This is a tour of superlatives, with awesome panoramic views, taking you to the best lookout summit in the breathtaking "South of South Tyrol."
In order to climb the Monte Roen, you'll have to overcome about 1,800 meters of altitude differential in a single go. The first intermediate goal is the Mendel Pass. From Kaltern / Caldaro, the Pass Road goes first through the forest, and later over a narrow ribbon of road carved heroically into the side of the mountain, all the way to the pass (at an elevation of 1,363 meters above sea-level). When taking this route, you can enjoy the first sublime views over Kaltern, the Etsch / Adige Valley, and Lake Caldaro.
If you'd rather forgo the Pass Road, you can instead take the Mendel funicular up to the pass. This saves you 850 meters of altitude differential. (You can find out everything you need about prices and schedules at: kaltern.com/de/die-mendelbahn-in-kaltern.html)
At the Mendel Pass, you'll leave the road. Now it's time to brace yourself as you enter a world of stunning panoramic views and high adventure! A gravel road will first take you up to the Halbweg Hut. From here on out, the trail becomes a bit wilder. The path up to the Malga Romeno is crisscrossed with tree roots, and the grade will be a challenge to your calves. If it's your intention to continue on to the summit, you'll need either a powerful electro-motor and perfect technical skills. Or you'll have to dismount and push your bike up the trail – maybe after stopping for a breather and taking refreshments at the alpine rest-stop. In any event, you shouldn't "stress out" over this segment. Instead, you simply relax and enjoy the natural grandeur.
The closer you come to the summit, the more often you will be treated to terrific 360-degree panoramas. When you reach the cross at the summit, you'll be blown back by the fantastic view: The whole chain of the Dolomites, including the Schlern / Sciliar, the incomparable Rose Garden, and Latemar to the east and the Brenta and the glacier region of the Ortler in the west. And a beautiful vista of the provincial capital of Bozen / Bolzano like you were sitting in an airplane. And to wind things up, you can enjoy a superlative descent at the border ridge between the Etsch / Adige Valley and the Non Valley. This starts off on open alpine meadows at the summit and later takes you along an easy trail to the Grauner Joch.
Now it's time to depart the Non Valley to the right and take the forest trail down to the road to Altenburg. Once you arrive there, you really ought to pay a visit to the chapel there and enjoy the splendid view of Lake Caldaro from the lookout balcony. The trail will now lead through the forest to the St. Anton Sports Center. The cherry on top of this gigantic tour is the fun trail in the forest until you start to pass by the first houses. And now you will finally enter the heart of Kaltern / Caldaro, where you can stop and treat yourself to a glass of delicious wine at the central market square. After this epic adventure, you've earned it!
Variants: The Mendel / Mendola funicular will save you 850 meters of altitude differential with your bike. If you use the funicular to get to the pass, you can consider combinations with the "Penegal" or "Malga Romeno" tour.
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