The Majestic Texelgruppe Nature Reserve

Passeier Valley isn’t just the home of Tyrolean freedom fighter Andrea Hofer, it’s also one of South Tyrol’s most authentic and diverse valleys in terms of the landscape. Between the Ötztal Alps in the west and the Sarntal Alps in the east, Passeier Valley is nicely nestled in the Texelgruppe Nature Reserve. You can look forward to magnificent mystery tours among our wonderful flora and fauna. In Upper Passeier Valley, the valley and its high Alpine landscape stretches to the Timmelsjoch and the Austrian border. Our Alpine climate, spectacular waterfalls, traditional villages and snow-covered mountains are sure to just draw you in. In Lower Passeier Valley, a Mediterranean climate and stunning views of the surrounding summits await you.

Head up to the summit

The Texelgruppe Nature Reserve is very easily explored on the many well marked hiking trails that criss-cross the area. You’ll be spoilt for choice! There are both shorter tours that last a few hours and longer ones that require a day or more to complete.

Passeier Valley is, therefore, the ideal starting point for your Alpine hike. Ambitious and surefooted hikers can embark on some wonderful hikes or summit-to-summit treks, all of which are perfect as either single day trips or multiple day tours. Summits such as Hirzer (2781m), Kolbenspitze (2868m) or Hohe Wilde (3480m) prove particularly popular.

A special highlight is embarking on a summit expedition in the company of a local guide, who will show you Passeier Valley’s lush meadows, forests and pastures on your way up the mountain. This will also allow you to learn all you can about our magnificent mountain world.

Give in to the magic of the mountains

The Texelgruppe Nature Reserve is a very diverse hiking area. The range of opportunities for hikers is evidence of that! You can explore, for example, the Stuller waterfalls that are, at 112m and 230m, two of the highest in Europe; the Ulfas ‘Waalweg’, a narrow trail through pine and larch forests that follows an ancient irrigation ditch, and the 100km-long Meraner Höhenweg. From these sun-kissed, Mediterranean rock faces, the landscape changes on its way to the steep, craggy three thousanders to South Tryol’s largest collection of lakes – the Spronser Lakes.

Mountain tours

Faltmar Alm

Route:
The Bergkristall Inn (1568m, just before you arrive in Pfelders, parking available) is the starting point for a hike with a light incline on the wide agricultural road (no. 9) that will take you to the Faltmar Alm in about half an hour.

Possible Hikes:
If you follow the valley and the signs for path no. 9, you’ll reach a rise where the path forks. One (no. 5) takes you left to the passage into Falser Valley, while the right hand fork takes you, via the derelict Distelgrubalm, on to the Karalm. From here, you can either take the 5b to the Grünboden Inn or the 5 directly to Pfelders.

Difficulty:
All these paths require the appropriate equipment and good physical conditioning.

Starting Point: Bergkristall Inn
Duration: ¾ hour
Altitude Difference: 141m
Difficulty: Easy and with no problems; suitable for weaker hikers.

Opening Times: Open from the end of May until the beginning of October

Faltschnalalm – Erensee – Lazins

Path no. 24 to Lazins, after 500m take the steep forest path (no. 6) that leads to Faltschnalalm, then take path no. 7 to the Erensee lake (2291m), under the Erenspitze take the same way back to Faltschnalalm, then the panoramic trail to Lazins, descend on the left side of the valley on path no. 8 of on the right side on no. 24 towards Pfelders.

Duration (return): approx 3½ hours
Altitude Difference (Pfelders-Erensee): approx. 680m

Grünboden Inn

From Pfelders, hike via the toboggan run to the Grünboden Inn (you can also get here using the Grünboden Express in the summer).

Altitude Difference: approx. 400m.
Duration (return): approx. 2hrs 20mins

The Grünboden Inn is closed in the summer!

Meraner Höhenweg (north)

Begins in Katharinaberg (Schnals Valley). Access is dependent upon how much the snow has melted, as Pfossen Valley and Pfelderer Valley are often still covered in snow, even in late spring, and the path is in danger of avalanches and mudslides.

From Katharinaberg (1245m), the hiking route continues into Pfossen Valley to Nassereith (1534m) and to the Vorderkaser (1693m).

Then, continue past the Rableid Alm to the Eishof (2069m). The fantastic summit backdrop (Texelspitze 3318m, Roteck 3337m, Hohe Weisse 3281m, Hohe Wilde 3481m, Karlesspitze 3462m and Hintere Schwärze 3624m) surrounds the valley like a natural amphitheatre. From the Eishof, continue into the valley, almost until it ends. The path becomes rockier and takes a sharp incline up to the Eisjöchl (2908m), the highest point of the circle. The Stettiner Hütte (2875m) serves as the base here.

The path then leads down to Pfelders (1622m), out of Pfelderer Valley and via both Innerhütt and Ausserhütt in Ulfas (1500m), to link up with the Meraner Höhenweg (south).

Best Season: early-summer to autumn

Signage: well-marked, path no. 24

Duration:
Katharinaberg – Vorderkaser: 2 hours 40 minutes
Vorderkaser – Eishof: 1½ hours
Eishof – Stettiner Hütte: 3 hours
Stettiner Hütte – Pfelders: 3 hours
Pfelders – Innerhütt: 1 hour
Innerhütt – Ulfas: 2 hours

Stettiner Hütte

From Pfelders, take the Meraner Höhenweg (no. 24) to Lazinseralm and then continue on the same path until you reach the Stettiner Hütte.

Duration: approx. 4 hours
Altitude Difference: 1263m

NB: The Stettiner Hütte was destroyed in an avalanche during the 2013/14 winter season. The Pächter family has, in the meantime, built a provisional shack and continues to provide hikers with refreshments, meals and drinks. The temporary building can sleep approx. 50 guests.

Zwickauer Hütte

From Pfelders, take path no. 6a to the Zwickauer Hütte (2980m). Return using the same route.

Altitude Difference: 1356m
Duration (return): 8-9 hours