Alta Badia

Snowshoe hike from San Cassiano to Badia

Medium

This easy hike starts in San Cassiano and goes through snow-covered meadows, pastureland and woods, passes along the feet of the Sas dla Crusc/Sasso di Santa Croce and presents wonderful views of the Marmolada, Sella massif, Puez and Sass de Putia.

The unspoiled scenery and glimpses of game such as chamois and roe deer make this hike an unforgettable experience.

*By car

• Coming from Innsbruck: take the A 13 and the A 22 toll motorway and exit at Bressanone/Brixen, following the signs to Brunico/Bruneck along the Val Pusteria/Pustertal road as far as San Lorenzo/St.Lorenzen. Follow the signs to Val Badia/Gadertal 
• Coming from Verona-Bolzano: take the A 22, exit at Bressanone/Brixen and continue as above

*By train

The nearest train stations are:

• Brunico - 37 Km
• Bolzano (via Passo Gardena) - 72 Km (via Brunico) – 100 Km
• Connection train station – Alta Badia by the local bus SAD: www.sad.it

*By air

• Innsbruck - 130 km
• Munich – 330 km
• Venice Treviso / Venice Marco Polo – 180 / 200 km
• Verona – 213 km
• Milan Bergamo / Milan Malpensa - 310 /400 km
• Information airport transfer: www.suedtirolbus.it - www.cortinaexpress.it

From the village square in San Cassiano head east on trail no. 15 and gently uphill to the Maso Larjëi farm.

Walking through a larch wood, you come to the hamlet of Rüdeferia and continue northwards to the edge of the forest. Soon you cross mountain trail number 12 coming up from La Villa towards the Forcela Lavarela passage. Continue walking in the same direction up quite a steep incline.

Passing through the Alpine forest, you reach the pilgrimage site of La Crusc/Santa Croce (2045 m) (walking time: approx. 2 hours 20 minutes), at the feet of the mighty, sheer rock face of the Sasso di Santa Croce, from where you can enjoy a magnificent panoramic view.

For the descent from La Crusc/Santa Croce to Badia there is the possibility to take the La Crusc 2 chair lift and the La Crusc 1 cable car. 

Alternatively, from Santa Croce, head down on trail no. 13, which passes beneath the Santa Croce Church, towards La Villa. After 1.5 km (approx. 20 minutes), you come to a fork. Here take the right on trail no. 7B, initially through trees and then across meadows, until, after about 40 minutes, you reach the hamlet of Oies.

In Oies you can visit the birthplace of St Josef Freinademetz. Take trail no. 13A to the bus stop in Badia.