Winter Hiking in Merano and Environs

While there is a cheerful hustle and bustle at the recreational areas high in the mountains, the mild Merano Basin of the Val d’Adige (Etschtal) Valley is without snow for most of the winter. Here, a variety of summer hiking trails are accessible in the winter - and boast quite mild temperatures. Hikers should wear sturdy shoes and use poles.

Tip: the picturesque Tappeinerweg runs for three kilometres above Merano and is quite special. This 1.8 mile (3km) hiking trail is a short walk from the city and offers a picturesque view of Merano and the surrounding mountains.

For those who would like to hike on snow-cleared trails, the holiday region of Merano and its surroundings has got five ski areas with numerous possibilities. All huts and inns at the ski resort Merano 2000 are in a comfortable walking distance and the high-plateau of San Vigilio offers a spectacular view of the Dolomites. At the end of the Val Passiria valley there is also a family ski resort and a village called Plan. This is an area where pure romance can truly unfold. With its snow-cleared hiking track which passes historical farmyards and ends at the foot of the “Hohe Wilde”, a mighty 3000m high mountain that marks the border between North- and South-Tyrol and was even used as a smugglers-trail up until 50 years ago.