Hiking at Lake Valdurna in the Val Sarentino valley, a unique destination
From Bolzano, the road forks at Campolasta in the Sarentino Valley: left into the Val di Pennes and right into the Valdurna Valley. It's the longest side valley of the Val Sarentino, home to both the Reinswald Skiing Area and Lake Valdurna. While the Val di Pennes leads you over the Pennes Pass to Vipiteno in the Upper Valle Isarco, Valdurna ends at its lake, a tranquil destination.
From there, you can only continue on foot. This high valley was likely only cleared and settled in the late Middle Ages. The village is mentioned as "Durrenholz" as early as 1237 AD. Its centre still consists of a few houses and farms. Two of these are quite special: The school is one of the smallest mountain schools in South Tyrol, and the village church of St. Nicholas in Valdurna (Durnholz) houses impressive 15th-century frescoes, uncovered some time ago.
The Rio Valdurna stream flanks the mountain village, and beyond it, the triangular lake spreads out. A traffic restriction is already in place in this area, and parking is available before the lake. The bus also stops there. The Alpine peaks reflect in the waters of Lake Valdurna, a popular starting point for tours into the Sarentino Alps. There are both easy and challenging hikes available.
A family-friendly hike leads to the Seeb Hut and back. In warm weather, you can undertake this tour as early as late spring and walk past alpine meadows dotted with crocuses. Twice as long, around five hours, and correspondingly more strenuous, is the hike to the Rifugio Forcella Vallaga. The Horseshoe Tour, a multi-day tour through the Sarentino Alps, also passes by there.
