Hiking tours
Our hiking suggestions in the area:
The ’Waalwege’:
The ’Waale’ are ancestral, artificial watercourses, which in some areas are still used for the irrigation of fields and meadows. Deriving from major watercourses, artificial gutters bring the water with a small gap along the mountain slopes. The narrow paths along these rivulets invite the guests searching relax, to hike and photography. The ’Meraner Land’ embrace nearly 50 Waalwege, to completely rewrite them is impossible at this point (relevant literature in our house). Nevertheless, here are some suggestions for hiking the most attractive Waalwege:
Riffianer Waalweg
Itinerary: Riffian Centre - Kirchweg - Rösslweg - Waalweg - Kuens - Kuensertal
Length: approx. 3 km
Description: The ascent to the Waalweg via Kirchweg or Rösslweg. The Rösslweg branches off after approx. 400 m on the left from the Kirchweg, and leads slightly uphill to the shooting range, where the Riffianer Waalweg begins. It runs between the edge of forest and meadows to Kuens, and ends in the Kuensertal. The return trip can be on the Kuenserstraße, the Valtmaunweg or on the Hohlgasse. Who want, can drive to the starting point of the Waalweg in the Kuensertal (parking lot) and walk from there to Riffian (approx. 45 Min.).
Length: about 1 1/2 - 2 hours
Difficulty: easy and without problems.
Kuenser Waalweg
Itinerary: Kuens - Inn Gasthof Ungericht - Mutlechnerhof - Kuenser Waalweg - Longfall - Unterer Waalweg - Kuenser Straße
Length: 5 km
Description: From the Gasthof Ungericht (Schalenstein) for about 10 min. along the road up to the Mutlechnerhof (837 m), form where the marked way bring you in further 15 min. to the over 600 years old Kuenser Waal (Certificate Hütterhof in Kuens). Like all the Waalwege, so also the Kuenser Waalweg conducts more or less smoothly. One follows to his origin, to the Waalfassung on the Finelebach (1020 m), which includes nearly 90 min. walking time (refreshment possible at the Longfallhof). Beyond the bridge, walking to the right side of the Waal, a few hundred meters down to the valley, than turn sharply left, and you arrive to the lower Waalweg, through shady forests back to the inn Gasthof Ungericht.
Walking time: about 2 1/2 hours
Difficulty: easy and without problems
Algunder Waalweg
Itinerary: Ober- and Mitterplars - Algund Dorf - Gratsch
Length: 5 - 6 km
Description: The Algunder Waalweg is a two-piece, 5 - 6 km long hiking trail with beautiful panorama into the Etschtal Valley, which runs almost smoothly. The western side begins at the parking lot of the bridge Töllgrabenbrücke and conduct over Ober- and Mitterplars to the Grabenbach. The eastern part begins in the village of Algund Dorf at the Grabenbach, and leads to St. Magdalena in Gratsch, where you have a connection to the promenade Tappeinerpromenade.
Walking time: about 2 hours
Difficulty: easy
Marlinger Waalweg
Itinerary: Töll - Marling - Tscherms - Lana
Length: 13 km; almost entirely over flat terrain
Description: The Marlinger Waalweg is reachable from various places like the others. It has its beginning at Töll, where the water of the river Etsch derived, runs on the slopes of the mountain Marlinger Berg slightly above the villages Forst, Marling and Tscherms, passes the Castle Lebenberg and leads to the Raffeingraben at Lana, where the water course flow into the Falschauer. The way, which has again and again benches at beautiful view points, and where you can also stop on the way at different inns, was made in the first half of the 18th century.
Walking time: about 3 – 3 1/2 hours
Orientation and difficulty: easy and without problems; ways marked and signposted.
Verdinser Waalweg
Itinerary: Schenna - Pichler - St. Georgen - Schenna
Length: 7,5 km
Description: In Schenna, walking to the Castle, over to the northern edge of the village, following the signs Waalweg mostly on old paths, through fruit gardens consistently rising only moderately, passing by houses and courtyards. Now the way brings up to the inn Gasthaus Pichler, where the Waalweg has its beginning (from Schenna approx. 3/4 hour). After walking first on the Waalweg in nearly flat forts’ walk south, then cross the stone Steps – Katzenleiter – and above St. Georgen to the Gsteirerweg, you reach signposts, where the Waal – trip ends. Now turn sharp right and a field track, and you reach the street St. Georgenstraße, which leads back to Schenna.
Walking time: about 2 1/2 - 3 hours
Orientation and difficulty: absolute easy; routes well marked and signposted
Partschinser Waalweg
Itinerary: Partschins - Salten - Gasthof Niedermair - Partschins
Length: 5 km
Description: Walking 1/2 hour above the village centre of Partschins (towards to waterfall) at Salten (on the right side from the big Saltenstein) you reach the start of the Partschinser Waalweg. It runs in an easterly direction, over Burgstall and ends at the inn Gasthof Niedermair in the district Vertigen.
Walking time: approx. 2 hours
Orientation and difficulty: easy and without problems; path signposted
Brandiser Waalweg- Lana
Schnalswaalweg / Tscharser Waalweg
(Length: 10 km, Walking time: approx. 3,5 hours)
From Altratheis in Schnalstal Valley on the right side of the valley, the path takes you at the beginning to a splendid coniferous forest. Then follows a steep slope – Take care: Here are exceptionally asked to be free from giddiness and surefootedness! Also, you should ask before hiking your landlord ort he Tourist Office about the condition of the road (after heavy rains a tour isn’t recommended). Before you reach the inn 'Buschenschank Schlosswirt Juval’, a long way goes downhill. Over Castle Juval, residence of the extreme mountaineer Reinhold Messner and museum with an extensive Tibetika collection, Mountain Gallery and mask collection (open: 28.03. until the end of June, early September to early November, daily except Wednesday from 10.00 a.m. – 16.00 p.m.), after birch groves you reach Tschars, Galsaun and Kastelbell, where you can descend back to the village centre at vineyard Weingut Köfelgut.
Stabener Waalweg
(Length: 2,5 km, Walking time: about 1 hour)
In the village of Tschars at the inn Gasthof Himmelreich the way leads towards in direction of Staben, along the Sonnenberg. The last piece you’ll find the best vineyards of the winery Unterortl at Castle Hill Juval. The wines could be tasted directly at the winery (wine guide every 2nd Thursday of the month, enrolment in the tourism office). From the winery a shuttle bus runs from Castle Juval into the valley, or you can climb on the path nr. 1 to Staben.
Latschanderwaalweg
(Length: 6 km, Walking time: about 2, 5 – 3 hours)
From the hamlet Weiler Tiss in the village of Goldrain starts the Latschanderwaalweg. On the sunny hillside along the trail winds above the Etsch gorge along to Kastelbell.
Partschinser Waalweg
(Length: 5 km, Walking time: about 2 hours)
One walking hour above the village centre of Partschins (towards to the waterfall) at Salten – at the big Saltenstein on the right side – begins the Partschinser Waalweg. It runs in an easterly direction over the Burgstall and ends at the inn Gasthof Niedermair in the village district Vertigen.