Reinswalder Wiesn sledge run

Reinswald is situated in the beautiful Sarentino valley and it is only 1 hour drive from Trento. Reinswald boasts one of the longest sledge runs in South Tyrol: 4.5 km long Reinswalder Wiesn. We liked the place a lot and we want to return there this summer to explore more.

We went there last Sunday. It was very busy and we left our car at the free of charge car park and took the shuttle bus to the cable car station. It was all very well organised. From there you can decide if you want to follow a well signposted path (1.5 hour walk) towards Malga Pichlberg or take the cable car. Either way, you have to remember to rent your sledges at the cable car station in the valley.
Once up there we didn't want to go down right away so we decided to walk a bit towards Gedrumalm (it is a 50 minute walk from the cable car station). After about 15 minutes, the path got narrower and it continued towards the valley, which meant we would have had to come back up again. The views were worth it, though. It was also quieter than at the Pichlberg restaurant.

Going down with our sledges was very thrilling, and at times we were going very fast. As already mentioned, it felt crowded so we wouldn't say that we enjoyed it as much as the other sledge runs in South Tyrol. We stopped for a moment at malga Sunnolm, but, as it was packed as well, we decided to carry on towards the cable car station.

To sum up, it is a beautiful part of South Tyrol with one of the longest sledge runs but if you can, avoid weekends. As for the easy winter walks, we didn't feel it had such a big choice like, for example, Renon. We haven't explored it all, though.

How to get there: 

By car from Trento: follow the A22 towards Bozen/ Bolzano, take the exit at Bozen Nord/ Bolzano Nord and follow the indications for Sarntal/ Val Sarentino. 


For alternative means of transport please see the following website:
http://www.reinswald.com/cms/en/the-quickest-way-to-your-winter-fun.html

Duration: whole day;

Sledge run level: easy to intermediate, 

Refreshments and toilet facilities: cable car station, Malga Pichlberg and Malga Sunnolm

Useful websites:

http://www.reinswald.com/cms/en/sportarten/rodeln.html

Monte Bondone in winter

Although our blog is for families, this time we are going to write about a walk we did without our children in tow. We feel we have to write about Monte Bondone because it is so near us.

That's where many children from Trento learn how to ski and it's also a great destination for cross country skiing and snow shoe hiking.

We went to Monte Bondone one Monday morning when our children were at school. We left our car at the Viote car park which is free of charge Monday to Friday. We asked for some information at the Cross Country Skiing Centre and they gave us some very basic directions, namely that we could go left or right. We decided to go towards the Prati Wolchenstein and we got to Bocca Vaiona. After some time the path got narrower and it was difficult to walk without the snow shoes. Luckily for us the sun was shining and the snow was soft and melting in places. We think we got up to La Rosta from where we had a gorgeous view of the Brenta mountains and the valley/ Valle dei Laghi with the Toblino Lake. We say we think because there was no sign on the mountain saying where we were other than a sign in Italian saying hunting was forbidden! It was a great walk with splendid views but definitely not suitable for small children. Don't be put off though, there is still another walk to explore on Monte Bondone. As for sledging, we didn't see any sledge runs but I'm sure you would be able to find some hills there.

All in all we feel that for families who want to enjoy walking or sledging in the mountains in winter, Bondone hasn't got such a rich offer as South Tyrol does.

How to get there:

By car:
From Trento follow the indications for Monte Bondone (SS45bis). You will have 2 choices: either passing through Sardagna or through Sopramonte. I prefer the latter one because the road is less bendy. Go up, up, up until you get to Viote Centro Fondo, turn right when you see a sign for Rifugio Viote. We parked our car at the empty car park which, judging from the bar and a little hut, you most likely have to pay for during busy periods. This car park is right next to the woodland playground.

By bus:

Bus nr 202 that takes you to Vason and Viote (link to the website with the timetable, only in Italian)

Duration: half a day or whole day if you go skiing as well;

Level: easy if you stay near Centro Fondo di Viote (cross country skiing centre), difficult if you venture out anywhere else;

Toilets and refreshments:the closest one is Rifugio Viote next to the playground, no baby changing facilities;

Puflatsch, Seiser Alm/ Bullaccia, Alpe di Siusi

Seiser Alm, Alpe di Siusi in Italian, is our favourite winter destination in South Tyrol. It's got everything: a variety of wide ski slopes, miles of winter paths, breathtaking scenery and lots of places to stop for a meal or a hot drink. The area is so vast that somehow everyone finds a place for themselves and it never feels crowded. 

Puflatsch, Bullaccia in Italian, is known for the witches' stories. (See our older posts on Alpe di Siusi.) It is a perfect place to admire the panorama; from here you can see all the surrounding mountains, including: Schlern (Scillar) and Saslonch (Sassolungo) and even Marmolada in the distance. The panorama viewing point is not far away from the restaurant Puflatsch Bullaccia. Turn right near the restaurant and follow the path going up to the viewing point.

We got up there using the cable car Puflatsch/ Bullaccia where we also rented our sledges free of charge. From the ski lift/cable car Puflatsch/ Bullaccia at 1870m above the sea level you get to Puflatsch at 2119m.

If you prefer walking, you can follow a well sign posted path but don't forget to get your sledges first at the Puflatsch cable car station. The walk takes about one hour. We stopped at the restaurant and then took our sledges down. It was relatively easy, although the ice in some places made us go very fast. 

How to get there: 

By car: From Trento follow the A22 towards Bozen Nord/ Bolzano Nord, follow the indications for Seiser Alm/ Alpe di Siusi. The road leading to the Alpe di Siusi Nature Protection Reserve is blocked from 9 a.m. until 5 p.m. (exception for guests of facilities located on the Alpe di Siusi) so you need to leave you car at the free of charge car park and then take the cable car to Kompatsch/Seiser Alm. The cost for a family of 4 is about 27 euros (a return ticket), children under 5 go free of charge. You have to add the tickets to go up to Puflatsch from Kompatsch. (3.50 euros per adult, children under 6 go free)

For bus and train travel we refer you to the following website:

http://www.alpedisiusi.net/en/alpe-di-siusi/arrival.html

Duration: whole day

Sledge run: medium level; it's 1,8km long

Refreshments and toilet facilities: restaurant Puflatsch/ Bullaccia; toilets available at the cable car station as well. Since it is South Tyrol, all places have baby changing facilities.

Renon Plateau- Bolzano

We have discovered another great place for families and not only; it is very good for both, winter sports and winter walks. 

Renon is just above South Tyrol's capital Bozen/ Bolzano, so it's like what Monte Bondone is for Trento but it offers much more than Bondone in terms of walks and sledging; and it takes only about 50 minutes by car to get there from Trento.

We went there on a Sunday and it was not too busy. We had a great day with a bit of walking first and sledging afterwards. The kids were happy because we took the cable car and we stopped to have a meal at the restaurant.

We parked at the free of charge car park near the cable car station  of Rittner Horn at Pommern (1541m above the sea level). We got our tickets for the cable car and rented out a pair of sledges from the nearby rental service. (You pay for it when you get your ticket for the cable car.)

We took the cable car to the Schwarzseespitze at 2070 m above the sea level and we found ourselves in a sort of winter paradise. It was what we like: tranquil and breathtaking, with lots of winter paths to choose from. Seeing all this we did not want to go straight down with our sledges and we decided to walk first. To be honest we were unprepared as to where to go but we asked somebody and they advised us to do the Panorama walk. Of course, we are sure, you prefer to be much more prepared than us, so here is the website where you will find all the winter walks around Renon: http://www.ritten.com/en/active/snowtrekking/

The Panorama walk is very easy, by all means suitable for families and indeed, we saw some buggies on our way. We followed a very well sign posted path, passed by a round panorama table with an info point and a splendid view of the surrounding mountains, including Seiser Alm/ Alpe di Siusi. After about one hour of a leisurely walk we were back to our starting point. We went to have lunch in the restaurant and then set off towards the valley. The sledge run was icy in places and we were going very fast at times.

All in all, we had a great time and we'd love to go back there not only in winter. 

How to get there: 

By car from Trento: take the A22 towards Bozen/ Bolzano, take the exit at Bozen Nord/ Bolzano Nord and follow the indications for Renon. 

For alternative means of transport, including the Ritten cable car from Bolzano please go to the following website: http://www.ritten.com/en/active/snowtrekking/

Duration: whole day;

Sledge run level: easy to medium; it's 2.5km long;

Refreshments and toilet facilities: at the cable car station in the valley and at the Schwarzseespitze. Baby changing facilities are also available.

Useful websites: 

http://www.ritten.com/en/