Hike into Vallunga

Walks and hikes for families are always particularly fun when there are lots of opportunities for the little ones to discover, climb and play along the way. Again and again, small streams invite you to play, boulders can be climbed effortlessly and there are countless animals to discover. If you want to go on an unforgettable hike in the mountains with your family and have a picnic on a green mountain meadow along the way, you should definitely plan this hike in the Vallunga Valley during your next holiday in Val Gardena.

Coming from the Brenner motorway (A22), drive through Val Gardena (SS242) as far as Selva. Just before Selva (after the Hotel Alpenroyal), turn left and then immediately right again and continue in the direction of Streda Val until you reach the La Ciajota kiosk. Behind the Carabinieri barracks, you will find the small car park, for which a fee is charged, which is the entrance to the Vallunga Valley and the starting point of the hike. It is advisable to arrive early in the morning, as the number of parking spaces is limited. From here, you can immediately set off across the beautiful meadows.

Val Gardena is also very easy to reach by public transport. Line 350 runs every half hour from Ponte Gardena or Chiusa to Selva. Get off at the Nives stop in the centre of the village. From there, it is a 20-minute walk through the village to the Vallunga Valley where the snowshoe hike begins. Timetables can best be found via SüdtirolMobil.

The hike is easy and can be done easily with smaller children or grandparents. You should allow about one hour and 15 minutes for the walk to the hut at the bottom of the valley; the difference in altitude on the route is around 200 metres. However, because of the play and climbing opportunities and the picnic meadows, families like to spend considerably more time on the walk. Navigation on the trail is easy, as steep rock faces naturally border the valley to the left and right.

The exact hiking route can be varied according to the interests and stamina of family members. At the beginning of the hike, the path splits: on the left, a moderate incline leads towards the forest, on the right, the route leads more easily directly to the first worthwhile stopover, St. Sylvester’s Chapel - an ideal place to pause briefly for a prayer or to admire the centuries-old frescoes that were discovered during the last restoration of the building.

Next to the chapel, you have the opportunity to fill drinking bottles with fresh spring water at the beautifully designed fountain. Families can then continue along the clearly marked path, with the peaks of the Puez plateau always in sight.

The path then leads through the picturesque forest and across the clearings. The slopes are moderate, with only very short steep slopes that can be tackled by anyone. Time and again, you'll find benches along the way for short breaks. Although there are no huts or other places to stop along the way, there are plenty of opportunities for picnics. In the peace and quiet of nature, you can enjoy the food you have brought with you.

The path finally leads past a boulder field and, after a short strenuous passage, to the "Prà da Ri" at 1800 metres, a huge mountain meadow where cows graze peacefully. Hikers also encounter sheep again and again in the Vallunga Valley. Huge boulders are ideal for extensive sunbathing while the little ones run around in the meadow and climb the smaller boulders. The ground here is slightly marshy in places.

The meadow is the ideal point to turn back. If you continue along the path, you will reach the Puez-Odle Nature Park.

The hike through the Vallunga Valley is ideal for animal lovers. In the steep meadows to the left and right of the valley, it is worth looking out for roe deer and chamois with binoculars. Equally interesting for children are the numerous carved wooden figures of animals that can be discovered beside the path and even in the trees. These include a life-size ibex. Attentive hikers have the chance to see a pair of eagles gliding in the sky, which has its eyrie in the Vallunga Valley.

The Vallunga Valley is a true natural paradise and the ideal place to get out the picnic blanket and share a meal outside with the family. Where better to enjoy fresh sourdough bread, hearty cheese and sausage than in the open air? On the trail itself, there are no opportunities to stop for refreshments. However, if you start your hike in the morning, you will be back at the car park in time for lunch. Here, the La Ciajota snack kiosk serves small dishes and homemade cakes every day except Wednesdays. Near the car park, there is also the Baita Ciampac - a beautiful mountain hut with a wide range of food.