Introduction

Sometimes the best trips are the ones you don’t plan yourself.

I was invited by a friend to join a small hiking trip on April 11th, 2026. What convinced me was not only the idea of spending time together, but also the destination: a place I didn’t really know.

Despite having visited many areas in the Dolomites during my years as a rock climber, this part of Val Badia was new to me. And that made all the difference.

Getting There Without a Car

One of the most interesting aspects of this trip was the journey itself.

We decided to travel entirely by public transport. Thanks to the daily ticket in the province of Bolzano, we took a train to Chiusa, then continued with the local Val Badia railway to San Lorenzo, and finally reached San Cassiano by bus.

Every time I travel in Alto Adige, I am positively surprised by the efficiency and capillarity of public transport.

This way of traveling changes how you experience the mountains: instead of being forced into a loop to return to your car, you can do a traverse. This small detail opens up many more possibilities.

There is also something deeply relaxing about it:
you sit, look outside, chat, and let the landscape flow by. No stress, no driving, no parking.

Of course, there is a trade-off. Public transport takes more time and requires planning (I am very thankful to my friend for organizing everything). It slightly reduces the time available for hiking.

The Hike to Rifugio Santa Croce

We started from San Cassiano and hiked up to Rifugio Santa Croce, before descending towards La Villa.

The refuge is not just a single building, but a small complex, including a church. Two of the paths follows a Via Crucis, ending right at the rifugio, which adds a cultural and historical layer to the hike.

Even though it was April and we were around 2000 meters, snow was surprisingly scarce. It was mostly limited to shaded areas.

The hike itself is not particularly demanding. In about 3–4 hours, we completed the route and returned in time to catch the bus.

But what truly defines this place is the landscape.

The valley is wide and open, crossed by a river, and surrounded by impressive rock walls that dominate the view.

A Missing Camera — and a Reason to Return

Unfortunately, I didn’t have my camera with me.

Right now, I don’t even have one — my Canon R50 is broken. And this trip made me feel that absence more than ever.

This is a valley I want to explore again. Slowly.

Not only to capture the large-scale landscapes, but also the details:
the river morphology, the geomorphological features, the structure of the valley itself.

I would like to observe it more carefully. Maybe next time, with a new camera.

Final Thoughts

This trip reminded me of something simple:

The way you reach a place is part of the experience.

Traveling by public transport, walking through a new valley, and sharing the day with friends — all of this made the hike more meaningful.

It was not a difficult hike.
It was not a remote expedition.

But it was memorable.

And sometimes, that is exactly what you need.