Detroit to the Dolomites: Key Takeaways from Hiking in the Italian Alps
- Dan Cooke
- Aug 29
- 12 min read
Buongiorno, Detroit! Team Expedition Detroit recently returned from hiking the famous "Alta Via 1" trail through the Italian Dolomites. Here's our summary of 4 key takeaways from hiking in the Italian Alps that could - and should - be applied to Detroit's outdoors.
"Ah, now this I've seen before."
I closed my eyes for a few moments as I entered a stretch of trail shaded by towering pine trees. My ears tuned in to the gentle crunch of freshly-fallen pine needles under my boots. The warming morning sun baked the branches above me, remitting an intoxicating aroma of cedar and sap.
I reopened my eyes, and for a moment I home in the Detroit region. Our parks boast an abundance of forested trails adorned with towering pine trees, whose needles in turn blanket our rolling trails. That stretch of trail could've easily been Brighton's famous Penosha Trail, Pinckney's celebrated Crooked Lake Trail, or especially Proud Lake's Expedition Loop.
Then, without warning, the forest cleared around me - giving way to stunning, dramatic alpine vistas for as far as the eye could see.
"Okay. This is a little different."
Here at Expedition Detroit, our core belief is that the Detroit region is a world-class outdoor destination worth exploring, celebrating, and protecting. We infuse that belief within every aspect of our business model, proclaim it within every media feature, and will continue to reverberate it across our platform until the outdoor community universally accepts it as objective truth.
This strategy is working. Michigan's outdoor recreation destinations, and especially those within the Detroit region, have received notable media attention over the past few years. The forthcoming opening of the Gordie Howe International Bridge - which will provide a ground-breaking international link for pedestrians and cyclists between the Detroit and Windsor trail systems - will further rev up Detroit's recreational motor.
Detroit's outdoor economy is undoubtedly headed in the right direction. That being said, we'd be foolish not to continue learning and adopting best practices from well-established outdoor destinations. Exhibit A, the Italian Dolomites: a UNESCO World Heritage destination this is regarded as one of the most attractive mountain landscapes in the world. Rich in history, natural beauty, rigorous terrain, and world-class hospitality amenities, the Dolomites region represents a cornerstone component of Italy's $273 billion tourism industry.
We inundated ourselves in the splendor of the Italian Alps while trekking the Alta Via 1 trail. Along the way, members of Team Expedition Detroit scribbled a few bite-size lessons from the Dolomites that Detroit's outdoor economy should implement as our industry grows.
Without further delay, here are Expedition Detroit's 4 key takeaways gathered from hiking in the Italian Alps for the Detroit region.
1. AGE IS JUST A NUMBER
Outdoor enthusiasts of all ages and backgrounds should feel at home on the trail
The Alta Via 1 is most definitely not a walk in the park. Consisting of 75 miles from Dobbiaco in the North to Belluno in the South, the classic route through the Dolomites showcases 9 "segments" of varying difficulty and typically takes 6 - 10 days to complete. For our group, the most challenging segment was Stage 3: an ~8 mile trek with 3,533 feet of elevation gain from Rifugio Fanes to Rifugio Lagazuoi, the highest point of the entire Alta Via 1.
It was a heart-pounding, "the way is through" type of segment. One that pushed several members of our very experienced crew to their limits, despite all of us having the immense fortunate of being in good physical health and in our 20s/30s.
Once at the summit of Lagazuoi, we had a bird's eye, 9,301 ft. view of everyone else conquering the challenging stage of the trail. What we saw was remarkable - one by one, trekkers of all ages and backgrounds made their way, step by hard-fought step, towards the summit. From young children to the elderly, our crew was consistently impressed by the broad range of hikers that were not only completing the Alta Via 1, but doing so confidently in both physical ability and spirit.
Detroit Region Application
Michigan as a whole, and the Detroit region specifically, is enjoying a massive boost in outdoor recreation participation. In 2024, Michigan's outdoor participation demographics saw the following increases:
Children (ages 6-12): +5.6%
Seniors (65+): +7.4%
Black Americans: +11.2%
Hispanic Americans: +14.5% (highest on record)
Across the United States, 66% of households with children participated in outdoor recreation (another record), and more than 23 million seniors opted to recreate outdoors - surpassing younger adults for the first time. The most popular recreational activities across all demographics were hiking (63 million), cycling (58 million), running (56 million), fishing (54 million) and camping (53 million).
As witnessed firsthand in the Dolomites, all of these trends can - and should - continue as the Detroit region continues to develop its outdoor infrastructure. All that's required on our end is consistent dedication to developing resources and amenities for all ages and backgrounds of outdoor enthusiasts.
Fortunately for all of us, leading organizations like Heart of the Lakes, Michigan Recreation & Park Association, and Michigan Trails & Greenways Alliance have already identified the following key action items for doing so:
(1) Prioritize accessible and inclusive programming, especially for families and underrepresented groups.
(2) Highlight sustainable recreation and environmental stewardship, as eco-conscious values increasingly influence consumer behavior.
(3) Design retail and outreach strategies that resonate with casual participants looking for balance, connection, and community - not just performance.
2. THE CHARM OF THE RIFUGIO
Investing in welcoming - and aesthetic - accommodations will attract tourists
In today's recreational world, everyone has their own definition of what constitutes "camping." For years, my definition consisted of packing all of your gear, food, and water into a 65L backpack, trekking out into the woods, and finding the most beautiful, isolated, and dry spot to set up shop. Others prefer driving to an established campground, followed by either pitching a tent or unloading the RV.
On the far ends of the "camping spectrum" are "ultralight" backpacking and "glamping," and even those extremes have a massive range of divergence. While on the Alta Via 1, your only option (camping is illegal) is "glamping" at the rifugios - alpine huts that periodically dot the Dolomites with warm beds, hot Italian meals, and plenty wine to last well into quiet hours.
The rifugios are far from just mandatory accommodations. For our crew, staying at the rifugios was one of the main draws to hiking the Alta Via 1 in the first place. Beyond trading the tent and dried camp food for warm beds and home cooked meals, several of the rifugios featured hot showers, saunas, gelato, adjacent towns or breweries, free breakfasts, stunning views, and lively conversation from personnel and guests from all over the world. No matter how difficult a day's hike had been, the sight of a rifugio perched high up on a mountain or deep in a valley immediately raised our spirits.
The Alta Via 1: Come for the Dolomites, stay for the rifugios.
Detroit Region Application
Michigan is in the process of reinventing itself as the "Great Trails State," including the ongoing development of more than 12,500 miles of designated land trails and over 4,280 miles of water trails. Detroit's establishment as the capital of the Great Trails State is also in process, as evidenced by the city's heavy investment in trail infrastructure projects like the Detroit Riverwalk, Iron Belle Trail, Joe Louis Greenway, and Gordie Howe International Bridge.
We at Expedition Detroit are ecstatic about each of these transformative trail projects. That being said, our region should also take a page from the Alta Via's playbook and invest in trail accommodations. No, not copy-and-paste roadside hotels - we're talking about rifugio-esque trailside destinations that leave a lasting impression on their recreationist guests.
Practically speaking, there are several "Pure Michigan Trail Towns" in the Detroit region - like the Village of Milford and Lake Orion - that do not contain any hotel options for visiting trail users. There are also several stretches of the Iron Belle Trail in southeast Michigan that do not appear to have immediate, trailside access to camp grounds or thru-hiker friendly hotels.
Put differently, the Detroit region has an unprecedented opportunity to further establish itself as a world-class outdoor destination by investing in unforgettable trailside accommodations for its recreational tourists. This is essential for developing our trail system beyond simple day-use capacity, as well as continuing to innovate within our region's outdoor tourism industry.
3. HISTORY INSPIRES RECREATION
Regional history should coincide with recreational infrastructure
"Hey Mike, what does that sign say?" I called out between heavy breaths as we neared the Lagazuoi summit of the Alta Via 1.
"It says that these were the front line trenches of the Austrian alpine division," came the response."
This was remarkable for two reasons. First, we were standing at over 9,000 feet of elevation - an absolutely insane altitude for fighting a major armed conflict. Second, seeing as we started the Alta Via firmly in what was once historically Austrian territory, every step from here would, slowly but surely, become more Italian. We had trekked to the de facto border between nations, as defined in machine gun-lined trenches, following the routes that military supply lines had glazed just over a century prior.
For history buffs like myself, getting the opportunity to hike along the Lagazuoi Front of World War I was a bucket list-worthy experience. From October 15, 1915 until November 1, 1917, the Austrian and Italian armies battled for the strategic importance of the surrounding peaks. Ultimately, the natural fortifications that the mountains provided led to both sides building encampments and tunnels directly into Mt. Lagazuoi. The Austrians ultimately outlasted the Italians, reclaiming the front for the remainder of the war following the Austrian/German victory in the nearby Battle of Caporetto.
Fast forward 108 years after the last shot was fired, Lagazuoi has transformed itself not only into a world-class hiking and skiing destination, but also an open-air museum dedicated to preserving WWI history. Aside from placards and educational materials housed within Lagazuoi's gondola welcome center, the most engaging aspect of visiting the mountain is actually hiking through the tunnels that were utilized by both sides during the war. Hiking the "Tunnel Trail" out-and-back comprises of a heart-pumping and education-filled 3.3 mile trail with 2,391 feet of elevation gain.
Talk about the perfect fusion of adventure, recreation, and history.
Detroit Region Application
Back on the homefront, the Detroit region's outdoors similarly host notable historical trails - including several utilized during war. Most notably, Southeast Michigan's sole National Park site is River Raisin National Battlefield Park, the site of the bloodiest battle ever fought on Michigan soil during the War of 1812. The modern site has a preserved battlefield (with a 1 mile easy hiking trail through it) and a pristine visitor center, as well as other historic markers in the general vicinity.
In comparison to what we experienced at Lagazuoi, however, our region could do so much more to protect, promote, and harness the historic significance of the Battle of River Raisin.
For example, the events surrounding the Battle of River Raisin comprised far more than its namesake conflict occurring on January 18th - 22nd, 1813. Beginning with the surrender of Fort Detroit roughly 6 months prior, troop movements along the western bank of Lake Erie saw the United Sates mobilize 666 Kentuckians and 100 French-speaking Michigan militiamen towards Frenchtown (modern day Monroe). The "First Battle" occurred on January 18th as little more than a skirmish, but resulting in a U.S. victory. The "Second Battle" - which was really a massacre - occurred the morning of January 22nd, resulting in heavy American losses.
The Great Lakes Theater of the War of 1812 did not finish on that fateful January morning. In fact, the rallying cry "Remember the Raisin!" fueled an American military response. The United States swiftly recaptured the Fort of Detroit following the Battle of Lake Erie on September 10th, 1813, and thereafter liberated Frenchtown on September 27th. The campaign even pushed into Ontario, culminating in an American victory at the Battle of the Thames on October 5th that effectively ended the Great Lakes Theater.
In our view, there are two main takeaways from Lagazuoi vis-a-vis River Raisin:
The Detroit region also contains significant historical sites, including specifically battlefield destinations; and
We as a region could do a much better job of integrating those sites into our recreational framework.
Especially with the international recreational opportunities soon to be available to our region via the Gordie Howe International Bridge, we could envision a new "Great Lakes Theater" trail that connects each of the battleground sites mentioned above. Stretching from the banks of the Maumee River to Chatham-Kent, Ontario, this trail would provide not only a unique recreational opportunity for international visitors to our corner of the Great Lakes, but also an engaging means of promoting active learning of our region's often looked-over history.
4. SEARCH AND RESCUE REMAINS A RECREATIONAL NECESSITY
Well-trained - and well-funded - search and rescue forces must remain a staple of recreational growth
What started as a gentle hum - nothing more than the wind whistling through the jagged ravines - gradually grew to the industrial roar of a bright yellow helicopter.
We had only arrived to our first rifugio, the gorgeous Rifiguio Biella, a few short hours before. We settled in to our bunk rooms, changed into our "Hut Clothes," and were wrapping up a warm evening of card games and welcome drinks. A home-cooked meal and locally-vinified wine should have provided an idyllic end to a fairytale day in the Dolomites.
Then the whispers of a missing hiker started to permeate the rifugio, followed closely by the concerned glances of its staff. A group of stern Italians in brightly-colored clothing confirmed that the Cortina Alpine Rescue was on-site. The roar of the helicopter verified that a full-blown search and rescue operation had begun.
I regret to write that this story ends in tragedy. The body of the missing hiker was eventually found utilizing thermal imaging from the helicopter's cameras. According to the official report, she had sadly lost her way on the Croda del Becco trail and fell ~300 feet - most likely before the first missing person call even had the chance to be placed.
Our hearts and prayers still go out to the family and friends of the hiker. In full transparency, the rest of our trek along the Alta Via 1 was shaded by the reality that nature, although immaculately beautiful, will always remain unconquerable and worthy of the utmost respect. Any hike has the capacity to range from a life-changing, amazing experience to a life-threatening, search-and-rescue demanding emergency.
And when the latter hits, you want the best coming to your rescue.
That's what we witnessed in Italy. Even in spite of the difficulty of their mission, the Cortina Alpine Rescue displayed excellence in their composure, equipment, and execution of the mission. According the official report, a "search operation was immediately launched with personnel and equipment, including helicopters and drones with thermal imaging cameras, continuing through the night and resuming at first light with overflights and patrols, including with dog units."
On behalf of Team Expedition Detroit, we applaud the Cortina Alpine Rescue for their tireless efforts in searching for and locating the missing hiker.
Detroit Region Application
Michigan's outdoor recreation industry continues to expand at a rapid pace, both in terms of economic value and participation. Following national trends of outdoor participation metrics, Michigan in 2024 experienced hundreds of thousands of new participants - especially youth (ages 6-12) and seniors (ages 65+). As a whole this is fantastic news for our industry.
On the other hand, it should raise a flag of caution for our search and rescue capacity.
When we at Expedition Detroit were navigating the application process to lead our guided outdoor trips, we were pleasantly surprised by the enthusiasm that the Michigan DNR exhibited towards our planned operations.
"We're just excited to get extra eyes out there on the trails," I recall one Park Supervisor saying. "People get lost more often than you'd think, so having your guides out there - especially during your night hikes - will be a real value-add to the DNR."
From a business perspective, that was fantastic to hear. We were ecstatic to have the early support of the DNR, and have continued to value our professional relationship with the department.
From a general safety perspective, that was obviously alarming to hear back in 2023. Fast forward to 2025 - with Michigan's exploding participation rate of young and aging adventurers, plus economic restraints on the DNR's budget - this a foremost concern that needs to be addressed.
Disasters don't only happen in alpine wildernesses like the Dolomites. The DNR and Michigan State Police have conducted several high-profile search and rescue missions so far in 2025, including saving hypothermic campers in Roscommon, stranded hikers near Higgins Lake, a hypothermic angler in the AuSable River, a woman with dementia that became stranded in a Waverly Township swamp, and a man (also with dementia) that got lost in Dodge Park in Sterling Heights (also utilizing thermal imaging).
Fortunately, all of the aforementioned rescues resulted in successful recoveries. As an outdoor community, we should do everything in our power to make this the prevailing trend - which requires funding. The Department of Natural Resources currently receives just 0.5% of the state’s general fund budget, while much of the rest of its $534.5 million budget comes from user fees like the sale of hunting and fishing licenses.
The financial situation, to put it bluntly, is dire. In the words of State Senator John Cherry, D-Flint, "We can shut down hatcheries. We can reduce the level of conservation work that we’re doing. We can stop providing the great access we have to public lands. Or we can work on addressing the revenue situation that exists for conservation."
This article does not contain the magic answer to the DNR's revenue problem, unfortunately. Budget proposals are currently considering raising the price of various fishing and hunting license fees and requiring Michigan drivers to purchase a parks pass when registering their vehicle, with no opportunity to opt out. Those may proposals may help, but regardless we must continue to prioritize public safety in our outdoor spaces as a top fiscal item.
The literal and figurative livelihood of our outdoor economy depends on it.
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