South Tyrol’s Waalwege Canal Trails

Explore the Matschertal valley on the irrigation channel path Ackerwaal.

The „Gaisinger Waalweg“ is a popular attraction among locals and tourists, which not only offers a great hiking experience for all, young and old, but also provides interesting cultural and historical insights.

The Monte Sole Panorama trail n° 91 (Sonnenberger Panoramaweg) connects Rabland/Rablà with the neighboring village of Naturns/Naturno, and offers hikers breathtaking views of the valley and the surrounding mountains and villages.

This easy, generally flat hike leads through the meadows and forests along the Maiser Waal irrigation channel and is especially popular with families who even enjoy walking the route on hot summer days. 

The new theme path provides an insight into viniculture and wine history and spans an arc between agriculture and gastronomy. Different information panels describe local grape varieties, landscape and culinary specialties. The Val Venosta wine path is perfectly walkable from Easter to November and takes you along the irrigation channel paths (Latschander irrigation channel path and Senales irrigation channel path) over long distances. This hike of about 2.5 hours can be made in both directions and it is also possible to choose specific sections only.

This is one of the oldest irrigation canals (Waalweg) of Merano and environs!
It was built in the XV century by the Counts of Stachelburg and is, therefore, more than five hundred years old. The canal is lined by birch-tree groves and rich, varied vegetation and is still used to irrigate the Parcines orchards, meadows and fields. 
An ancient “Wohnstein”, a free-standing, curved rock in whose shadow ancient people lived, and a pre-historic “Schalenstein” – a stone with strange round-shaped indentations on it, dating back to the Copper Age, can be seen at the eastern end of the Waal path.
This particular walk is especially interesting for those interested in local history.

Waalwege are paths along the ancient irrigation channels. The Algunder Waalweg Trail is split into two parts with a lenght of 5 to 6 km. The hike leads along an historical irrigation canal. The canal trail is almost flat. It is therefore ideal for older people or families with children. Hikers, young and old, will be rewarded with fantastic views of Lagundo/Algund as well as the entirety of Merano/Meran and the surrounding area.

Family Hike along the Canal Trails in Schluderns/ Sluderno

This easy, family-friendly hike takes you past orchards through the mixed woodland above Dorf Tirol and Kuens along the Kuenser Waalweg, or irrigation channel path, as far as the Longfall Inn.

This picturesque hike along the Schenner Waal irrigation channel runs along an unspoilt trail through the chestnut grove and orchards high above the spa town of Merano, and is also thoroughly recommended for hot summer days.

The Sun Promenade leads along a small irrigation channel carrying water from spring until autumn. There is a magnificent view from the trail of the old Schlanders town centre this as well as of the apple orchards up to Göflan and the Stelvio National Park.

This trail starts much further up, on the Aussereggen farm along the slopes of the Monte Sole at Silandro/Schlanders and is one highest irrigation canal trails in the entire Venosta Valley. The trail passes through narrow walkways and wooden bridges through fields and larch forests in the peaceful Schlandrauntal Valley.

Pleasant circular hike from Dorf Tirol along the approx. 6 km-long Algunder Waalweg (irrigation channel path) and St. Peter. The route mainly passes alongside vineyards and offers fabulous views of the Etschtal Valley and Dorf Tirol.

The wonderful wooden irrigation channel set in Val Martello’s Selva is an attraction for young and old. It is ideal for a family excursion thanks to its marvelous location at the sunny slope.

Waalwege are paths along the ancient irrigation channels. From the Ungericht Hof farm (Neolithic engraved stone), follow the road for approx. 10 minutes up to the Mutlechnerhof farm (837m) from where the markers lead in a further 15 minutes to the 600-year-old Caines canal along a more or less flat trail. Follow this to its origin, the irrigation canal frame at the Finelebach stream (1,020m). This will take about 90 minutes. On the other side of the bridge, hike to the right of the canal some 100 m down into the valley, then turn sharply to the left onto the lower canal trail that takes you through shady woods back to the Ungericht Hof.

The path is not suitable for pushchairs.

Farmstead Hike on Marlinger Berg Mountain with start in the car park below Lebenberg Castle.

The zigzag shaped Latschander irrigation channel path in between Laces and Castelbello was created in 1872/1873 and provides an ideal walk for the whole family. Those who wish to stroll along the entire irrigation channel trail should allow approximately 2.5 hours to do so.

The walk via the irrigation channel path of Agumes to Ponte Stelvio is an easy, sunny route along the Agumes moutain.

Zaalwaal
A hike along a picturesque irrigation channel, or Waal, near Schlanders with fabulous views of the chestnut groves and orchards that carpet the Vinschgau Valley.

This is one of the oldest irrigation canals (Waalweg) of Merano and environs!
It was built in the XV century by the Counts of Stachelburg and is, therefore, more than five hundred years old. The canal is lined by birch-tree groves and rich, varied vegetation and is still used to irrigate the Parcines orchards, meadows and fields. 
An ancient “Wohnstein”, a free-standing, curved rock in whose shadow ancient people lived, and a pre-historic “Schalenstein” – a stone with strange round-shaped indentations on it, dating back to the Copper Age, can be seen at the eastern end of the Waal path.
This particular walk is especially interesting for those interested in local history.

From spring to autumn, the ever-changing Ilswaal irrigation canal carries water, so in these months it is perfect for a canal hike in the sunshine.

From Schlanders, the trail leads past the Schlandersberg Castle (Schloss Schlandersberg) which is a nice place to enjoy the view. It continues past the wild gorge of the Schlandraunbach stream to the St Ägidius Church near Kortsch.

Duration: 2 hr 30 min
Cumulative elevation gain: 440 m

The Waalweg trail -Hiking along the irrigation channel
Spectacular views of the surrounding mountains can be seen along the entire length of the Marlinger Waalweg trail. The agricultural landscape lining the irrigation channels is also impressive, with meadows and forests alternating with vineyards and orchards. Along the Marlinger Waalweg trail there are also impressive views of the Merano basin, the Val Passiria/Passeier Valley, and the imposing Texelgruppe mountain range.

Waalwege are paths along the ancient irrigation channels. From the car park of the Hirzer cable car in Saltaus/Saltusio, head down to the Passerdammweg trail until reaching the Apfelhotel Torgglerhof hotel. From here, the canal trail leads into the centre of Scena/Schenna or after the Waalerhütte hut to Riffian/Rifiano and Meran/Merano.
After a comfortable hike of approx. 1.5 hours, you reach the small city centre of Merano, where you can, for example, take the bus back to Saltusio.

Family hike - Oberwaal Irrigation Channel Trail to Mals/ Malles in the Vinschgau Valley

Sonnensteig trail - the theme trail in Upper Vinschgau Valley

There are some interesting points of exploration along this themed route such as the Benedictine abbey, the paths along the irrigation canals (known locally as ‘Waale’) as well as the natural landscape and some of the legends of the Alta Vinschgau Valley. And if you prefer, you can select just specific sections of the themed trail of interest to you. 

The Merano irrigation channels trails (Waalwege) represent a union of eleven trails around Meran/Merano in South Tyrol. Waalwege trails are narrow walking paths that run along historic water canals. These channels were once used to irrigate the fields and date back to the 13th century.

Vines, apple trees, pines, cypresses, firs and larches line these special Waalwege canal trails, which in South Tyrol can only be found around Meran and in the Vinschgau valley. Castles, palaces and chapels along the way offer insights into the culture of the region. Meanwhile, traditional inns invite you to take a break.

The circular tour on the Merano Canal Trails is approx. 80 km long, going round the entire Meran basin. Remaining at nearly the same elevation throughout, the circular tour runs along the Etschtal valley’s mountains. This makes the entire route and also the individual stages ideal for leisure hikers and families.

The Merano Canal Trail can be hiked all year round and connects eleven irrigation canals (Waalwege) with one another: the Algunder Waalweg, the Kuenser Waalweg, the Waalweg Riffian, the Maiser Waalweg, the Schenner Waalweg, the Brandiswaalweg in Lana, the Tschermser Waalweg, the Marlinger Waalweg, the Partschinser Waalweg, the Rablander Waalweg and the Wallburgweg in Naturns/Naturno.

1. Stage: Töll/Tel - Kuens/Caines: 11 km
2. Stage: Kuens/Caines - Saltaus/Saltusio: 7.6 km
3. Stage: Saltaus/Saltusio - Naiftal valley: 11 km
4. Stage: Naiftal valley - Burgstall/Postal - Lana: 13 km
5. Stage: Lana - Töll/Tel: 13 km
6. Stage: Töll/Tel - Rabland/Rablà: 6 km
7. Stage: Rabland/Rablà - Naturns/Naturno: 9.6 km
8. Stage: Naturns/Naturno - Töll/Tel: 11 km

The woodland nature trail was designed in line with scientific principles and, using a variety of different interactive exhibits, communicates a lot of interesting facts about nature, the forest and water.

Waalwege are paths along the ancient irrigation channels. Ascend to the canal trail via the Kirchweg or Rösslweg streets. After approx. 300 m the Rösslweg branches to the left from the Kirchweg and rises gently to the shooting range where the Riffianer Waalweg trail begins. It runs between forest edge and meadows as far as Kuens/Caines and ends in the Kuensertal valley. Return either via the Kuenserstraße street, the Valtmaunweg trail or via the Hohlgasse street. If you wish, you can drive to the starting point in the Kuensertal valley by car, park there and then hike as far as Rifiano/Riffian (approx. 45 min).

The path is not suitable for pushchairs or strollers.

The Algund irrigation channel pathway, or Waalweg, is a 10 km long path running alongside the old irrigation channel. Flat and even almost all the way, the trail boasts incredible views over the Meran/o area and leads you through Plars, Algund/Lagundo village and Gratsch/Quarazze until you get to the Saint Magdalena Chapel and then along the Tappeiner path to Meran/o city.