Hiking Trails in Bolzano/Bozen and environs

Nice hiking to three fantastic viewpoints.
Change of path along the hike: 1, 5A, 5, 1

The ascent to  the Great or Small Ifinger is varied. At the beginning you walk through a beautiful wood, then on large and wide spread meadows, until you finally reach the summit of the Ifinger over rocky terrain. After reaching the top a breathtaking panorama opens up to you. You can have a look over the whole Burggrafenamt, the Sarntaler Alps, the Texelgroup and the Val Venosta. On your way you shopuld note the chapel, which you will pass. It is dedicated to Sáint Oswald.

The following alpine huts are on your way and you can stop and have a rest: Zuegghütte, Rotwandhütte, Berggasthaus, Pfifflinger Köpfl, Kuhleiten and Falzeben.

Attention: This is a difficult and demanding hike! Good conditiones, surefootedness and an immunity for high altitudes are needed! Especially for the last section of the way to the Great Ifinger. For those who get easily dizzy, the Small Ifinger is a worthwhile summit aim.

Time to calculate for the way to the Ifinger: 330 min

The Stone Men (Stoanernen Mandlen) - Moonlight and Satan’s milk - the true story of the Val Sarentino witch ‘Pachlerzottl’

Barb (Barbara) Stöckele married Kunz Pachler and moved to the Bachlerhof from her home on the opposite side of the valley. The cheerful young farmer’s wife brought new prosperity to the farmstead, though Katl Hiller, the former housekeeper at the Bachlerhof grew suspicious of her. Several years later, after no heir to the farm had been born, Katl took Kunz aside, asking if he hadn’t noticed that Barb was involved in black magic and saying that God would never entrust her with a child. Kunz became increasingly estranged from Barb, who grew lonely and depressed realising she had been abandoned. One day Katl observed her as she splashed around in a water trough, deep in thought. Straight afterwards a devastating thunder storm broke out over the Sarntal valley and all Windlahn blamed it on Barb, saying she had brought it about by magic. Barb soon realised that she had been branded a witch, and that every kind of misfortune was attributed to her: the death of a child, just as much as a cornfield flattened by hail. Barb became a recluse and hid at her mother’s for weeks on end. After her mother’s death she went to ruin, wandering from place to place, homeless, in rags, ‘zottelig’ (unkempt, with matted hair). The accusations of witchcraft accumulated and she, the ‘Pachlerzottl’ was imprisoned in Schloss Reineck castle. Under torture she admitted to making mice out of coal, to putting a spell on milk, to riding on a broomstick to the Steinernen Mandlen at Auen, to masticating children and to copulating with the devil. She was tried in the Kellerburg in 1540 and the trial records are still preserved complete. ‘Pachlerzottl’ was condemned to death for witchcraft and burnt alive at the ‘Galgenangerle’ (gallows corner) at the northern end of Sarnthein where the Öttenbach stream runs into the Talfer.

The Pachlerzottl tragedy is re-enacted as a play on the first three Thursday evenings in July, with the original Steinernen Mandeln as a backdrop.

The Castle trail „Castelronda“ is about 20 km long and connects the castles and ruins of Bolzano, San Genesio and Terlano: Castle Roncolo/Runkelstein, Castle Rafenstein, Castle Grifo/Greifenstein (vulg. also called Castello del Porco, which means „Pork Castle“), Ruin Helfenberg and Castle Neuhaus (also called Maultasch). The efforts of hikers will be fully satisfied with magnificent views over the most beautiful castles and ruins of the region, in the middle of the nature.

The trail starts at the Castle Roncolo/Runkelstein in Bolzano/Bozen and leads to the Castle Runkelstein passing the San Genesio cable car valley station. Then you continue to Restaurant Noafer in Cologna/Glaning (a hamlet in the municipality of San Genesio), situated above the Castle ruin Grifo/Greifenstein. Next, you reach the Helfenberg castle ruin and at the same time you can enjoy the marvellous panorama of the surrounding area. The descent towards Terlano/Terlan leads you to the final castle ruin Neuhaus/Maultasch and here ends the trail „Castelronda“. 

You can choose to start in Bolzano, San Genesio or in Terlano and you can also hike partial sections at your discretion.

The hikes on the „Castelronda/Burgenweg“ trail are especialliy recommended in spring, autumn and winter.

Experience history up close: Created by local schoolchildren, this scenic trail between the Lanzenschuster and Kampidell brings the Ice Age, Stone Age, Roman times, and the history of Flaas to life.

Our day on the mountains starts at Falzeben to reach the Meranerhütte. On the way you frequently pass  different alpine huts where you can have a rest. For example, the "Zuegghütte", the "Rotwandhütte" or the "Waidmannalm". From the "Meraner Hütte" (1937m), you will pass the ridge "Kreuzjöchl" (1981m) to the mountain "Kartoffel" (2084m), the highest point of this hike. Crossing the ridge "Auener Jöchel" (1925m), you will descend to the "Stoanernen Mandlen" (2003m) and finally to the "Möltner Kaser" (1766m). Here you can always walk over gentle alpine meadows and on the "Stoanernen Mandlen" you have a particularly good view of the nearby Dolomites. Via "Möltner Joch" you will reach the parking space Schermoos and Meltina.

This route with its moderate rise is suitable for baby buggy. You will need just 45 minutes passing through the broad forest road. 

The Malga Giogo di San Genesio (Jenesier Jöchl-Alm) is a typical South Tyrolean Alpine hut  with grazing animals and snack bar, situated on one of the most beautiful high plateau between Salto/San Genesio, Merano2000 and Val Sarentino, tested and awarded from the influential restaurant guide Gault Millaut 2016. 

From the terrace of the hut you will have a beautiful view to the Dolomites and the Mendel Crest.

Earth Pyramids, a wonder of nature. The Renon Earth Pyramids are the highest and the most aesthetically pleasing in Europe. Earth pyramids are a phenomenon of erosion. They originate where ice-age glaciers have deposited moraine clay in valleys. When it is dry, it is rock-hard. If it comes into contact with water, it turns into a clayey pulp that flows down into the valley. However, when protected from the rain by large stones, the clay remains dry and hard. Only the part around the stone erodes. This is how earth columns are formed and become higher each time it rains. If the top stone falls off the peak, the column is certainly doomed to a quick decline because the clay is exposed to the rain and then carried away by it. The earth pyramids in the valley of the Rio Gasterer at Auna di Sotto have a special grey colour.

The Castle trail „Castelronda“ is about 20 km long and connects the castles and ruins of Bolzano, San Genesio and Terlano: Castle Roncolo/Runkelstein, Castle Rafenstein, Castle Grifo/Greifenstein (vulg. also called Castello del Porco, which means „Pork Castle“), Ruin Helfenberg and Castle Neuhaus (also called Maultasch). The efforts of hikers will be fully satisfied with magnificent views over the most beautiful castles and ruins of the region, in the middle of the nature.

The trail starts at the Castle Roncolo/Runkelstein in Bolzano/Bozen and leads to the Castle Runkelstein passing the San Genesio cable car valley station. Then you continue to Restaurant Noafer in Cologna/Glaning (a hamlet in the municipality of San Genesio), situated above the Castle ruin Grifo/Greifenstein. Next, you reach the Helfenberg castle ruin and at the same time you can enjoy the marvellous panorama of the surrounding area. The descent towards Terlano/Terlan leads you to the final castle ruin Neuhaus/Maultasch and here ends the trail „Castelronda“. 

You can choose to start in Bolzano, San Genesio or in Terlano and you can also hike partial sections at your discretion.

The hikes on the „Castelronda/Burgenweg“ trail are especialliy recommended in spring, autumn and winter.

This excursion is a very beautiful daytour along various peaks, which you ascend without much effort. The best way to arrive at the parkingspace Falzeben is to take the bus from Mölten. From Lavenna you can return easily to Mölten by autobus or walking.

The romanesque church St. Jakob on the Langfenn is positioned on the highest and most visible point of the Salto (1525m). The church stands on prehistoric ground and could tell us probably many interesting and exciting historical things. On the altar we can see St. Jakob, the protector of all hikers, and on his side the two Patrons of the pest, Rochus and Sebastian.

The Hufeisentour is a seven-day-lasting mountain trail in the Alpes of Sarntal. The route proceeds through the heart of South Tyrol along alpine areas, meadows, traditional alpine huts, peaks and yokes. You walk on unbeaten tracks and natural paths. As well as wounderful and unforgettable views on the UNESCO world natural heritage, the Dolomites, the Zillertaler Alps, the Stubaier Alps, the Ötztaler Alps and the Mountain Ortler in the Brenta Group are waiting for you.
The classical Hufeisentour starts in the eastern Alps of Sarntal at Sarnthein and contains 7 to 8 stages, running in counterclockwise rotation. Of course you can walk into the other direction as well or start at other starting points, for example at Mölten. Here you walk onto the stone cairns "Stoanerne Mandln" and can decide if to walk to the starting point Sarnthein or to the area Meran 2000 (opposite direction).

The starting point for this fantastic snowshoe hike is the car park in Valdurna/Durnholz. After a short ascent to the outflow of the lake, it is already time to put on your snowshoes. Following the lovely forest trail on the orographic left bank to the northern end of lake, the tour then continues along the stream, first to the east through the Großalmtal valley in shade but glittering with powder snow. As you gain height you come to sunny pasture ridges and via the Innerhütten-Alm Alpine pasture to the Fortschellscharte gap.

Tip: when snow conditions are good, definitely ascend the nearby Kassianspitze peak (2,581 m, ascent: approx. 1 hour).

Reverse the route to return to the starting point at the Valdurna car park.

The restaurant Lanzenschuster serves home-made South Tyrolean specialities with regional and home made products, f.ex. "Strudel" with apple. During the summer often barbeques and live music are waiting for you, and for children a playground and a petting zoo are offered.

The mountain inn Sattlerhütte is beautifully situated below the Möltner Kaser. The hike can be done at any time of the year: in winter as a snowshoe tour, in autumn - when the larches turn yellow-gold, in the summer because of the lush green meadow and especially in spring, when the alpine meadows turn into a flowering sea of crocuses and other spring flowers.

Trail of Legends in Val Sarentino/Sarntal | A hike with a theme: Legends of South Tyrol | Trail of Legends in Val Sarentino/Sarntal | Directions | Starting point: Wippingerhof

The Castle trail „Castelronda“ is about 20 km long and connects the castles and ruins of Bolzano, San Genesio and Terlano: Castle Roncolo/Runkelstein, Castle Rafenstein, Castle Grifo/Greifenstein (vulg. also called Castello del Porco, which means „Pork Castle“), Ruin Helfenberg and Castle Neuhaus (also called Maultasch). The efforts of hikers will be fully satisfied with magnificent views over the most beautiful castles and ruins of the region, in the middle of the nature.

 Trilingual information pillars near the castles and ruins will inform your whole family of interesting history facts and entertaining tips.  

The hikes on the „Castelronda/Burgenweg“ trail are especialliy recommended in spring, autumn and winter.

Trail of Legends: San Genesio Atesino/Jenesien Remarkably, it was 132 students from the municipality of San Genesio Atesino who are responsible for the creation of this fabulous Trail of Legends, which they based on 14 myths from their community. Trail of Legends: San Genesio Atesino/Jenesien Starting point: Salto Parking Area (sports fields in San Genesio Atesino) Highest point: 1.500

This walk links two wine villages: Egna and Montagna. Through the village of Mazzon the walk, which snakes through lovely vineyards, leads to Pinzano. This is the home of a fine red wine, Pinot Noir, which finds the perfect growing conditions on these hills and as such is able to express its features in the best possible ways.

Amidst striking hillside pastures at a height of 2,000 m on the Tschögglberg mountain above Mölten, the natural environment is so untouched that those hiking here might feel as if time has stood still. The “Stoanerne Mandln” is a place shrouded in myth where shepherds have stacked stones into cairns since prehistoric times. In the field of the “Stoanerne Mandln”, the meeting place of witches and priests, one can still sense the unique but hard to describe atmosphere, and there are fantastic views of the entire Dolomite range as far as the Marmolata and the King Ortler peaks

Walk on the Renon/Ritten | An easy circuit trail that is also stroller-friendly. | Panoramic path on the Cima del Lago Nero/Schwarzseespitze Peak | Starting point: Cima del Lago Nero Peak summit station.

This about 3 km long round trail is a child-friendly, creative and near-naturally designed contemplation trail!

The visitors, especially children, receive in this wonderfull calming landscape the opportunity, to experience the nature and his creator understanding the God's message to us with all senses…

The famous St. Martin is the patron of Glaning. The design of the round trail is based on his life and model.

With the helpful elements like footprints, stone bench, labyrinth, „Our-Father“ rock or splendid viewpoints, can both children and adults comprehend the life of the Saint Martin learning also more about themselves…

Small round walk from hotel Schneiderwiesen with a beautiful viewpoint.

Tourism in Renon/Ritten can look back on a long tradition rooted in the desire of the town dwellers of Bolzano/Bozen to escape to their summer retreats. The Renon Themed Trail tells the stories of the Rittnerbahn narrow gauge railway, the tracks of the emperor, the earth pyramids, water and stone, Saint George and Jacob, as well as summer retreats in Santa Maria Assunta/Maria Himmelfahrt.

Along the hiking trail from Jenesien to Tschaufen, there is much to experience, for young and old. In the meadows along the hiking trail and in the forests you can meet different kinds of animals. There is a beautiful panorama on the plateau Tschaufen, and the the eponymous restaurant on the Salto awaits you with an extensive menu of homemade pastries and delicious cold dishes.

The Renon/Ritten earth pyramids are a phenomenon caused by erosion, appearing where ice age moraine loam from glaciers collected in the valleys. When dry, the material is as hard as rock but, combined with water, it becomes a clay-like mush which flows into the valley. It remains protected from the rain under large stones so that columns of earth are built up becoming taller after each rainstorm.

Route: the hike begins in Collalbo/Klobenstein, the main village on the Corno del Renon mountain. The trail leads through Collalbo to Longomoso/Lengmoos until to the hiking trail no 24 in the Erdpyramidental valley, which is so flat that it can be walked with any sort of shoe and with a buggy. View the earth pyramids against the backdrop of the imposing Dolomites from the viewing terraces. Return via the same route, through Longomoso to the beginning of trail no. 37, the von-Eyrl Promenade and the starting point at the railway station in Collalbo.

Tip: the easy way to get from Bolzano/Bozen to Collalbo is on the Rittner Seilbahn cable car and Rittner Bahn narrow-gauge railway.