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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. 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

  2. 1/4

    Kuenser Waalweg Hike from Dorf Tirol / Tirolo

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

    medium

    Difficulty

    229 m

    Elevation gain

    3h:00 min

    duration

  3. 1/3

    Pleasure Hiking in Marling

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

    medium

    Difficulty

    878 m

    Elevation gain

    4h:30 min

    duration

  4. 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

  5. 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

  6. Along the old irrigation channel paths

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

    easy

    Difficulty

    210 m

    Elevation gain

    3h:15 min

    duration

  7. 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

  8. 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

  9. 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

  10. 1/2

    Circular hike Mitterwaal in Glurns / Glorenza

    Glorenza/Glurns, Glurns/Glorenza, Vinschgau/Val Venosta

    medium

    Difficulty

    502 m

    Elevation gain

    3h:04 min

    duration

  11. 1/9

    Algund Waalweg canal trail

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

    easy

    Difficulty

    29 m

    Elevation gain

    1h:08 min

    duration

  12. 1/3

    Circular Hike on the Marling Waalweg and Höhenweg Trails

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

    medium

    Difficulty

    420 m

    Elevation gain

    3h:25 min

    duration

  13. Rautwaal irrigation channel path

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

    easy

    Difficulty

    122 m

    Elevation gain

    1h:22 min

    duration

  14. 1/3

    Toward the Sun

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

    easy

    Difficulty

    195 m

    Elevation gain

    1h:30 min

    duration

  15. From Algund/Lagundo to the Schlundenstein rock and Plars Waalweg canal trail to

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

    easy

    Difficulty

    506 m

    Elevation gain

    3h:30 min

    duration

  16. 1/2

    Archaeological trail Altratheis - Juval (A6)

    Naturns/Naturno, Meran/Merano and environs

    easy

    Difficulty

    32 m

    Elevation gain

    1h:08 min

    duration

  17. 1/4

    Winter hike along the Schenner Waalweg Trail

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

    easy

    Difficulty

    320 m

    Elevation gain

    2h:00 min

    duration

  18. 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

  19. "Kaandlwaal" irrigation channel path

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

    easy

    Difficulty

    239 m

    Elevation gain

    1h:30 min

    duration

  20. 1/3

    Maiser Waalweg Trail

    Saltusio/Saltaus, Meran/Merano, Meran/Merano and environs

    easy

    Difficulty

    46 m

    Elevation gain

    2h:30 min

    duration

  21. 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

  22. 1/3

    Easy Hike on Marling Waalweg Trail

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

    easy

    Difficulty

    220 m

    Elevation gain

    2h:00 min

    duration

  23. 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

  24. 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

  25. 1/6

    "Zaalwaal" irrigation channel path

    Monte di Tramontana/Nördersberg, Schlanders/Silandro, Vinschgau/Val Venosta

    easy

    Difficulty

    150 m

    Elevation gain

    1h:03 min

    duration

  26. Neuwaal irrigation channel path

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

    easy

    Difficulty

    177 m

    Elevation gain

    1h:26 min

    duration

  27. „Agumser Bergwaal“ irrigation channel path

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

    medium

    Difficulty

    373 m

    Elevation gain

    2h:00 min

    duration

  28. 1/3

    Via Vinum Venostis

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

    medium

    Difficulty

    258 m

    Elevation gain

    2h:40 min

    duration

  29. "Latschanderwaal" irrigation channel path

    Laces/Latsch, Kastelbell-Tschars/Castelbello-Ciardes, Vinschgau/Val Venosta

    easy

    Difficulty

    65 m

    Elevation gain

    1h:30 min

    duration

  30. 1/4

    Kuenser Waalweg Trail

    Caines/Kuens, Kuens/Caines, Meran/Merano and environs

    medium

    Difficulty

    414 m

    Elevation gain

    2h:04 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.