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South Tyrol’s Waalwege Canal Trails

Canals known as "Waale" were built centuries ago to irrigate meadows and fields. When rainfall was scarce, water was diverted from streams into the higher valleys. This ancient irrigation technique is predominantely seen in the area around Meran/Merano and Vinschgau/Val Venosta. See it for yourself during a tranquil stroll along the Canal Trails. Interestingly, the Waalwege canal trails located on the Malser Haide in Obervinschgau are a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

  1. Tour Ramini-Montani

    Tarres/Tarsch, Latsch/Laces, Vinschgau/Val Venosta

    medium

    Difficulty

    493 m

    Elevation gain

    3h:32 min

    duration

  2. 1/4

    Riffianer Waalweg Trail

    Rifiano/Riffian, Riffian/Rifiano, Meran/Merano and environs

    easy

    Difficulty

    239 m

    Elevation gain

    1h:18 min

    duration

  3. 1/4

    Themed trail Sonnensteig

    Malles/Mals, Mals/Malles, Vinschgau/Val Venosta

    medium

    Difficulty

    392 m

    Elevation gain

    5h:00 min

    duration

  4. 1/6

    From Partschins/Parcines to Meran/o via the Algund irrigation channel path

    Montesole/Sonnenberg - Parcines/Partschins, Meran/Merano, Meran/Merano and environs

    medium

    Difficulty

    46 m

    Elevation gain

    2h:55 min

    duration

  5. 1/3

    Irrigation Channel Gschneirerwaal

    Sluderno/Schluderns, Schluderns/Sluderno, Vinschgau/Val Venosta

    medium

    Difficulty

    500 m

    Elevation gain

    4h:00 min

    duration

  6. 1/3

    Algunder Waalweg trail from Dorf Tirol/Tirolo

    Tirolo/Tirol, Tirol/Tirolo, Meran/Merano and environs

    medium

    Difficulty

    368 m

    Elevation gain

    4h:19 min

    duration

  7. 1/2

    Archaeological trail Altratheis - Juval (A6)

    Naturns/Naturno, Meran/Merano and environs

    easy

    Difficulty

    32 m

    Elevation gain

    1h:08 min

    duration

  8. "Neuwaal-Rautwaal- Mareinwaal" irrigation channel path

    Morter/Morter, Latsch/Laces, Vinschgau/Val Venosta

    easy

    Difficulty

    292 m

    Elevation gain

    2h:47 min

    duration

  9. 1/4

    Hike along the Schenner Waalweg Trail

    Prenn/Prenn, Schenna/Scena, Meran/Merano and environs

    easy

    Difficulty

    320 m

    Elevation gain

    2h:00 min

    duration

  10. 1/3

    Irrigation channel di Marlengo from Lana

    Cermes/Tscherms, Lana, Meran/Merano and environs

    easy

    Difficulty

    150 m

    Elevation gain

    3h:30 min

    duration

  11. 1/5

    Marling Irrigation Channel Path – Scenic Walk from Töll

    Montesole/Sonnenberg - Parcines/Partschins, Marling/Marlengo, Meran/Merano and environs

    easy

    Difficulty

    24 m

    Elevation gain

    3h:15 min

    duration

  12. "Kaandlwaal" irrigation channel path

    Transacqua/Ennewasser, Martell/Martello, Vinschgau/Val Venosta

    easy

    Difficulty

    239 m

    Elevation gain

    1h:30 min

    duration

  13. 1/9

    Partschins Irrigation Channel Path (Waalweg) – Zielbach Loop Walk

    Montesole/Sonnenberg - Parcines/Partschins, Partschins/Parcines, Meran/Merano and environs

    easy

    Difficulty

    194 m

    Elevation gain

    1h:34 min

    duration

  14. 1/4

    Easy Hike on Marling Waalweg Trail

    Lana di Sotto/Niederlana, Lana, Meran/Merano and environs

    easy

    Difficulty

    287 m

    Elevation gain

    2h:00 min

    duration

  15. 1/4

    From Algund/Tell along the Marling Waalweg canal trail

    Lagundo/Algund, Algund/Lagundo, Meran/Merano and environs

    easy

    Difficulty

    252 m

    Elevation gain

    2h:58 min

    duration

  16. 1/4

    The Marlengo/Marling irrigation channel path

    Marlengo/Marling, Marling/Marlengo, Meran/Merano and environs

    easy

    Difficulty

    162 m

    Elevation gain

    1h:45 min

    duration

  17. Paths along the irrigation channels in Merano

    Rablà/Rabland, Partschins/Parcines, Meran/Merano and environs

    easy

    Difficulty

    0 m

    Elevation gain

    25h:45 min

    duration

  18. 1/2

    "Ilswaal" irrigation channel path

    Silandro/Schlanders, Schlanders/Silandro, Vinschgau/Val Venosta

    medium

    Difficulty

    300 m

    Elevation gain

    1h:06 min

    duration

  19. 1/8

    Mühlwaal Circular Trail – a walk along historic irrigation channels

    Montesole/Sonnenberg - Parcines/Partschins, Partschins/Parcines, Meran/Merano and environs

    easy

    Difficulty

    123 m

    Elevation gain

    1h:30 min

    duration

  20. 1/3

    Circular hiking track Forst

    Plars di Mezzo/Mitterplars, Algund/Lagundo, Meran/Merano and environs

    easy

    Difficulty

    295 m

    Elevation gain

    2h:23 min

    duration

  21. 1/3

    "Fischerwaal" irrigation channel path

    Montechiaro/Lichtenberg, Prad am Stilfser Joch/Prato allo Stelvio, Vinschgau/Val Venosta

    medium

    Difficulty

    369 m

    Elevation gain

    2h:00 min

    duration

  22. Irrigation channel path "Frauwaal"

    Montechiaro/Lichtenberg, Prad am Stilfser Joch/Prato allo Stelvio, Vinschgau/Val Venosta

    easy

    Difficulty

    234 m

    Elevation gain

    2h:30 min

    duration

  23. 1/4

    The Brandis-Waalweg Trail in Lana

    Lana/Lana, Lana, Meran/Merano and environs

    easy

    Difficulty

    30 m

    Elevation gain

    0h:49 min

    duration

  24. Rautwaal irrigation channel path

    Morter/Morter, Latsch/Laces, Vinschgau/Val Venosta

    easy

    Difficulty

    122 m

    Elevation gain

    1h:22 min

    duration

  25. 1/5

    From the Rabland Irrigation Channel Path to the Sonnenberg Panoramic Trail to Naturns

    Naturno/Naturns, Naturns/Naturno, Meran/Merano and environs

    medium

    Difficulty

    235 m

    Elevation gain

    2h:25 min

    duration

  26. 1/7

    Round trip along the ancient "Waalweg" (irrigation channel) of Partschins/Parcines

    Parcines/Partschins, Partschins/Parcines, Meran/Merano and environs

    easy

    Difficulty

    223 m

    Elevation gain

    2h:00 min

    duration

  27. 1/4

    Circular hike on the "Schenner Waalweg" trail

    Monte Scena/Schennaberg, Schenna/Scena, Meran/Merano and environs

    easy

    Difficulty

    325 m

    Elevation gain

    2h:30 min

    duration

  28. 1/2

    Irrigation Channel Leitenwaal and Berkwaal

    Sluderno/Schluderns, Schluderns/Sluderno, Vinschgau/Val Venosta

    easy

    Difficulty

    290 m

    Elevation gain

    3h:00 min

    duration

  29. 1/3

    Via Vinum Venostis

    Juvale/Juval, Kastelbell-Tschars/Castelbello-Ciardes, Vinschgau/Val Venosta

    medium

    Difficulty

    258 m

    Elevation gain

    2h:40 min

    duration

  30. 1/3

    To the Schlanderser Alm Alp

    Covelano/Göflan, Schlanders/Silandro, Vinschgau/Val Venosta

    medium

    Difficulty

    462 m

    Elevation gain

    2h:55 min

    duration

The path along the water was originally reserved for the "Waaler" (water keeper), who was responsible for the maintenance of the Waal and controlled that each farmer only took the amount of water he was entitled to from the Waal for a certain time. Today, the flat paths along the water are popular walking trails. Through forests, past apple orchards or vineyards, you can experience South Tyrol's cultural landscape up close on the Waal paths. In 2022, the traditional irrigation system of the Malser Haide was awarded the "Green Flag". This important award is given every year by the Italian environmental association "Legambiente" for innovative practices and systems that stand for high ecological, scenic and cultural quality.