Snowshoe hiking in South Tyrol is a great way to experience untouched nature, spectacular Dolomite views and the joy of being active. Family-friendly snowshoe tours along gentle hillsides await holidaymakers, as do steep ascents to Alpine peaks or hikes to cosy mountain huts. Suggestions for the best snowshoe hikes in South Tyrol are available here.
Panoramic snowshoe tour passing by the Aschtalm hut
Starting point: Val Casies / S. Maddalena head of the valley (1465m)
Distance: 7,5 km
Descent: along the ascending route
Walking time: 04:00 h
Difficulty: difficult
Difference in altitude: 687 m
Panoramic snowshoe escursion over the Sarner Scharte peak to the Rittner Horn
The entrance to the Langental valley is located in Selva Gardena and runs through a pleasant walking and hiking path with views of the Stevia massif and the walls of the Puezgruppe on the left, as well as the Chedul Mountains and Col Turond on the right. Along the path you can find the mystical Silester Chapel.
Walking along snowy meadows, through romantic larch forests in winter silence - all you can hear is the crunching of your feet. Follow the well-marked and traced path and discover the beauty of the rear Schnalstal Valley. Depending on the snow situation, snowshoes are recommended.
The ample meadows on the Cresta di Luson-Lüsner Kamm plateau offer a never-ending choice of hiking routes. This particularly stunning one from the hamlet Elle-Ellen up to Cima Lasta-Astjoch (2147 m) boasts a number of unrivalled panoramic views. The hike/snow-shoe hike is among the most rewarding in this part of South Tyrol: The views from the peak out onto the surrounding mountains are simply unforgettable.
With snow shoes from S. Maddalena to S. Martino
Starting point: Val Casies / S. Maddalena head of the valley (1465m)
Distance: 3,8 km
Descent: with public transportation
Walking time: 02:00 h
Difficulty: easy
Difference in altitude: 110 m
Snowshoe tour: The “Gsieser Törl” – over centuries a strategic passage for man and beast: pilgrims, smugglers, pedlars, hunters, shepherds, as well as the odd lover…
Starting point: Head of the valley in St. Magdalena in the Gsieser Valley 1465 m
Descent: back via the ascent route, from Kradorfer Alm left turn is also possible
Hiking time: 2 ½ hours
Level of difficulty: moderate to difficult; technical difficulties are minor; but last part of the climb is steep
Altitude difference: 745 m
The untouched Lagauntal, one of the most beautiful valleys in South Tyrol, and the mountain pasture Bergl are also a popular place of excursions in winter. You hike through a snowy, idyllic high mountain landscape with extensive larch forests.
The Fundres/Pfunders massif offers a wide range of hiking options with anything from soft-rolling hills to steep slopes leading up to craggy peaks. Gorgeous excursions for both summer-time hikers and winter sports fans – all topped off by breath-taking 360° panoramic views.
Snowshoe tour with a panoramic view
Starting point: Val Casies Valley/ Colle Hotel Stoll (1255m)
Distance: 5 km
Descent: along the ascending route
Walking time: 03:0 h
Difficulty: difficult
Difference in altitude: 733 m
At the entrance to the Münstertal valley lies the Tellakopf, a pleasant hiking peak that is also ideal for an easy ski tour. This rewarding tour destination offers breathtaking views of the Vinschgau Valley, the Münstertal Valley, the Ötztal Alps and the Ortler Mountains.
A beautiful winter hiking tour on the Lauzaun plateau (2,430 m. a.s.l). Here you are rewarded with a fantastic view of several 3,000 m peaks.
The mountain pasture Lafetz lies on 2,015 m a.s.l in the middle of a magnificent natural landscape. There you will be rewarded with an exclusive view of the Similaun, the Ötztal Alps and the place of discovery Ötzi.
The classic Val Casies Valley ski and snowshoe hike through the Pfoital and to the Hochkreuzspitze
Starting point: Head of the valley in St. Magdalena in the Gsieser Valley 1465 m
Hiking time: 4 ½ hours
Level of difficulty: moderate – difficult; for average skiers, the route offers a wide and open terrain with only a few steep slopes that only require extra caution following fresh snow
Altitude difference: 1274 m
Slope exposure: southwest
Hiking along white meadows, past over ancient farmsteads, in the midst of winter silence - all you can hear is the crunching of your feet. Follow the well-marked and prepared winter hiking trail in Madonna di Senales. Depending on the snow situation, snowshoes are recommended.
Superb hiking options along the ample ridge leading up to Monte Sommo-Sambock and a singular 360° view down onto Brunico-Bruneck, the Dolomites and the Zillertal Alps.
Tranquil low mountain hike – clockwise through meadows and woods of the Taistner Unterrain
Starting point: crossroad 100 m after the Hotel Alpen Tesitin in Taisten
Altitude difference: 260 m
Hiking time: 2 to 3 hours
Level of difficulty: easy and ideal terrain for snowshoe hiking
Important: Orientation in forest difficult when leaving marked path
Please note: this is only a snowshoe hike
Rest point: mountain restaurant Mudler Hof
With a view towards the Dolomites
Starting point: parking lot at Tesido above the Mudler mountain farm (1620m)
Distance: 6,1 km
Descent: circular hike
Walking time: 04:00 h
Difficulty: medium
Difference in altitude: 525 m
Information: also feasible with touring skis
A beautiful panorama tour across the Aschtalm, Pfinnhütten, Pfinnscharte and Hoher Mann
Starting point: Head of the valley in St. Magdalena in the Val Caises Valley (1465 m)
Descent: back via the ascent route
Hiking time: ca. 3 ½ hours
Level of difficulty: easy ski mountain that requires some endurance
Altitude difference: 1100 m
Slope exposure: south + east
This hike takes you past Totenkirchl Chapel and picturesque Totensee Lake to the peaks of Villandro (Villanderer) Mountain.
The mountain pasture Mastaun is also temporarily managed in winter. It is located in the high mountain valley of the same name, the Maustaun Valley, and belongs to the farmstead Mastaunhof, which is one of the largest farms in the Schnalstal Valley in terms of area. There are some indications that several centuries ago the mountain pasture was still a farm that was inhabited all year round.
According to oral tradition, after the dissolution of the Carthusian monastery of Allerengelsberg in 1782, the farmed Alpine pastures of Klosteralm at 2,152 m became the property of a number of families in Certosa/Karthaus who set up a syndicate which has thirty members today. The farm was only accessible by a narrow mountain path until a transport cable car was built in 1959. Thanks to the avalanche barrier beneath the Kreuzspitze, a road link was provided as an “ancillary benefit”. Due to its steep and stony pastures, the farm has been used almost exclusively as a typical farm for young cattle.
The snowshoe hike begins at the Schwarzseespitze, the mountain station of the Bergbahn Rittner Horn cable car.
Route: take trail no. 19 to the Unterhornhaus inn and continue on the gently ascending trail to the highest point, the Rittner Horn, which is especially popular in winter due to the many hours of sunshine that can be enjoyed here.
Tip: travel from Bolzano/Bozen to Soprabolzano/Oberbozen on the Rittner Seilbahn cable car. Continue on the Rittner Bahn narrow-gauge railway to Collalbo/Klobenstein. Continue on bus 166 to the valley station of the Rittner Horn cable car.
Snowshoe tour on old paths
Starting point: Val Casies / S. Maddalena head of the valley (1465m)
Distance: 6,1 km
Descent: along the ascending route
Walking time: 02:30 h
Difficulty: difficult
Difference in altitude: 740 m
Information: also feasible with touring skis | southern exposure
The hike starts at the Kühhof car park above Latzfons. Head northwest on forest trail over the open Alpine meadows passing through sparse larch and pine forests to the Klausner Hütte mountain hut (1923 m). Continue along the hiking trail passing the Rungger Hütten huts and Plankenbach brook. Also known as the Kreuzweg (Way of the Cross), the trail then crosses a pine forest before winding its way up a steep slope to the pilgrimage church and mountain shelter at Latzfonser Kreuz. Continue up trail no. 9. Finally, the route leads to the Kassiansee mountain lake and the Kassianspitze summit (2581 m) slightly beyond. The return is back the same way as the ascent.
The Sesto ski touring trail teaches you everything you need to know for safe ski touring during a tour lasting just under two hours. The ski touring trail combines basic theoretical knowledge, for example about the correct behaviour in the event of an avalanche, with an almost six-kilometre tour on which around 540 metres in altitude have to be conquered. The ski touring trail, which is equipped with information boards, starts behind the Zin Fux restaurant and leads between trees and across meadows to the Rotwand. From there to the mountain station, the uphill kick turn is practised in open terrain before returning to the valley via the ski slope.
The “Rotlahner” – an easy but famous ski mountain in the Gsieser Alps
Starting point: Head of the valley in St. Magdalena in the Gsieser Valley 1465 m
Descent: back via the ascent route
Hiking time: 3 ½ hours
Level of difficulty: medium to difficult; with the exception of two steep slopes (one just beneath the Kasermähder Alm and the other in the area of the Heimwaldjoch) there are no considerable technical difficulties concerning the route
Altitude difference: 1270 m
Slope exposure: mainly southwest slopes
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