Hiking E5: Meran - Palù del Fersina - Trento

The Passeier Valley, home of Tyrolean folk hero Andreas Hofer, is one of the most rustic and scenically diverse valleys in South Tyrol. You will follow a beautiful high-altitude trail, which offers excellent views in good weather. The trail takes you to the alpine pasture area below the Kreuzjoch and Hirzer peaks. There is the option of taking the bus from St. Martin to the Pfandleralm and starting the stage there.

You will hike along the Gebirgsjägersteig trail, which is still located in the Passeier Valley, to the Hirzerscharte pass. From there, the trail continues to Lake Kratzberg and on to the Meraner Hut, which is located in the Meran 2000 ski area.

Today you will enjoy a magnificent panorama of the famous Dolomite peaks to the east and the Ötztal and Sarntal Alps to the north.

The hike begins with a cable car ride to Bauernkohlern, the starting point of the stage. On this stage, you can discover the beauty of Bolzano from a privileged position. You leave the northern section of the E5 and hike through forests and meadows towards the southern part.

Starting from the pilgrimage site of Maria Weißenstein, you will continue hiking into the Kössertal valley and the Bletterbach Gorge, a 400-metre-deep gorge that is a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

Today you hike along the provincial border of South Tyrol, where you have an excellent view of the Etschtal valley. First, you follow the trail to the Trudner Horn and then pass two picturesque mountain lakes on today's stage.

On today´s stage you will hike through quiet and secluded oak forests on well-marked trails from South Tyrol directly across the border into Trentino. You will often cross this national border without even noticing. The hike takes you past the Bait dei Tinoti on the ridge to Lago Santo, a shimmering blue lake in the middle of the dark green forest.

Right at the start, you will hike to the earth pyramids of Segonzano and then leave the Cembra Valley. The stage takes you over two passes to the idyllic Val di Piné and then on to Palù del Fersina, from where you will take the bus to Trento.