Overview
Burgstall / Monte Castello and the Roßzahn Ridge. Touristensteig negotiates the slopes behind the summit |
Even though it is a valid route to
Petz / Monte Pez, the summit of
Schlern / Sciliar,
Touristensteig (literally "tourist trail") wouldn't be worthwhile a thorough description. "Take the cablecar from Seis / Siusi, then follow the masses" would suffice. Maybe a warning about elevation gain (=1000m) and footwear would be a good idea. But if you want to skip the cablecar and start from
Seis / Siusi directly, things turn different.
For one thing there are several options for the first leg of the trip. The one described here uses
Oswald von Wolkenstein Weg, a picturesque hiking trail beneath
Santner- and Euringerspitze, which touches upon two medieval castle ruins before reaching the path to
Schlernbödelehütte. The overall elevation gain runs up to more than 1650m, turning the whole trip (one way) into a 4h affair if you're quick. An early start is advisable so that you don't have to go with the crowds on the last leg,
Touristensteig.
Approach
Seis / Siusi seen from Salegg Castle
Seis / Siusi can be very easily reached. Just take the
Brenner Motoorway A22 to the exit
Waidbruck / Ponte Gardena, then turn onto
SP24 to
Kastelruth / Castelrotto and
Seis / Siusi.
Route Description
Panorama Seiser Alm from upper Touristensteig
- General:
- Start altitude: 1020m
- Summit altitude: 2563m
- Prevailing exposure: N
- Type: Hike
- Protection: None
- Effort: 5 - 1650m elevation gain
- Power: 4 - Long and strenuous
- Psyche: 1 - No exposed sections
- Difficulty: 1 - Steep ascent
- Orientation: 1 - Marked and easy.
From the centre of
Seis / Siusi follow the main road (
SP24) southward heading for the big parking lot of the cablecar. Pass it, following signs to
Hotel Salegg, a large building outside the village limits. Here
Oscar von Wolkenstein Weg actually starts by leaving the road and heading up into the woods beneath
Santnerspitze / Punta Santner. After three switchbacks you'll reach the ruins of
Salegg Castle, of which little more than a few walls remain upstanding. The forest has been cut around the ruin so that you have some wonderful views across the village.
Return to the path through the woods, which will lead you to the similar positioned ruins of
Hauenstein Castle. Here more walls, trenches and ramparts remain in place so that you get a much better feel for the castle behind the ruins than at
Salegg. In particular you can have fine views of
Santnerspitze / Punta Santner rising directly above the castle.
Returning to
Oswald von Wolkensteinweg you soon get the the Hotel / Spa at
Bad Ratzes, also an option for a trailhead as it can be reached by car and has a large parking lot. The road, however, ends shortly after the hotel and a well worn footpath leads you in direction of
Seiser Alm / Alpe di Siusi. After 700m on this path you get to an intersection where an upturned tree serves as the gate for the next leg of the trip, the so-called
Geologensteig (named after the geology signs, that have been put up along the trail.
Coincidentally this is also the trail to
Schlernbödelehütte, one of the many huts which cater to thirsty hikers on
Seiser Alm / Alpe di Siusi. The path heads up steeply in many switchbacks to an elevation of around 1700m, where it reaches the hut. Close to
Schlernbödelehütte there is an intersecttion with
Gamssteig, a more direct but seriously exposed route, which cuts short the lower sections of
Touristensteig, with which it recombines on the
Schlern / Sciliar Plateau.
Stay on the main path, however, which mor gradually ascends towards
Seiser Alm / Alpe di Siusi in a long bend. Several trails, after having crossed the pasture join our trail and it is here that it turns into the last leg of our trip,
Touristensteig (at around 1900m). It turns real steep, still crossing the pasture, later cutting steeply through the undergroowth of dwarf pines. From heavy usage
Touristensteig is deeply rutted and thus more strenuous than one would expect. It cuts through the north face of
Schlern / Sciliar where it is weakest, but still rather steep. Numerous switchbacks take you acrosss the timberline at 2200m. A longer traverse takes you to the exit onto the plateau, soon after which the aforementioned
Gamssteig rejoins. From here it is a mere stroll to
Schlernhäuser / Rifugio Bolzano and the remaining 100m ascent to
Petz / Monte Pez. If yoou still have power inside yourself you can hike northwards to the
Burgstall / Monte Castello Summit or even onward to the
Kanzele / Pulpito outlook above the
Santner and Euringer Towers.
Essential Gear
Just normal hiking gear.