Winter hiking in South Tyrol

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.

An entertaining alpine circuit for the entire family!                                                             

The trail passes through the varied natural and cultural landscape of the district Waldberg, courts and private land, where people get an insight into the work and the life of the inhabitants.

The walk starts at the "Niederhof", from there follow the forest road to the "Oberhof", where the path no.26 leads uphill through the forest. This path leads up to the crossing path no.24A, where the family hike continues left to the "Suachbichl". Now it goes on at the path no.15A back to the path no.15, this path leads to an unlabeled but highly visible way again down to the trail no.15.
You walk past the "Stallwies- and Greithof" and from there follow the marking 15A. Once the path leads out of the forest, the trek continues left and returns through the forest path no.8 back to "Niederhof".

From the Ridnauntal valley exit (1400 m) always follow the signs "Stadlalm" and the mark 28 a paved trail, first in the area of the ore Lazzach valley to the clearing turn right and continue along a wide path (M 28 A) and continue straight to the Stadlalm (about 1620 m, just under 1:00 hrs). Descent as ascent.

How is tasty mountain cheese made?
The ‘Drei Zinnen’ display dairy at Dobbiaco/Toblach and the ‘Milk Mile’ at Sesto/Sexten provide answers to questions like this. The local Alpine dairy farming world is explained along an interactive woodland trail. Interested visitors can try their hand at milking using a wooden cow and read how the various cheese types are made.

From the village of Val di Mezzo/Mittertal on a small road towards "Hotel Jaufentalerhof" (signposted). Pass it and continue to Fontanafredda/Kaltenbrunn. From there turn right and follow the forest path until the junction which leads to Val di Sopra/Obertal. Follow the street out of the valley until the first bend then straight ahead to the Steinhof. The path leads through the forest back to the starting point.

The winter hike starts at the Ratschings valley station and first leads past the Reaserhof farm, continuing in the direction of Blosegg until you reach the junction of the newly laid path. The trail continues under the cable car through the forest up to the mountain station of the Ratschings cable car.

he Waldkapelle Chapel, an emergency chapel built during the First World War for returning farmers, was used during the Second World War to hold German masses, which were banned by the fascists. The meditation path with 14 stations leads from the Parish Church in Sexten to the Waldkapelle Chapel. Along the way, the stations invite you to pause. To avoid walking back along the same trail, continue along the path and then turn right up towards Gasthof Waldruhe . From there you walk comfortably 
along the asphalt road down to the Hösler Höfe farms and the last stretch along the forest path to the starting point.

It is a forest path of cosiness, no altitude difference and no special impulses. You will always have the village of Sesto on your left and pass the famous Sexten cemetery. From the reservoir through the forest to San Candido.
Tips and advices: very little difference of altitude and no special efforts, a comfortable forest way. Pass the cemetery  and also the Stifts Church in San Candido.
Summary: a very nice and calm excursion with the possibility to mix culture and shopping at San Candido.

The Winterwanderweg starts under the mountain station of the Ratschings-Jaufen cable car at the valley station of the Rinneralm chairlift (3 min. Walk).It goes in the direction of Kalcheralm, first over meadows and then on the forest road. Continue to the Kalcheralm. Return on the way.

From the vally station cablecar Corno del Renon, the parking area in “Pemmern” (1.541 m) we take the cable car to the Schwarzseespitze (2.070 m). There we follow the indication “Panoramaweg” beginning on the right. The famous “Round Table” an the "Dolomitoskop" are created by the artist “Franz Messner”. You will enjoy the fantastic panorama to the Dolomites (UNESCO–world natural heritage).

Light forests and mountain meadows alternate along the entire route, with easy climbs and flat sections. In winter, the track is regularly maintained with a snow groomer.

A wonderful hike through the larch forests from Sexten to the Innerfeldtal Valley with a direct view of the mountains.

This hike will take you through snow-covered meadows and forests from Armentarol/San Cassiano to the Malga Valparola Alp, an historic site, where the mineral extracted here, was transported, underwent smelting and transformed into iron. The ruins of the smelting furnaces are now abandoned and in pieces. 

Today, only the hut’s name (Hut of the Iron Furnaces in German) serves as a reminder of the economic prosperity, now long gone, once enjoyed by this extraordinarily picturesque place.

The Valparola hut is closed in Winter.

This winter hike to the Rittner Horn mountain starts at the Gasserhütte mountain hut. Follow the prepared winter hiking trail first to the Mair in Plun and from there to the Gasteiger Sattel saddle. Keep following the winter trail as far as the Rittner Horn. Refreshments are available en route at the Mair in Plun hut, Oberes Horn Haus and Gasserhütte. Return is by the same route.

A leisurely hike from Sesto to the idyllic Fischleintal/Val Fiscalina valley with a fantastic view on the Dolomites of Sexten.

From Obertelfes (1258 m, at the Dorfbrunnen different signposts) follow the signs "Telferalmen" or "Freundalm" first on narrow Höfestrasse up to the Kappelerhof (1353 m), then on the wide paved hiking and tobogganing trail first through meadows and forest in a moderately increasing slope crossroads north-westwards and last again through meadows up to the Freundalm (about 1720 m); from Telfes 1:30 hrs Descent: As ascent in 1:00 hrs (possibly also with the toboggan).

The 2.5 km hike through the Wielental/Valle di Vila has no difficulties and is therefore also suitable for families with children.

An easy hike through larch woods and the romantic Fischleintal valley, to the very foot of the Einserkofel.

An easy hike through larch woods and the romantic Fischleintal valley, to the very foot of the Einserkofel.

From the inn Jaufensteg walk on the valley path of Val Racines towards the Kirchdorf Bichl (1280 m). From there always on the sundeck, a slight ascending, and then gradually leading through the meadows, past several courtyards to the stately Larchhof (1356 m, inn) on a paved hiking and cross-country trail in a beautiful flat hike mostly through meadows and finally, past individual courtyards, through meadows to the courts of Flading (1482 m). Follow the same route back to reach the starting point.

In good conditions and when there’s enough (but not too much) snow, this hike can be completed without any problems. The trail is regularly maintained using a tracked snow groomer. On the farm track along the hairpin bends are clearly-marked shortcuts, but in winter these tracks are usually inaccessible or should at least be negotiated with care.

From the Kulturhaus in Ridnaun (approx. 1370 m, here parking), on the well signposted, not missable and paved Erzweg (signs "Obere Erzstraße") mostly through forest slopes in level walk talein to Maiern (guest houses) and shortly further talein (if the the last part of the eruption is no longer paved, to the valley road) to the former ore processing at the end of the valley (1417 m). There you will be on the road bridge over the Talbach, on the other side of the valley through the sunny meadows of Weiler to Weiler valley (not far from the path the little church of St. Lorenzen, the Pfitscherhof frescoes and the gothic marble portal) , across the bridge, on the road, and briefly up to the church of Ridnaun and back to the starting point.

From the parkin space at the Biathlon center > pass the Tiroler Hütte hut > along the street to the restaurant Platzl am See and Enzianhütte hut > same way back to the starting point

A beautiful walk from Stefansdorf/Santo Stefano to  Haidenberg, through the snowy landscape to enjoy the silence of nature in winter.

Ski racers and mountaineers Hans and Paola Steger made their mark on the Seiser Alm like no other, before or since. Pioneers of mountaineering in the Dolomites, they made an immense contribution to the development of skiing on the Seiser Alm: The Hans & Paola Steger trail pays homage to their achievements. Info boards lining the route provide a host of information on the nature and culture of the Seiser Alm. A magnificent Dolomite panorama accompanies hikers along this leisurely yet fascinating trail.