Wonderful trails in Val d'Ega

“Bankelrunde” in Eggen

Easy, shorter tour around Eggen with a beautiful mountain panorama

Starting point: Bikehotel Marica
Level of difficulty: easy
Distance: 21 km
Duration: 2.30 h
Elevation gain: 670
Highest point: 1.559 m

From the village square of Ega we cycle west, following path no. 7 towards the Kobhof farm (asphalt road). A single trail (no. 7) leads to the Löwen inn. By the bridge near the civil protection centre, we then follow along the pavement by the main road towards Nova Levante. We turn right over the bridge, then along path no. 10 until we reach the gate by the reservoir. After the gate we continue along the forest road (do not take the first road on the left), climb slightly until the large hairpin bend, then we go downhill until we reach the turning area, with a superb panorama. After a slight climb we then take the steep descent towards Schang farm. Our route continues along easy forest roads until the fork before the farm, and we follow directions to Geigerhof and Reiterhof. After about 1 km, we take the steep path behind the gate (the alternate route to the Stadelalm is also possible – 500 m). After a short climb the path takes us, onto path no. 8 (Templweg). We cycle south-east until we reach the Bewallerhof farm, after passing by the bench known as the Bankele after which the tour is named. From here, a 2.5 km alternative route leads to the Häusler Sam guesthouse. We cycle back to Ega along the asphalt road, or down path no. 0 (“Schandweg”). 

Marica Val d’Ega tour

A full-day cycling tour along old paths leading down to the valley, return by cable car (or bike)

Starting point: Bikehotel Marica
Level of difficulty: schwierig
Distance: 44 km
Duration: 6.00 h
Elevation gain: 1.720
Highest point: 1.475 m

AFrom Ega, we cycle around 5 km towards Bolzano, then turn left opposite the junction for San Valentino in Campo. We cycle through the gravel quarry onto the old road leading to Val d’Ega. We go past the bridge at the waste-water treatment plant, behind the Holteg hall and along the stream until we reach a narrow section of the road. After the bridge we turn right, continue through the tunnel then along the road until we reach the entrance of the first tunnel. We turn right across the concrete barrier and onto the old road, through the gorge and the tunnel carved in the rock with a waterfall, to the former stone quarries. After a short, steep road downhill, we cycle between the two tunnels until we reach the road. We continue through the tunnel, then turn right at the roundabout into the industrial estate. We follow south along the cycle path at a leisurely pace, until we reach the bridge Campiglio. We turn left beneath the motorway until we reach the cable way station between Bolzano and Colle, and take the cable car back (closed from 11–12 am).

The 9-km trip back by bike has an elevation gain of 900 m: we take the asphalt road no. 3 to the Schneiderwiese inn, then along the gravel road no. 1, to the highest point of the tour. We continue along path no. 1 (marked also E5) – or alternatively take the easier route across the Klausalm – to the 'Toten Moos'. From here, it is possible to tackle the short yet demanding stretch of road to reach the panoramic lookout point, known as Rotwand. We then continue until we reach the Wölflhof farm, through the centre of the village, and at the roundabout we take the main road towards Bolzano. Opposite the Schwarzenbach inn we turn right and follow path no. 8 (gravel path) to Novale and back towards Ega.

To the observatory in San Valentino in Campo

This route of medium difficulty takes us to the only observatory in South Tyrol

Starting point: Bikehotel Marica
Level of difficulty: medium
Distance: 27 km
Duration: 6.00 h
Elevation gain: 840
Highest point: 1.425 m

From the centre of the Ega village, we cycle towards Bolzano, and after around 5 km, opposite the junction for San Valentino in Campo, we turn left through the gravel quarry. We then cycle past the waste-water treatment plant and continue along the old Val d’Ega road towards Bolzano. At the Holteg hall, we turn right over a small bridge and then links uphill, along the main road to Halser. An old road (later marked O) leads to the asphalt road between Cardano-San Valentino in Campo. We cycle uphill, passing several hairpin bends, for around 4 km until we reach the Oberölgart Buschenschank beer garden. We turn off into the car park located directly by the hairpin bend along the forest road (Z), and from here continue until we reach the junction for Kaserbild. We continue along the asphalt road, then northwards behind the church, along path no. 5 until we reach the Tschigghof farm. We take the planetary trail until the observatory and the Unteregger guest house. Return trip: We take the asphalt road until Obergummer, then take the turning towards Nova Levante until we reach the Kohlerhof farm. Just past the Kohler stables, we turn off through the pasture until we reach the stream of Welschnofer. We cross over the bridge and continue along the main road towards Nova Levante (around 500 m). At the car park (behind the gate), we turn right and follow along the steep road towards Ega. After climbing up to path no. 7, we descend sharply back towards the farm, then cycle back along the road to Ega.

Fleeting visit to Trentino

Medium-difficulty full-day tour across passes, meadows and forests, to the Karer Pass and Trentino

Starting point: Bikehotel Marica
Level of difficulty: medium
Distance: 45 km
Duration: 6.00 h
Elevation gain: 1.800
Highest point: 2.161 m

From Eggen, we take the path no. 0 eastwards towards the Oberlehnerhof farm, and then on to the Fleckerhof farm. We then cross over the road of Obereggen, turn left after the farm, along the gravel quarry road then uphill across the meadows. After two short, steep ramps, we come to path no. 8, by a hairpin bend. This route takes us south-east across a meadow, followed by a flat section, and after two fences, we turn right across the meadow (path no. 10). When we reach a small group of houses, we take the main road to Obereggen, then climb uphill for around 2 km until the lift station. Behind the car park, path no. 9 starts off towards the Bewaller guest house. After a slight descent past the Bewaller guest house, we turn into path no. 8, towards the Karer lake. We cycle past the lake, firstly along path no. 12, then no. 10 towards the Karer Pass. At the junction opposite the Grand Hotel, we follow path no. 13 uphill. This leads to path no. 21, which we take until we reach the mountain station of the Hubertus aerial tram.

We can take the pass path no. 519 (a detour to Malga Secine is also possible), and after a climb of around 550 metres, we cycle downhill towards Moena. On the cycle path by the river, we turn off in a southerly direction towards Predazzo. After 15–20 minutes we reach the valley station of the Latemar cable way (note the midday closing times of the cable way). We take the lift to the Feodo Pass at a height of 2,200 m. We follow the ski slope and trail (no. 504–521) downhill until we reach the Zischgalm guest house. We continue across the alpine meadow trail in the direction of Obereggen until the Laneralm. We turn left onto the 'Großwiesen' (path no. 10), and when the road forks into routes 11 and 10, we remain on path no. 10 and take the road, with some steep downhill sections, to Obereggen. We continue along a short section of asphalt road then turn right on path no. 10 back towards Ega.

In the shadow of the Latemar

Across the Lavazè Pass, across alpine meadows around the Latemar

Starting point: Obereggen
Level of difficulty: medium
Distance: 37 km
Duration: 3.45 h
Elevation gain: 1.110
Highest point: 2.008 m

From the cable way station in the valley of Obereggen, we cycle uphill along the asphalt road until we reach the mountain hut Epircher Laner Alm, then turn off right at the barrier towards the mountain hut Absam Stube. We continue until we reach pass road SS 620, then turn left into the street to the Lavazè Pass and go uphill until the Lavazè Pass. We follow path no. 7 to the Passo Oclini, then continue along path no. 1 westwards, and cycle downhill towards the mountain hut Neuhütt. We turn right after the waypoint and along the forest path until the Auerleger Alm, then continue downhill for around 400 m. We turn right down path no. 25 across the Auerleger-Moos until we reach the Lavazè Pass. We continue northwards along path no. 9, past the Seehotel, until we reach the mountain hut Liegalm, then cycle 300 m back along the alpine path and downhill into the Schwarzenbach valley until we reach the country road leading to Nova Ponente. We turn right and right again by the Hotel Schwarzenbach, along path no. 8 towards Novale. We stay on the left until we reach the road, cross over the road and tackle the steep climb up to Obereggen.

Clockwise around the Latemar

Tour around the Latemar, across passes and alpine pastures, with breath-taking views of the Dolomites

Starting point: Obereggen
Level of difficulty: difficult
Distance: 49 km
Duration : 5.00 h
Elevation gain: 2.020
Highest point: 2.171 m

From the large car park in Obereggen, we go downhill along path no. 9 until we reach the Bewallerhof farm. We continue along path no. 8, then left along path no. 10. We cross over the road and cycle through the village of Ega and along path no. 7 towards the Kobhof farm. We continue along the forest road until we reach the Löwen inn, then continue along the road towards Nova Levante. When we reach the large car park, we take the cable car up towards the Frommer Alm. From the cablecar station, we take either path no. 1A or the easier, asphalted road, across the wonderful alpine landscape, until we reach the Karer Pass. From here we cycle downhill along path no. 519 into the Fassa valley towards Moena. Along the river Aviso, we take the cycle path away from the valley until the cable car station of Predazzo-Gardone, which goes up to the Gardonè mountain refuge. From there, we take the chair lift to the Feudo Pass. Difficult descent along path no. 504 to the alpine pastures of Ganischg and Zischg. From the Reiter Pass, we follow along the asphalt road across the Epircher Laner pasture (Epircher Laner Alm) back towards Obereggen.

Across the Liegalm pasture

An indulgence tour through shady forests with an all-round view of the Latemar, Catinaccio, Corno Nero and Corno Bianco mountains

Starting point: Obereggen
Level of difficulty: easy
Distance: 19 km
Duration: 2.45 h
Elevation gain: 750
Highest point: 1.757 m

From Obereggen we cycle downhill towards Novale, along path no.8 until we reach Schwarzenbach. We then go uphill along path no. 9 to the Liegalm. We follow the short trail to the Liegbach, then along path no. 11 until we reach the state road. Alternatively we can take the uphill shortcut no. 11. At the hairpin bend, we turn right along path no. 11A and along the Zanggen stream until we reach the mountain hut Absam Stube. We continue along gravel paths and trails (no. 10 and 11) to reach the starting point of the tour.

In the network of trails around Nova Levante

Numerous trails to Nova Levante and back

Starting point: Obereggen
Level of difficulty: medium
Distance: 23 km
Duration: 2.45 h
Elevation gain: 680
Highest point: 1.565 m

From Obereggen, we start off in a westerly direction to the small church of Zischg, and then take the steep downhill path to the main road, which takes us to Novale, where we turn off towards the Weißhof farm. We then turn right again along path no. 7, into the centre of Ega village and on towards the Kobhof farm. We cycle along path no. 7 to the stream Welschnofner Bach and turn right shortly before reaching the village, along path no. 10A along the Welschnofner stream. We take the unmarked gravel path on the right that takes us uphill after the gate. We go uphill at first on path no. 27, then down paths 25, 25A and 8 towards the Bewallerhof guest house. From there, we take the asphalt road back to Obereggen.

To the Passo Nigra

Easy tour from Nova Levante to the Passo Nigra and the Karer lake

Starting point: Nova Levante
Level of difficulty: easy
Distance: 34 km
Duration: 3.00 h
Elevation gain: 840
hHighest point: 1.774 m

From the centre of Nova Levante village, we take the asphalt road towards San Valentino in Campo (an old Roman road – Gummerer Straße) until we reach the Erna guest house. From here, we turn right up the steep uphill path no. 5, and after 200 m reach a gravel path which leads to the junction of paths 2A and 22. We take path no. 2A (“Taufen”) towards Zipperle, then continue along the asphalt road which leads to the Lärchenwald inn. Behind the guesthouse, we turn right into path no. 2 then immediately into path no. 22 towards Wolfsgrubenhoch. From here we take path no. 1 towards the Passo Nigra, then continue along the main road towards the Karer Pass, past Karer lake and back to Nova Levante.

Pleasant alpine pasture tours

Easy tour around alpine pastures from Nova Ponente, past the sanctuary of Madonna di Pietralba to Passo Oclini (Jochgrimm)

Starting point: Nova Ponente
Level of difficulty: easy
Distance: 32 km
Duration: 3.15 h
Elevation gain: 800
Highest point: 1.877 m

From Nova Ponente, we cycle along the toboggan run to the pasture Laabalm, then take path no. 1B to the Peterberger Leger. Here we turn right into path no. 2 towards Madonna di Pietralba. From the monastery, we turn left and cycle up the steep gravel path no. 8, then continue along path no. E5 towards the Schönrastalm. We take a sharp left turn into path no. 2A towards the mountain hut Neuhütt, then along path no. 2 towards the mountain pasture Auerleger. We cycle downhill along the gravel path towards Schwarzenbach, and when we reach the Bayerlsäge, we remain on the left and continue along path no. 9 to the Bielhof farm, then right and downhill back to the starting point.

To the sanctuary of Madonna di Pietralba

Tour of medium difficulty across alpine pastures to the most famous pilgrimage site in South Tyrol

Starting point: Nova Ponente
Level of difficulty: medium
Distance: 30 km
Duration: 4.00 h
Elevation gain: 750
Highest point: 1.009 m

From Nova Ponente we cycle south, past the artisan area and at the junction, we then take path no. 1 towards the mountain pasture Laabalm. We cycle straight ahead down the forest path, then continue along path no. 1 towards Neuhütt. Path no. 2 leads to the pasture Auerleger Alm. We cycle back along the same route for about 100 m, then take path no. 9 uphill towards Passo Oclini and turn right to reach Passo Oclini. We continue along the panoramic path no. 1 in an easterly direction, past the Corno Bianco until we reach a fork in the road, where we take path no. 5 towards the Köser valley. At the junction, we take path no. 5 on the right to the next junction, then turn right into path no. E5 towards the sanctuary of Madonna di Pietralba, downhill along forest paths. We continue straight ahead towards Monte San Pietro, until we reach the communal road then turn right towards the sanctuary of Madonna di Pietralba. We cycle in the direction of St. Leonhard, then take the forest path until the junction after St. Leonhard, where we turn right towards Nova Ponente and uphill along path no. E5 towards Nova Ponente.

Enjoy the fresh summer air of the Bolzano Colle di Villa

This tour of medium difficulty takes us to Colle di Villa, where the noble families of Bolzano once escaped for a breath of fresh air in summer

Starting point: Nova Ponente
Level of difficulty: medium
Distance: 30 km
Duration: 3.15 h
Elevation gain: 900
Highest point: 1.481 m

At the church of Nova Ponente, we continue along path no. 5 and path no. 1 towards Wölflhof, then further on towards Spörlhof. Shortly before then we turn right towards the 'Toten Moos', and along the forest path no. E5 into the Wolftal valley, past the Wolftal alpine pasture. We then continue in the direction of the Herrenkohlern and the Bauernkohlern. We take a sharp right turn and continue along path no. 1 towards Bad St. Isidor. We stay on the right and continue along path no. 7 towards Röllhof. We cycle downhill along the asphalt road and take a sharp right turn just after a hairpin bend. We continue along path no. 2 towards the Tschufler, then turn left and take the gravel path to the Unterkaplun-Hof. We cycle around the Obkircher mountain along an asphalt road and back towards Nova Ponente.

Double loop around Nova Ponente

Pleasant cycling tour around Nova Ponente

Starting point: Nova Ponente
Level of difficulty: easy
Distance: 18 km
Duration: 2.00 h
Elevation gain: 300
Highest point: 1.456 m

From Nova Ponente, the road is uphill at first towards Bielhof (path no. 1), and from here we take path no. 8 (Perlenweg) downhill, then cross over the road and continue along the panoramic route P until we reach the roundabout, then cycle back to Nova Ponente. We turn right to the sports area then further on to Unterkaplun (path no. 5A). We go past the Wölflhof and take the asphalt road back to Nova Ponente.

An easy route to the Passo Oclini

Easy tour to the Passo Oclini and the pilgrimage site of of Madonna di Pietralba

Starting point: Nova Ponente
Level of difficulty: easy
Distance: 29 km
Duration: 2.00 h
Elevation gain: 750
Highest point: 1.456 m

From Nova Ponente, the road to Laabalm is rather steep: just before here we take a left turning up towards Neuhütt. We turn left down path no. 2 towards Guggenbichl and the Auerleger-Alm. We tackle a short climb to the Jochgrimm hotel before turning left across path no. 1 that takes us downhill to the Corno Bianco. From there, we turn into path no. 5A and then path no. 5, which takes us downhill to the Schönrast-Alm. We take paths E5 and 15 to the pilgrimage site of Madonna di Pietralba, across the hermitage of St. Leonhard and back to Nova Ponente.

Classic tour of the Regglberg mountain

Across the alpine pastures and passes of the Regglberg mountain

Starting point: Nova Ponente
Level of difficulty: medium
Distance: 26 km
Duration: 3.00 h
Elevation gain: 990
Highest point: 2.011 m

From Nova Ponente we cycle to the artisan area and Gasthof Arche, then further along path no. 1 until Bielhof and the Laabalm. From here we take a left turning and continue along path no. 1 until Neuhütt. From there, we turn down the forest path 2–9 until we reach the Auer Leger. We take a right turn after Jochgrimm and continue uphill to the Passo Oclini. From here, we continue along path no. 1 towards Corno Bianco. The path soon joins path no. 1–9 which takes us back to the mountain hut Neuhütt, but before we get there, we turn left down path no. 5A. This leads us to the Köser valley (path no. 5) then we continue along the path to Schönrastalm. From there, we take the turning along the path marked S towards the sanctuary of Madonna di Pietralba. We continue towards St. Leonhard, but cycle back towards the junction and then back along the asphalt road to Nova Ponente.