Fleimstal Alps

With the Parco Naturale Paneveggio – Pale di San Martino in the Trentino part of the mountain range and the Naturpark Trudner Horn in the South Tyrolean area, the Fleimstaler Alps have two significant, worthy of protection cultural landscapes.

In addition, the spruce forest of Paneveggio has made a big name for itself among the violin makers of the world. The fine-grained wood of the locally native spruce is highly valued as tonewood for violins, violas, guitars, as well as for alphorns and harps due to its excellent resonance behavior. This gave the forest the name "Geigenwald". The administrative headquarters of the nature park, founded in 1967 in the east of Trentino, can be found in Villa Welsperg in Tonadico, which also houses a mineral collection, a wood collection, and a herbarium on display.

Located on the southern edge of South Tyrol, about 15 kilometers from Bolzano, is the Naturpark Trudner Horn, which has existed since 1980. As the only South Tyrolean nature park that does not exceed the 2,000-meter mark in its entirety, the diversity of fauna and flora is particularly large. In addition to subalpine spruce forests and sub-Mediterranean bush forests, there are also wet meadows and moors. The harsh climate in the northeast contrasts with Mediterranean-like temperatures in the southwest of the park. The most important elevations are the eponymous Trudner Horn (1,781 meters), the Königswiese (1,622 meters), and the Cislon (1,563 meters).

As the highest mountain in the Fleimstaler Alps, the Cima d’Asta (2,487 meters) northeast of the Italian municipality of Al Bòrgo lures hikers into its rocky landscape. Below the south wall, right next to the mountain lake Lago di Cima d’Asta, the Rifugio Cima d’Asta – Ottone Brentari mountain hut invites you to a cozy stopover.

Despite its steep final ascent, the ascent of the Weißhorn (2,317 meters) is a relatively easy tour to tackle. The most popular route (just over 3 hours) leads from Jochgrimm through meadows and Swiss stone pine forests along a marked path to the summit, where a magnificent view of the Dolomites awaits. The descent is via the Gurndinalm to the Isihütte, where South Tyrolean bacon, rustic pasta dishes, or hearty dumplings delight the senses. The return to the starting point is via alpine meadows.

At the foot of the Weißhorn, you will find the spectacular Bletterbach Gorge, a 15,000-year-old natural wonder, also known as the "Grand Canyon of South Tyrol."

The Schwarzhorn (2,439 meters) is also not particularly difficult to climb. From Jochgrimm, you go through an alpine meadow, later on a rocky path through the forest to the ski slope and the mountain station, then over boulders to the summit. The descent is via the Cime di Ronches to the Kugeljoch and via the Untere Kugelalm also to the Isihütte (a total of 4 hours).

Skiers are spoiled by the Fleimstaler Alps with a total of more than 170 kilometers of slopes and 60 ski lifts. The highest ski area in the mountain group can be found in Latemar-Obereggen/Pampeago/Predazzo at an altitude of 2,388 meters. In addition, San Martino di Castrozza impresses as the largest ski area in the Fleimstaler Alps with 60 kilometers of slopes.