The Best Hikes in Alta Badia & via Ferrata

The Best Hikes & Via Ferrata in Alta Badia | The Dolomites Travel Guide

Alta Badia is one of the best places to stay in the Dolomites for hiking. It is nestled right in the heart of the South Tyrol region between some of the most beautiful and iconic mountain groups – Fanes, Sella and Puez. There’s an abundance of gorgeous towns, rugged mountains and rolling alpine meadows, and it is only a short drive from the famous region of Val Gardena. In short, if you stay in Alta badia you will have an abundance of top notch hiking trails and climbing routes right on your doorstep, and in this guide I am going to share the very best ones for you to try.

The Practicalities:

Where to Stay:

The main villages in Alta Badia are Corvara, Colfosco, La Villa and Badia. These all have a range of hotels and airbnbs at various price points, but from my personal experience my top choices would be:

Hotel Cristallo for a more luxurious spa hotel experience with incredible views.
Hotel Pradat for a more affordable hotel with modern interiors and spa facilities.
La Scalira if you’re looking for a more traditional alpine stay but still want the little comforts.

When to Visit:

I recommend visiting between late June to early October, September is ideal as it has more stable weather and slightly less crowds.

Getting There:

There are plenty of direct flights into Innsbruck or Venice, from there you can rent a car and drive into the mountains.

Prices:

Like the majority of places in the Dolomites during summer – Alta Badia isn’t exactly cheap, but you can save money by buying food at the supermarket and taking your own packed meals instead of dining out.

How Long to Stay:

I would recommend around 5 days in the region, but if you can only explore for a long weekend you will still get to enjoy some of the best hikes and scenery in the Dolomites.

The Best Hikes in Alta Badia

Distance: 11km

Elevation Gain: 1200m

Difficulty: Very Challenging

Trail Map: Here

This challenging loop hike is one of my favourites as it takes in some of the most incredible views of the Sella group. It ascends up past Rifugio Pisciadu to Pisciadu peak, before looping back down (a great opportunity to grab some lunch in the mountain hut) and then over towards Passo Gardena.

I recommend doing this hike in an anti-clockwise direction and only tackling it if you’re strong, sure-footed and not afraid of heights.

Distance: 6.5km

Elevation Gain: 416m

Difficulty: Moderate

Trail Map: Here

Piz Boe is the highest peak in the Sella Massif and one of the easiest 3000m summits to conquer in the Dolomites, so why not tick it off? After catching a cable car there is a short hike and scramble, with some sections assisted by cables, to the summit. At the top you will be rewarded with breathtaking views over the surrounding mountains. Plus there's plenty of rifugios along the way where you can stop and refuel.

Distance: 9.7km

Elevation Gain: 971m

Difficulty: Challenging

Trail Map: Here

If you’re staying in Corvara, you simply need to conquer Sassongher peak! It looms tall over the village and looks exceptionally beautiful. The trail climbs up out of the valley, scaling the side of the mountain and eventually summiting it – with the use of some cables and light scrambling. A head for heights will come in useful! If your legs are a little tired, you can also make this hike easier by getting a cable car part of the way up.

Distance: 15.3km

Elevation Gain: 558m

Difficulty: Moderate

Trail Map: Here

This trail is one of my personal favourites in the Dolomites, it will give you some absolutely incredible views of the Odle Massif, as well pass by as a couple of small but beautiful lakes. Catch a cable car up to the start of the hike and loop around to Rifugio Puez, passing by some of the best scenery in the region. Make sure you carry enough water as there aren't a lot of huts along the route.

Distance: 16.4km

Elevation Gain: 1000m

Difficulty: Moderate

Trail Map: Here

This hike is a thirty minute drive away and provides something a little different. It is a loop that circles around the whole Sassolungo mountain group giving stunning views of the surrounding valleys and peaks, and it passes by numerous mountain huts where you can stop for a bite to eat. I know this hike has 1000m of elevation gain, but I would rate it as moderate as it has undulating terrain rather than one brutal climb which makes it a lot more achievable.

Note: An alternative route (which I would highly recommend) would be to ride the “coffin” cable car from the start point up to Toni Demetz mountain hut, from here you can hike down the other side of the mountain and join the circuit hike – turning left when you meet the main loop trail.

Distance: 12.9km

Elevation Gain: 650m

Difficulty: Moderate to Challenging

Trail Map: Here

This trail explores the Northern part of the Odle group, circling around the Sass de Putia peak with the option to summit it (I recommend bringing via ferrata gear if that's your plan!). The loop is a little steep in areas, but you will be rewarded with gorgeous panoramas and I recommend tackling it in a counterclockwise direction to get non-stop views the whole way around.

Distance: 12.5km
Elevation Gain: 800m
Difficulty: Moderately Challenging
Trail Map: Here

Alta Badia is within reach of Val di Funes, but instead of doing the busy Adolf Munkel hike over there - try this quieter route instead. It loops from the valley up to Rifugio Genova, a great spot for lunch, before climbing to the summit of Col di Poma for phenomenal views. I've actually made you a custom map which loops you round into the neighbouring valley on your way down, because the views on the way through there will absolutely blow your mind. Enjoy!

The Best Via Ferrata in Alta Badia

If you’re like me and enjoy adding a few via ferrata climbs into your adventures, then here are my recommended routes in the region:

Gran Cir – A beginner friendly via ferrata which can easily be completed (including approach & descent) in under two hours.

Small Cir – An intermediate via ferrata which is a great route to prepare you for longer and more challenging climbs.

Brigata Tridentina – A moderately hard via ferrata with incredible views and fun features like a suspension bridge. It is the most famous one in the region, so arrive early in the morning (pre 6am) to avoid some of the crowds.

Sass Rigais – A moderately hard via ferrata with stunning views from the summit of the highest peak of the Geisler group. It gets less traffic than other climbs due to the longer approach.

Osker Schuster – A more challenging but beautiful via ferrata which ascends through the peaks of the Sassolungo group – one of my favourites.

Top tips: You can rent via ferrata kit from the multitude of sports shops in the local towns. I use the website Ferrata365 to plan my climbs.