The September temperatures are still as warm as in high summer, but the light in the mountains is slowly becoming more golden, the only indication of the approaching autumn that promises more fine weather. This is the best time of the year for walking in South Tyrol, with its high-level routes at their most attractive.
The September temperatures are still as warm as in high summer, but the light in the mountains is slowly becoming more golden, the only indication of the approaching autumn that promises more fine weather. This is the best time of the year for walking in South Tyrol, with its high-level routes at their most attractive.
South Tyrol’s high-level trails are a real treat for those who are not satisfied with simply walking from hut to hut, but do not have the necessary high-Alpine experience to climb above the 3000-metre line. These pleasantly accessible high-level routes mostly lie between heights of 2000 to 2500 metres. Originally established to ensure the fastest possible link between the various mountain refuges, they are today a wonderful opportunity for everyone to enjoy the high-Alpine experience to the full.
Manageable paths that follow narrow mountain ridges and pass under mighty glaciers, discreet and solitary, but offering generous rewards. Walkers should allow sufficient time to let their gaze take in the peacefulness and become accustomed to the tranquillity that only exists up there. Some of the high-level routes can easily be completed in a day, but the uniquely intoxicating high-altitude experience is best sampled over several days of walking.
A portrait of three high-level routes in South Tyrol:
1. The Meran high-level route: gentle or tough?
The Meran high-level route is one of South Tyrol’s most beautiful. Its simpler southern variant leads via Ulfas to Matatz, Hochmuth and Hochganghaus to the Nasereith hut, then to the Giggelberg, the Grubhof and finally to Katharinaberg in the Schnals Valley. The northern section is both more demanding and higher. It starts at Katharinaberg, at the end of the southern variant, running via the picturesque Pfossental Valley, zigzagging up past the Eishöfe and to the Eisjöchl at 2908 metres, then via the Stettiner hut to Pfelders and back to Ulfas and civilisation.
2. The Pfunders high-level route – wild beauty
Walkers describe the Pfunders high-level route with terms such as “raw” and “unspoilt”, but most of all as “strikingly beautiful”. It might be said that the Meran high-level route has a sister to the east. Very fit walkers can do the Pfunders route in four days, but as a rule six days are required.
From Sterzing the route runs via the Pfitschtal, Pustertal and Tauferertal valleys, ending at St. Georgen near Bruneck-Brunico. Strong walkers will witness unspoilt beauty, lush meadows for resting and, at the right time of year, the magnificent blossoms of the Alpine rose as the perfect image for the camera.
3. Dolomites high-level route 1: “One step from heaven” – 150 km of high-altitude thrills
It does not often happen that you receive your reward at the outset, but here the starting point of the route is the world-famous Pragser Wildsee lake, among other things the setting for Terence Hill’s film “Un passo dal cielo”.
It takes 8-12 days to walk from the southern end of the mountain lake to the town of Belluno, the end of Dolomites high-level route no. 1. Some describe it as the most beautiful trekking route in the world, while others speak of the wonderful walking through the UNESCO World Natural Heritage Site of the Dolomites. Steep rock faces contrast with gentle pastures: the trail passes viewpoints that are unique to these mountains, which one may enjoy alone yet without ever being lonely.