Family hikes in South Tyrol

A hidden natural spectacle reveals itself to hikers at the head of the valley called Ridnauntal: the waterfalls of the Burkhard Gorge, which can be reached by following a panoramic trail.

Starting from the mining museum in Maiern, a marked hiking track leads through shady coniferous forests alongside the Fernerbach, a babbling glacial stream. The romantic, approximately one metre wide hiking trail winds through meadows and forests, past lush mossy expanses.

The wild glacial stream tumbles over a steep precipice that is surrounded by trees and bushes. Wooden bridges lead to panoramic observation decks with breathtaking views of the bizarre Ridnaun mountains and the secretive heart of the vast gorge, enabling hikers to experience the amazing contact with the power of nature up close.

This ideal family hike leads along a comfortable forest path to the Messnerjoch hut,
from where you have a wonderful view of the surrounding mountain ranges. For the little ones there is a great children's playground and a petting zoo.

The Nature Trail Zans is accessible for wheelchairs. Fourteen sections give an insight in the flora and fauna of the Nature Park Puez-Geisler.

Hiking time: 1h 

The trail with a total length of 6.5 km goes from St. Leonhard on the left to Gomion, crosses the bridge there, and then leads to the right almost to Moos in Passeier. The trail winds along the river at water level. Halfway on, it rises in a serpentine configuration, leading through a forest and passing through a vertical wall, reaching the hamlet of Aue shortly before Moos, where the ridge again crosses the Passer river.

The trail is not suitable forpushchairs.

Short hike on the sunny side of Colle in the Val Casies Valley

Starting point: Val Casies Valley / Colle parish church (1260m)
Distance: 9,6 km
Descent: circular hike
Walking time: 02:40 h
Difficulty: facile
Difference in altitude: 139 m
Information: www.suedtirolmobil.info - Lin. 441

The mountain pasture Klammalm can be reached via Flading/Vallettina. You can either drive to the valley by car or walk across the Ratschinger Almenweg to the end of the valley. Walking time Bichl/Colle-Flading: approx. 1,5 hrs. from Flading you reach the Klammalm, following the marked trail no. 12 to the mountain pasture.
Alternative: reachable also across the Ratschinger Almenweg

The cable car Ratschings-Jaufen takes you from Bichl/Colle to the mountain station. From there you hike along the Ratschinger Almenweg to the mountain pasture Rinneralm. Alternative: visit the Mountain Adventure World Racines

The Ladurns Loop starts at the Ladurns mountain station (with dining options). The approximately 2-hour hike takes you past the Hirsch-Lacken, a biotope with two small lakes. You continue on the Dolomieu Trail until the junction to Teissljöchl/Edelweiß Hut. A short climb leads to Wastenegg, where you can enjoy a stunning panorama of the rugged Tribulaun peaks. Continuing with a gentle descent, you reach Teissljöchl and then turn left to the Edelweiß Hut, where you can rest and refuel. From here, you have two options to descend: either along the forest road marked with number 34 or along trail number 8 (starting behind the water reservoir of Ladurns), both leading back to the starting point.

Hiking and sledding fun at “Hubi”

Starting point: a) Val Casies Valley / S. Maddalena head of the valley (1465m) b) Val Casies Valley / S. Maddalena “Huiben” cottages Distance: a) 3,3 km b) 3,8 km Descent: along the ascending route Walking time: a) 01:30 - 02:00 h b) 01:15 h – 01:30 h Difficulty: a) medium b) easy Difference in altitude: a) 485 m b) 410 m Tobboganing possibility: yes / medium difficulty Information: also feasible with snowshoes or touring skis | Tip: Snowshoe hike from Calsale "Huben (limited parking available) along Pfinn stream possible (01:00 h)

For winterlovers

Starting point: Val Casies Valley / S. Maddalena head of the valley (1465m)
Distance: 0,5 km
Descent: along the ascending route
Walking time: 00:10 h
Difficulty: easy
Difference in altitude: 12m
Tobogganing possibility: no
Information: Directly at the cross country track

The hike along Wiesenweg is a pleasant circular route that takes in Schenna’s castles and farms and offers some lovely scenic viewing points where you can stop along the way. Absolutely recommended when the apple blossom is in flower in spring.

This excursion is suitable for everybody and offers a breathtaking view to the Dolomites mountains.

A short panoramic hike to the Hill of the Holy Sepulchre with its chapel as well as trenches and a bunker dating back to World War I. • Hiking time: 20 min

A relaxing stroll to the lake “Mesner Låcke” which is surrounded by a circular path with information boards about geology of the area. The path is accessible for wheelchairs and buggies!

From Sterzing, drive on the state road towards Brenner. After about 4 km, you will reach the village of Gossensass. Continue on the road for another 3 km until you reach a sharp S-curve (first a right turn, then a left turn). In the left curve, you will find an exit for the highway on the right, and right next to it, a narrow asphalted road. Follow this road for about 800 m to reach the DAX parking lot. From there, continue on foot along a forest road to the hut.

Variant:
The starting point is the Gossensass parking lot in the town center at Ibsen Square (1,098 m). From Ibsen Square, the trail leads north to the Raiffeisen Bank, where you cross the pedestrian crossing to reach the "Alte Postgasse" Alley. Then, head east, climbing uphill, passing the Aparthotel Pichler on the left. At the intersection, you will find the trail signs, and from there, Trail No. 22 leads up to the mountain hut Hühnerspielhütte (1,868 m).

Passing between two manned shelters and the picturesque Seeber See lake beneath the glacier, this hike does not require any special precautions.

Starting point: Seeber parking lot

Endpoint: Seeber parking lot

Refreshment stop: Seeber Alm pasture, Oberglaneggalm pasture 

Geo-Trail 1a is a circular trail which leads you across meadows and forests above Teis. Alongside the trail, there are information boards with information about geology and botany of the area.

Hiking fun for all ages

Starting point: Val Casies Valley / S. Maddalena head of the valley (1465m)
Distance: 3,5 km
Descent: along the ascending route
Walking time: 01:10 h
Difficulty: easy
Difference in altitude: 239 m
Tobogganing possibility: yes / easy difficulty
Information: also feasible with snowshoes or touring skis

This hike starts at the hamlet “Gasse” just before Ridnaun/Ridanna. Follow the signpost “Mareiter Stein” southwards along the asphalted road. Go past the group of farmhouses Entholz/Masi di Ento. From Entholz/Ento you go into the forest, turn right at a small stream and follow path no. 24 to a fork, where following the path no. 25B you reach the mountain pasture Kerschbaumeralm.
Alternative: reachable also starting from Pratone along the asphalted road and the gravel path.

An easy hike to the locality where Geodes of Teis are found, passing by “humming stones” and “sounding stones”.

An easy hike through larch woods and the romantic Fischleintal valley, to the very foot of the Einserkofel.

The hiking tour starts in Gasse in Ridnaun/Ridanna. You can also take the car and drive on for about 15 minutes. Turn left towards “Entholz” and at the sign to the Valtiglalm drive on about 2 kilometers until you reach a wooden bridge, where you can park your car. Then follow the path no. 26 upwards to the mountain pasture Valtiglalm.

The Alpine Pasture Hike starts at the club house (Vereinshaus) in Obertelfes/Telves di Sopra. On easy trails (marked no. 5) you climb gently for about an hour up to the first Alpine pasture, the Freundalm (refreshments available). The hike continues up on trail no. 5, and then no. 6, to the Ochsenalm (refreshments available). From there, quite a flat trail leads eastwards and in a few minutes you reach the Kuhalm (refreshments available). Descend on trail no. 5B as far as just below the Freundalm where it meets the trail you climbed upon, which you now follow back to Obertelfes.

This hike starts at the hamlet “Gasse” just before Ridnaun/Ridanna. Follow the signpost “Mareiter Stein” southwards along the asphalted road. Go past the group of farmhouses Entholz/Masi di Ento. Crossing meadows you soon reach the edge of the forest. Turn right across a stream ditch. The path leads over a forest trail with the marking no. 4A steeply up to the first mowing meadows. There is a street which leads over wavy alpine pastures to the mountain pasture Joggelealm.
Alternative: also reachable via the path no. 26 towards the mountain pasture Valtiglalm, whereby you have to turn left on path no. 24b after about half way. Also suitable as a mountain bike tour.

Family friendly hike

Starting point: Val Casies Valley / S. Maddalena head of the valley (1465m)
Distance: 3 km
Descent: along the ascending route
Walking time: 01:00 h
Difficulty: easy
Difference in altitude: 195 m
Tobogganing possibility: yes / easy difficulty
Information: also feasible with snowshoes or touring skis

Starting point is the “Old Jaufentalerweg” in Gasteig/Casateia (near the Hotel A.nett). Hike along path no. 12 towards the farm Platzerhof and the farm Gringgerhof where you follow the path up to reach the lower forest road towards Hanseleplatsch. Along the forest road and meadow paths you reach Mittertal/Val di Mezzo, where you can go directly down to the village. From here you can hike the same way back or use the public bus to return to the starting point.

Start in St. Anton/S. Antonio in Pflersch/Fleres. Follow the indications to the "Allrissalm". We arrive after an hour at the pasture.

For those looking to try a new and easy hiking trail, the route from St. Anton in Innerpflersch to the Allrissalm is ideal. The trail starts in the valley floor at 1215 m and follows the sign for "Allriss" southwards. First, you cross the river on a wide bridge and then continue on the road towards Stein/Sasso, until you reach a fork in the road where you turn left. The marked hiking trail 27 leads you along a wide forest road or the old footpath, which ascends through the steep forest slopes to the Allrissalm at 1534 m, where you’ll find a cozy place to rest.

The trail is perfect for families and is also suitable for strollers or bicycles. With an ascent time of about one hour and a 45-minute descent, this hike offers a simple yet beautiful nature experience. The Allriss Alm is a great opportunity to relax and enjoy traditional, delicious dishes – a perfect spot for a relaxing break during your outing.

The pasture trail Ratschings/Racines starts at the road "Jaufenpassstraße" and leads through fantastic landscape past seven mountain pastures. First you reach the mountain pasture Kalcheralm, from there it goes further to the Rinneralm and to the Wasserfalleralm. Along the already existing walking trail it proceeds towards the Saxnerhütte. The next mountain pastures are the Äussere and the Innere Wumblsalm. The trail ends finally at the Klammalm on 1925 meters of altitude, from which you can reach Flading on the marked path no. 12. The pasture trail can be easily manageable in a one-day excursion and is ideal for families. It is also possible to take the cable car Ratschings-Jaufen to the mountain station, from where you can start the pasture trail.

“Feel nature” – is literally the aim of the ca. 400m long barefoot path at Ratschings/Racines. Barefoot through nature, feeling fully aware different materials, like grass, sand, pebbles, marble of Ratschings, wood in all types and the natural forest soil and its quality. Try out the difference between rough and pleasant materials, the equilibration by balancing and enjoy a natural foot reflexology at the Kneipp-route at the river Ratschingerbach with hot stones and cold water. Walk barefoot is a sensual pleasure for old and young and provides significant health benefits, stimulates the organism and our immune system.