Hiking in the Val Sarentino Alps

Difficulty: moderate

Distance: 10 km 

Vertical climb: 973 m

Max. height: 2460 m
Start the tour from the car park near the Riedlerhof farm. Take the mostly steep but not too difficult marked trail no. 3 that leads through forest, boulders and rocky terrain to the wind gap where there is a wind shelter. Then make the ascent following trail no. 2 up to the cross on the Sarner Scharte summit.  Experienced hikers can return via the depression between the two peaks on the secured trail no. 18A down to the Waldrast hut and back to the starting point. Inexperienced hikers should descend via the same route as for the ascent.

Difficulty: difficult

Distance: 15,5 km

Vertical climb: 1230

Max. height: 2739 m

At Valdurna – Durnholz (car park; from Bolzano, junction for Campolaste-Astfeld) we will drive along the lake; at the junction we will take route 16, going up through the forest and passing the Seebbachalm alpine hut. Walking across grazing land, mountain pines, boulders and scree we reach the Flaggerscharte Col, the lake and refuge (2,481 m, open in summer; approx. 3 hours). We will continue southwards on a marked path among boulders and scree and around the Lorenzenspitze, and eventually walk up to the cross on the summit (2,741 m, 1 hour from the refuge). Return via the same route (2.5 hours).

Difficulty: moderate

Distance: 6,7 km

Vertical climb: 370 m

Max. height: 1990 m

Coming from Sarentino (Sarnthein) go up to the Gasthaus Sarner ski lodge. From there, take the wide Trail No. 2 through the forest up to Auener Alm (1796 m; tavern) and continue on Trail No. 2 through alpine pasturelands, with a slight grade, up to Auener Joch. Follow signs for Stoanerne Mandln, and continue south along the signposted trail, across a broad ridge of pastureland. You’ll reach the highest point of Großen Reisch in just a half hour, where you’ll find a weather cross and the Stoanernen Mandln cairns (2,003 m); 1.5 hours from the Gasthaus Sarner ski lodge. The descent is the same as the route of ascent.

Difficulty: moderate

Distance: 10,8 km

Vertical climb: 610 m

Max. height: 2654 m

From Penser Joch (2214 m, "Alpenrosenhof" mountain restaurant, road crossing between Sterzing in the upper Valle Isarco and Pens in the Sarn valley), follow marking 12A throughout, starting off westward on a wide path to the small Penser Joch lake, from here uphill on a good and safe mountain track, then (with minor altitude variations) across steep, south-facing slopes in westerly direction to the Dolomite boulder area above the Steinwandsee, briefly up to the Gerölljoch, then right on to an exposed rocky path which is, however, mostly fitted with ropes (still following marling 12A) through the mountain's rocky, very steep southern flank straight up to the summit ridge, finally right to the nearby summit cross (2705 m, 2:30 hrs. from Penser Joch).
For the return to Penser Joch best to follow the described route (around 2 hrs.); however, a descent to Weissenbach is an option, but with very steep sections below the Gerölljoch.

Difficulty: difficult

Distance: 12,8 km

Vertical climb: 1180 m

Max. height: 2705 m

Drive through to the hamlet of Sonvigo (Aberstückl) and on to Lahnerhof Farm. From there follow Trail No. 7A, turning slightly left through the woods uphill to a knoll with a cross (called Kirchberg). Continue on the partly flat and uphill slopes and eroding ditches to Malga Anteran (Anteranalm) mountain pasture (2,053 m; 1.5 hours from Lahnerhof). From the hut, take the steep Trail No. 7 up to the fork, and then turn right at the fork. Continue on Trail No. 7 (a well-marked trail), past stony grassy slopes and finally over craggy ground and boulders in switchbacks up to the summit at 2,781 m; just under 2 hours from the pasture; 3.5 hours from Lahnerhof Farm.
Descent: Return using the same trail; about 2.5 hours from the summit.