapes of Gardenaccia before reaching the final part of the climb. A short section equipped with cables facilitates the crossing of a steeper area.

From the summit, the panorama extends over the Sella massif, the Puez, the Conturines, the Sas dla Crusc and a large part of the Val Badia.

Corvara, gateway to the Sellaronda

In winter, Corvara becomes one of the major skiing hubs in the Dolomites.

The village is located directly on the Sellaronda, the famous circuit which allows you to go around the Sella massif by crossing four passes: Campolongo, Pordoi, Sella and Gardena.

The circuit is approximately 40 kilometers long, with slightly more than half of it covered on skis. It can be done in either direction.

From Corvara, skiers can reach Arabba via the Passo Campolongo/Ju de Ćiaulunch, Val Gardena/Gherdëina via the Passo Gardena/Ju de Frara or continue towards other sectors of Alta Badia.

Colfosco/Calfosch, at the foot of the Sella cliffs

The highest village in Alta Badia

At an altitude of 1 meters, Colfosco/Calfosch is the highest village from Alta Badia.

It is located directly below the immense walls of the Sella massif, at the entrance to the Val Mezdì.

The scenery is spectacular.

Houses and hotels occupy the meadows while cliffs rise more than a thousand meters above the village.

The Sassongher closes the horizon to the north, the Sella massif dominates the south and the Passo Gardena/Ju de Frara allows access to Val Gardena/Gherdëina.

The Pisciadù waterfalls and Val Mezdì

Several easy walks allow you to discover the surrounding area.

The Pisciadù waterfall trail leads to the foot of the Sella massif. It makes for an excellent family walk and offers close-up views of the large limestone cliffs.

More experienced hikers can climb up to the Pisciadù/Ütia Pisciadù refuge, located at 2,585 meters.

The route is accessible via various trails, some of which include steep sections.

The famous Tridentina via ferrata is another possibility, but it is for equipped and experienced practitioners.

Val Mezdì, deeply embedded in the Sella massif, also constitutes one of the great landscapes of Colfosco/Calfosch.

Towards the Puez-Odle/Pöz-Odles Nature Park

Colfosco/Calfosch also provides access to the Puez-Odle/Pöz-Odles nature park.

A hike starting from Passo Gardena/Ju de Frara crosses the high-altitude landscapes to the heart of the park. The official route takes approximately four and a half hours to walk and involves nearly 600 meters of elevation gain.

Another, longer hike leads from Colfosco/Calfosch to the Puez/Ütia de Puez refuge. It requires nearly five hours of walking and approximately 950 meters of elevation gain.

The great passes of Val Badia

The geographical position of Val Badia largely explains its importance in the Dolomites.

To the south of the valley, several roads cross the mountains and allow access to the other major Dolomite valleys.

These mountain passes are now used by motorists, cyclists and motorcyclists. But they are also starting points for hikes and offer stunning views of the surrounding mountains.

Passo Gardena/Ju de Frara, between Val Badia and Val Gardena/Gherdëina

The Passo Gardena/Ju de Frara peaks at 2,121 meters. It connects Colfosco/Calfosch to Selva di Val Gardena/Sëlva.

The road crosses one of the most spectacular landscapes in the Dolomites.

To the south rise the immense cliffs of the Sella massif. To the north appear the peaks of the Puez group and the Cir needles.

The pass is an excellent starting point for hiking.

The trails lead to the Jimmy refuge, the Cir sector and the Puez-Odle/Pöz-Odles nature park.

It is also possible to go down towards the Val Gardena/Gherdëina and continue towards Ortisei/Urtijëi or Passo Sella/Ju de Sela.

Passo Campolongo/Ju de Ćiaulunch, towards Arabba

Passo Campolongo/Ju de Ćiaulunch is 1,875 meters above sea level.

It connects Corvara to Arabba/Rèba, in the province of Belluno, in the Venetian Dolomites.

The pass is lower and less spectacular than the Passo Gardena/Ju de Frara, but it plays an essential role in traffic around the Sella massif.

It is one of the four passes of the Sellaronda.

In summer, several trails lead to the alpine pastures and surrounding mountains. Cyclists are very familiar with this route, which is regularly used by the Giro d'Italia and is part of the Maratona dles Dolomites course.

Passo Valparola/Ju de Valparola, between history and high mountains

From San Cassiano/San Ciascian, the road goes up towards Armentarola and then gradually reaches the great highland landscapes.

Le Passo Valparola/Ju de Valparola it reaches a height of 2,168 meters.

It is located between the Settsass massif and Lagazuoi.

The pass was a strategic sector during the First World War. Fort Tre Sassi, built at the end of the 19th century by the Austro-Hungarian Empire, now houses a museum dedicated to the fighting in the Dolomites.

Lake Valparola is located near the pass.

Several hikes allow you to reach Settsass, the Lagazuoi ridges or the historical trails of the Great War.

Passo Falzarego, the road to Cortina d'Ampezzo

A few kilometers from the Valparola Pass/Ju de Valparola lies the Falzarego Pass, at an altitude of 2,105 meters.

The pass is located in the province of Belluno and is therefore no longer part of Südtirol/Alto Adige.

It nevertheless constitutes one of the major natural outlets of the Val Badia.

The road descends towards Cortina d'Ampezzo/Anpezo and allows one to join the Tofane.

From the pass, a cable car ascends to Lagazuoi, at an altitude of 2,752 meters.

Le panorama The view from the summit is among the most impressive in the Dolomites. The view encompasses the Tofane, the Fanes group, the Conturines, the Sella, the Marmolada and the Cinque Torri.

The area also retains a significant network of galleries, trenches and military positions dating from the First World War.

The most beautiful hikes and viewpoints of Val Badia

The diversity of the landscapes means that hikes can be found that are suitable for almost all levels.

Travelers looking for easy walks can explore the meadows of Armentara, the alpine pastures of Pralongià, the trails around Piz Sorega or the surroundings of the Pisciadù waterfalls.

Walkers accustomed to long hikes can reach the Puez/Ütia refuge in Puez, traverse the high plateaus of Fanes, climb to Gardenaccia or discover Lake Lagazuoi.

Finally, experienced hikers have many high peaks and routes to choose from.

The Pralongià plateau, the most beautiful accessible viewpoint

If you had to choose just one easy hike to discover the vastness of the Alta Badia landscapes, the Pralongià plateau would probably be the best choice.

The ski lifts allow you to quickly gain altitude from San Cassiano/San Ciascian, La Villa/La Ila or Corvara.

The trails generally remain wide and not very difficult.

The view is exceptional.

The Sella massif, the Sassongher, the Sas dla Crusc, the Conturines, the Lagazuoi, the Marmolada and the mountains of Val di Fassa appear successively.

The Sassongher, to gain altitude

The Sassongher offers a very different experience.

Here, we must accept a genuine rise to power.

From Corvara, the hike involves an elevation gain of over 1,200 meters if starting from the village. Using the ski lifts allows you to shorten the route.

The summit, at 2,665 meters, dominates the entire Alta Badia.

The view plunges directly down to Corvara and Colfosco/Calfosch while the great massifs of the Dolomites fill the horizon.

Lake Lagazuoi and the Scotoni refuge

The route to Lech de Lagació is one of the most beautiful hikes in the San Cassiano/San Ciascian area.

The trail first crosses through forests and then climbs up an increasingly rocky valley.

The lake appears in a rocky cirque dominated by cliffs.

The hike can be extended to Ütia Scotoni or integrated into a longer traverse between Passo Falzarego and Capanna Alpina.

The Puez-Odle/Pöz-Odles Nature Park

The Puez-Odle/Pöz-Odles nature park is one of the great hiking areas of the Dolomites.

The routes can start from Longiarù/Lungiarü, La Villa/La Ila, Colfosco/Calfosch or Passo Gardena/Ju de Frara.

The landscapes are much more mineral than in the bottom of the Val Badia.

We cross limestone plateaus, stony valleys and vast high-altitude areas.

Hikes to Ütia de Puez generally take between five and seven hours depending on the starting point.

Winter in Val Badia: skiing, cross-country skiing and snowshoeing

130 kilometers of slopes in Alta Badia

Alta Badia is one of the main ski areas in the Dolomites.

Le ski area supports 130 kilometers of slopes served by 53 ski liftsIt extends between the sectors of Badia, La Villa/La Ila, San Cassiano/San Ciascian, Corvara and Colfosco/Calfosch and connects to the Passo Campolongo, Gardena and Falzarego. The artificial snowmaking system covers a very large part of the area.

The majority of the slopes are blue and red, making the area particularly pleasant for intermediate skiers.

However, the sectors have different characteristics.

La Crusc is popular with families and skiers looking for quieter slopes.

The Villa/La Ila is dominated by the Gran Risa.

The slopes of Piz Sorega and Pralongià offer vast sunny spaces and exceptional panoramas.

Corvara and Colfosco/Calfosch allow direct access to the Sellaronda.

La Sellaronda and the Dolomiti Superski area

Alta Badia belongs to the Dolomiti Superski, which includes twelve ski areas and approximately 1,200 kilometers of slopes accessible with a common pass.

La sellaronda constitutes one of the iconic routes.

The circuit goes around the Sella massif passing through four valleys: Val Badia, Arabba/Fodom, Val di Fassa/Fascia and Val Gardena/Gherdëina.

You need to plan for a full day and leave early enough.

Even though the total distance remains relatively modest, the ski lifts, any queues and breaks take several hours.

Cross-country skiing around San Cassiano/San Ciascian

Nordic skiing enthusiasts can reach the Armentarola cross-country ski center, near San Cassiano/San Ciascian.

The network offers approximately 25 kilometers of trails prepared for classic style and skating.

The routes cross forests and meadows at the foot of the Conturines, between approximately 1,600 and 1,700 meters altitude.

The scenery is particularly spectacular.

Winter hiking and snowshoeing

Val Badia also has an extensive network of winter trails.

The meadows of Armentara, the alpine pastures of Störes, the plateau of Pralongià and the surroundings of La Valle/La Val offer many possibilities.

A winter hike, for example, connects La Villa/La Ila to San Cassiano/San Ciascian in about 1 hour 40 minutes, with 237 meters of positive elevation gain.

From San Cassiano/San Ciascian, a hike to the Störes meadows takes a little over two hours and about 540 meters of ascent.

Trips to high-altitude areas obviously require checking snow conditions and avalanche risk.

How to reach and explore Val Badia?

The most convenient entry point from the north is Brunico/Bruneck.

By car, follow the SS244 from San Lorenzo di Sebato/St. Lorenzen. It takes approximately 30 minutes to reach San Martino in Badia/San Martin de Tor from Brunico, 40 to 45 minutes for La Valle/La Val and Badia, about an hour for La Villa/La Ila and San Cassiano/San Ciascian, and between one and one fifteen minutes for Corvara and Colfosco/Calfosch, outside of heavy traffic.

Travel times can increase considerably during peak season, particularly winter weekends and during the major summer holiday periods.

It is also possible to travel around the valley using public transport.

The bus line 460 It connects Brunico/Bruneck to the Val Badia. It serves, among other places, San Martino in Badia/San Martin de Tor, Pederoa, Badia, La Villa/La Ila, and Corvara. Depending on the timetable and seasonal extensions, connections allow travel onward to Colfosco/Calfosch and the mountain passes.

The journey between Brunico/Bruneck and Corvara takes approximately one hour twenty to one hour thirty depending on the services.

To reach Brunico/Bruneck from Bolzano/Bozen by train, you generally have to take the Brenner railway line to Fortezza/Franzensfeste and then the Val Pusteria/Pustertal line.

Rail tickets can be purchased from Trenitalia or on the integrated südtirolmobil/altoadigemobilità network for regional travel.

In summer, the open ski lifts also allow for cross-country hikes without having to return to the starting point each time. The Alta Badia Summer Card grants access to the network of lifts participating in the scheme for its validity period.

Entering Val Badia is like gradually entering the Dolomites.

There are mountain roads that immediately impress.

Val Badia offers a different experience.

From Val Pusteria/Pustertal, the valley gradually accompanies the traveler towards the high mountains.

The first forests and rural villages of San Martino in Badia/San Martin de Tor still tell the story of the agricultural mountains. viles The La Valle/La Val features bear witness to an ancient organization of the territory. The Armentara meadows extend at the foot of the first large cliffs.

Then the Dolomites take up all the space.

The Gardenaccia dominates La Villa/La Ila. The Conturines appear above San Cassiano/San Ciascian. The Sassongher watches over Corvara. The walls of the Sella rise behind Colfosco/Calfosch.

Finally come the mountain passes.

The Passo Gardena/Ju de Frara leads to Val Gardena/Gherdëina. The Passo Campolongo/Ju de Ćiaulunch opens the road to Arabba. The Passo Valparola/Ju de Valparola and the Passo Falzarego allow you to continue towards Cortina d'Ampezzo/Anpezo and the Eastern Dolomites.

Val Badia then appears for what it truly is.

A valley inhabited for centuries, which has preserved its language and much of its culture. A territory where agricultural landscapes meet some of the largest ski areas in the Alps. A succession of villages, alpine pastures, mountain huts, and peaks that allows you to gradually transition from Val Pusteria to the heart of the Dolomites.

And perhaps this is the best way to discover these mountains.

Not by arriving directly at the foot of the most famous cliffs.

But by taking the time to see them appear, village after village, at the end of the road.

Photo Credits:

Corvara winter: Zoran Kurelić Rabko, CC BY-SA 3.0 https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0, via Wikimedia Commons // https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/7/7a/Corvara%2C_Alta_Badia_-panoramamio%281%29.jpg

Colfosco: Vasile Cotovanu, CC BY 2.0 https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0, via Wikimedia Commons // https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/2/2f/Colfosco_and_Sella_group.jpg

Sella Group: Geezer Butler, CC BY-SA 2.5 https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/2.5, via Wikimedia Commons // https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/e/e7/Sella_Group.jpg

La Villa et Sassongher: No machine-readable author provided. Hejkal assumed (based on copyright claims)., CC BY-SA 3.0 http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0/, via Wikimedia Commons // https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/0/0d/La_Villa_Alta_Badia_Italy_Landscape_Photography_%28136860173%29.jpeg

Ladin territory: Karplus, CC BY-SA 4.0 https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0, via Wikimedia Commons // https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/9/9c/Comuni_e_valli_ladine.png

Lungiarù: ManfredK, CC BY-SA 4.0 https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0, via Wikimedia Commons// https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/6/65/Misci_%28Lungiar%C3%BC%29.jpg

Prati Armentara: FranTN, CC BY-SA 4.0 https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0, via Wikimedia Commons// https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/7/7b/Prati_dell%27Armentara%2C_Val_Badia._Sullo_sfondo_il_Sas_dla_Crusc.jpg

San Cassiano: Giuseppe Milo, CC BY 3.0 https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0, via Wikimedia Commons// https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/d/dd/San_Cassiano_Alta_Badia_Italy_Travel_Landscape_Photography_%28131834241%29.jpeg

Piz Boé Alta Badia: Zoran Kurelić Rabko, CC BY-SA 3.0 https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0, via Wikimedia Commons // https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/d/d8/View_from_Piz_Bo%C3%A8_to_Alta_Badia_-panoramamio%281%29.jpg

You might also be interested in these articles: