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/

Laabalm/ Malga Laab near Deutschnofen/Nova Ponente

Malga Laab, situated at 1649m above the sea level, is a kind of small no thrills little place very popular with the locals, therefore an excellent choice if you want to experience the real South Tyrol.

From where we park it takes us usually about 45 minutes (1.5 km long, the difference in the altitude is 200m) to get to the malga. We have our hot tea with cakes, after which we borrow their sledges to go down the slope. It is about 15 minute long exhilarating ride back to the car park.

How to get there:

By car from Trento take the A22 towards Bozen/ Bolzano. Take the exit at Egna/ Neumarkt/ Ora/ Auer/ Cavalese and follow the indications for Deutschnofen/ Nova Ponente.

We follow the indications for Malga Laab and park near the woods at the DIY (it seems) car park called Buehlhof. Basically, when you get to Deutschnofen/Nova Ponente, turn left towards the ski lifts, pass them on your left and follow the road for about 1km until you get to the car park.

Duration: from half day to one day 

Level: easy path leading up to the Malga, although 45 minute walk can be long for some children. It's about 1.5km long.

Refreshments and toilet facilities: at Malga Laab

Malga Laab tel. 0471 616733

Florian in Seiseralm/Alpe di Siusi

Seiseralm/Alpe di Siusi is the largest mountain plateau in Europe, very popular with tourists both, in summer and in winter. We've been there in winter on many occasions and we loved it because it's very well organised and they have great facilities for families.

 

The starting point is at the ski lift Florian. You have the option of either taking your own sledges/toboggan or renting them out when you buy your tickets (you can pay at the ski lift down in the valley station in Saltria and you get them on top of the Florian mountain (2100m above the sea level). Here's the website of the Florian ski lift in English with all the prices etc.  

From Williams Huette follow the indications for the toboggan slope and go down towards Tirler where you can stop for tea/coffee and then follow further on towards Saltria. Leave your sledge near the Hotel Roasalpina.

How to get there:

Not having a car here is both a blessing and a curse. No cars obviously means cleaner air, little traffic, unspoilt landscapes. But getting here by cable car is quite expensive. You can, however, get a bus to Kompatsch or Saltria or you can come here by car but only within certain hours (before 9 a.m. or after 5p.m). If you are staying at one of the hotels in Seiser Alm, you'll get a speciall pass to allow you to drive up to Seiser Alm/ Aple di Siusi.

By car: From Trento follow A22 towards Bozen/ Bolzano, take the exit Bozen Nord, follow the indications for Seiseralm/ Alpe di Siusi.

By bus or train: For how to get there by bus or train please sea the link below.
http://www.seiseralm.it/en/service/arrival/

By bus and cablecar: For the link for timetable for bus connections and the cable car from Seis am Schlern/ Siusi allo Sciliar to Seiseralm/ Alpe di Siusi please see the link below.
http://www.seiseralmbahn.it/en/arrival/

Level: easy

Refreshments and toilet facilities: in various malghe (alpine mountain huts), for example: Williams Huette, Zallinger or Tirler;

Useful websites: 

http://www.seiseralm.it/en/

http://www.florianlift.it/en/chairlift-florian/

Sledging and winter walks in Obereggen

The region of Trentino and South Tyrol is a popular winter destination for skiers.

Not everyone, however, knows how to ski or likes this sport. We have discovered that there is plenty more on offer in this part of Italy, so there is no excuse for staying at home in winter.

Trentino and South Tyrol differ in how they approach the snow activities. In South Tyrol you will find many paths prepared for winter walks and sledge slopes taken care of daily. Sledges are often provided free of charge. In Trentino they don't have the same culture. The sledge slopes are scarce and winter paths are unprepared. Instead you can rent a pair of snowshoes and go for a walk. It's a very popular sport in winter but not very suitable for small children. Therefore, if you are a family, we would advise you to go to South Tyrol. You don't need there any special snowshoes, the paths have beaten snow and, as always in South Tyrol, you'll find plenty on offer for children.


All our suggestions of sledging slopes can double as excellent winter walks destinations.

Oberregen is one of the most popular ski resorts of the Dolomites.It offers a variety of winter walks and at least 3 sledge slopes. We've done only one of them.

The starting point is at Epircher Laner Alm at above the sea level. Here you can have something warm to eat or drink. You have to bring your own sledges or rent them at the starting point near the ski lifts in the valley. You won't find any sledges in Laner Alm. 

The slope is 2.5km long and it takes about 45 minutes -1 hour to walk up here from down in he valley. (The difference in altitude is about 280m.) If you don't want to walk, you can take a ski lift "Ochsenweide" from the valley towards Epircher. The slope is rated as easy-medium and we advise you to go slowly on the bends. The path has safety fencing and is separated with a fence from a pedestrian path.

What's interesting about this sledge slope is that you can go sledging at night on certain days as well. The days are: Tuesdays, Thursdays and Fridays from 7pm to 22pm and that's when the path is illuminated and the ski lifts are open as well.

How to get there: from Trento take the A22 towards Bozen Nord/ Bolzano Nord.  Follow the indications for Eggental/Val d'Ega and Obereggen. You'll find there plenty of places to park.

Duration: full day

Level: easy to medium

Refreshments and toilet facilities: in Oberregen and Epircher/Laner Alm

Useful websites:

http://www.obereggen.com/en/how-to-reach.html