Mountain hikes in South Tyrol

Summit hikes, glacier walks, mountain hut excursions and circular hikes: All mountain regions in South Tyrol offer you versatile possibilities for every level. The best time for mountaineers is in summer between June and September, when there is less snow at higher altitudes and the weather is stable. This is also when most of the huts are open, offering welcome refreshment and overnight accommodation at high altitudes.

Historic towns such as Bolzano, Bressanone and Merano, as well as many traditional mountain villages, are ideal starting points. The excellent South Tyrolean cuisine and warm and hospitable people ensure that your mountain hikes in South Tyrol will be an unforgettable experience. These regions and mountain groups in South Tyrol are best suited for mountaineering:

Extreme mountaineer Reinhold Messner once called them "the most beautiful mountains in the world". Anyone who has ever seen the alpenglow on the Rosengarten (Catinaccio), the imposing rock faces on the Sciliar or the pointed rock spires of the Tre Cime will understand what he meant. One of the classics among the mountain hikes in the Dolomites is the Rosengarten circumnavigation, which can be done in different variations with or without an overnight stay in a mountain hut.

The Sassolungo high above the Val Gardena valley is not only a paradise for climbers. The crossing of the Langkofelscharte also promises mountain hikers an impressive panorama. From Sesto, on the other hand, you can climb to what is probably the most famous hut in the Dolomites, the Dreizinnenhütte (Rifugio Locatelli).

If you have enough stamina, you can escape the photo tourists at the beautiful Pragser Wildsee on the ascent to the Seekofel. The path leads through alpine terrain, but is secured in difficult places. It also gets alpine and lonely in the Latemar. Wild rocky landscapes and craggy peaks give the routes here a charm all of their own.

At 3905 m, the Ortler is the highest mountain in South Tyrol. The huge, glaciated massif towers above the mountaineering village of Sulden and has always been a dream destination for mountaineers and alpinists. The ascent is possible on several routes, the normal route leads to the summit from the north. In the glacier area, good mountain experience and the right equipment are mandatory. If in doubt, the local mountain guides will help you.

But not only King Ortler itself is worth a visit. Around the massif stretches the Stelvio National Park, with 530 square meters one of the largest protected areas in Europe. Unique mountain panoramas, quiet mountain lakes, glaciers and a high alpine landscape, which is the habitat for numerous protected animal and plant species, characterize the park.

To the north of the spa town of Merano, between the Val Senales to the west and the Val Passiria to the east, rises the massif of the Texel Group. Several 3000m peaks can be climbed here. Mountaineering in the Texel Group is not only a sporting challenge, but also allows fantastic views of the Merano region in the south and the Ötztal Alps and the main Alpine ridge in the north. In addition to the rocky peaks, the scenic highlights in the nature park also include the Spronser Seen, a group of a total of 10 fascinating mountain lakes.

Hikers explore the Texel Group on the well-maintained Merano High Trail, which leads all the way around the area. A more demanding variant of the trail also takes you into the interior of the mountain group and up to some high peaks as a multi-day mountain trek. There are several excellent huts in the area to choose from for overnight stays - it's worth making a reservation!

In the surroundings of Merano not only the Texelgruppe offers beautiful mountain tours. The Sarntal Alps to the east of the city are also known for their beautiful mountain trails. A classic among the mountain treks is the Horseshoe Trail, which leads through the area on 7 daily stages on a large circuit. You can enjoy a magnificent view here, for example, at the Hirzer, at the Rittner Horn or at the Stoanernen Mandln. In addition to the picturesque mountain landscape, you can also look forward to beautiful huts that provide you with South Tyrolean specialties.

In the extreme northeast of South Tyrol, the Rieserferner-Ahrn Nature Park is still, by comparison, an insider tip for mountaineers. Most of the peaks between the Ahrntal and Antholz valleys are little frequented and yet offer magnificent views. In the east, the area borders directly on the Austrian Hohe Tauern National Park and the Defereggen Valley.

The mountain tours in the Rieserfernergruppe are mostly difficult and best suited for experienced and physically strong mountain hikers. Surefootedness, a head for heights and basic climbing experience are required, for example, for the magnificent, solitary traverse of the entire mountain group in 5 daily stages. However, there are also various shorter summit tours and hut hikes in the nature park that are worth starting with.

The lines between simple mountain hikes and difficult alpine routes are often blurred and not every trail can be easily classified. However, on a mountain tour in South Tyrol you can be prepared for the fact that you will not be hiking exclusively on secured paths, but will also be moving in open terrain. It may happen that you have to use your hands and climb from time to time. At high altitudes, for example in the Ortler area, snowfields often have to be crossed - on the glacier, a simple high-altitude hike quickly becomes a difficult alpine trek. Always get the latest information on conditions and weather conditions before you set off. If you are inexperienced in hiking in the mountains, it is advisable to go with a group or a mountain guide.