Northern Half of the Meraner Höhenweg

This route is a detour set up by the authorities of the Meraner Höhenweg. The Meraner Höhenweg Trail No. 24 between Katharinaberg and the Pfossental is temporarily closed due to the risk of falling rocks. Instead, you must use the local detour from Sellboden via Tumlhof and along the road into the Pfossental until Nassreidhof. This detour adds about 1.5 hours to the hiking time, and signs are in place to guide you through this section.

From Katharinaberg, the route leads towards Sellboden. Here, you will leave the original closed trail and follow the detour via Tumlhof. Continue along the road into the Pfossental valley until you reach Nassreidhof. Trail No. 24 after Nassreidhof is now open, so you can rejoin the usual route through the valley from this point. The route then runs parallel to the Rio Val di Fosse and a series of rapids and waterfalls before reaching the Mitterkaser Alm and Rableidalm mountain huts. The profile shows a steady incline towards the Upper Pfossental.

After a long, steady approach through the Pfossental valley, you will arrive at Eishof. Once you reach the end, the most challenging part of the trek is over, and you can relax after following a clear but demanding route which includes a significant detour through the lower valley.

Alternative 1: From Katharinaberg, take public bus line 261, which departs every hour at :27, to the “Abzweigung Pfossental” stop. From there, walk along the provincial road to the Pfossental valley.

Alternative 2: Shuttle and taxi services are available in the area. Two local operators are Taxi Spechtenhauser, reachable at +39 333 837 9638, and Shuttle Helmuth, reachable at +39 348 498 4756.

This stage begins at Eishof (2,074 m) and moves through meadows and peaks. The trail starts gently through pastures, then steepens as it climbs over rocky terrain with scree. After about two hours, you reach the Eisjöchl, the highest point on the Meraner Höhenweg at 2,895 meters, offering views of the Hohe Wilde and Hohe Weiße peaks.

At the top, there is a temporary shelter where you can rest. The descent features switchbacks through rocky and grassy slopes. The trail is well-marked but can be slippery, so caution is needed. As you descend, you’ll pass streams and waterfalls before entering larch and pine forests as the path levels out. The stage ends at the car-free village of Pfelders, where you can rest and have a warm meal.

This is a long but mostly descending stage of just over 20 km from Pfelders towards St. Martin in Passeier. The route begins high in the valley and gradually loses height through a mix of riverside paths, forest tracks, paved sections and quieter village terrain. It is not a technical stage, but the distance and long descent make steady pacing useful.

From Pfelders, you follow trail No. 24 through Innerhütt and Außerhütt, then cross the Pfeldererbach River and continue towards Krössbichl, where the northern and southern routes meet. The trail then reenters the Texelgruppe Nature Park, passing through Ulfas and into the Kammerwald forest. Both Pichlohof (in Pichl, just before Ulfas) and Christlhof (closed on Sundays, and located almost 5 km further on) are good places to stop for food and drink.

As you near the end of the stage, the route continues to descend passing viewpoints overlooking Val Passiria. The route then makes a significant bend from south to north. At the junction, follow signpost number 4 to reach St. Martin in Passeier/San Martino in Passiria in approximately 30 minutes. The village is a convenient ending point, with bus line 240 providing a regular service back to Merano.