The Rittner high plateau situated in the middle of the Dolomites – is probably the  most beautiful hiking area of all! Its sunny position makes hiking an experience! On over 700 km of foot paths you can explore the area from the beginning of April to the beginning of November. The mild climate in summer is ideal for long hikes on the high plateau. From the Rittner horn you can enjoy a unique view of 360 degrees on the entire Dolomite chain. Autumn is “Törggele”-time on Ritten! Walk from yard to yard, taste the new wine, typical south tyrolean specialities and chestnuts.

A special trip at each season is the one to the Rittner Earth pyramids, which rise up over 30 m out of the ground.

Klobenstein - Pemmern - Rittner Horn - Gissmann - Pemmern (total walking time approx. 3 ½ to 4 hours)

From Klobenstein by car or on foot on red path no. 1, to Gasthof Pemmern. From there by cable car to Schwarzseepitze (Black Lake Peak, 6791 ft.) and continue on foot (40 minutes) to the Rittner Horn (7415 ft.), one of the best known mountain view points. From the Rittner Horn red path no. 2 to Gissmann, the highest village on the Ritten, and from there red path no. 7 (a paved forest road) back to Pemmern.

Worth knowing:

Plattner Bee-yard at Wolfsgruben
In Wolfsgruben in Ritten stands the Plattner yard, one of the oldest barnyards in the area. In the inner yard you can still see how farmers used to live in the past and you can learn everything you should know about bees. Actually in the barn yard shows the biggest collection of south Tyrolean apiary and provides all the information necessary to make you understand and appreciate the extraordinary world of bees.
Opening hours: from Eastern until the last days of October, daily from 10 am to 6 pm.

Unterinn: Unterinn is a Rittner locality at the climatic border between mountain and valley. Here apples are cultivated with success, since this place is very sunny the apples here are jucier than the one from the vally.

Over alpine rose-rise to the Rittner horn

By cable car to the Schwarzseespitze, over the panorama way (No. 19 blue) to the lower Rittner horn, and then to the upper Rittner horn. Enjoy the 360 degrees panorama here (in case of clear weather you can see above 40 three-thousands from here!). Over the way No. 2 red (Almstraße) back to the Unterhornhaus, only over No. 9 red pass alpine rose fields up to the forest road and over No. 1 A and No. 9 blue back to Pemmern.
Going time: 4 hours

difficulty: Simple footpath, firm footwear necessary
More about alpine flowers: http://www.alpineflowers.net

 

Worth knowing:

Nature park Sarntaler alps:  The area around the Rittner horn has not been spoiled by mass tourism, which prevails elsewhere in the country. For this reason it was not necessary to prove this area as nature park, although all conditions would exist to furnish such a protected territory here. Perhaps the decision, which was taken here was the correct one: since nature grow freely. It may remain an attraction, which stands for itself and may surprised each hiker step by step.

From Oberbozen to Oberinn to the Rittnerhorn:

From Oberbozen over the migration ways No. 2 red and No. 16 blue to the Lobishof, over the Schelmsteig (No. 32 blue) to Oberinn. 200 m of main street along to the way No. 4 red over the Oberinner meadows to the Rosswagen and further to the Schian “Alpe. Now down to the valley over No. 1 red to the Saltnerhütte and over No. 1A and 3B red to Bad Sieß.
Follow the way No. 3 B in the Finsterbachtal pass the earth pyramids over No. 24 blue to Lengmoos and Klobenstein. With the Rittner train back to Oberbozen.

Going time: 6 hours
Difficulty: long trail, good condition necessarily

Worth knowing:

Bath Sieß: this place was frequently visited by farmers who lied themselves into the wooden tube and hoped to be cured by the sodium potassium and magnesia containing water. Probably the name of the bath is to be owed to the sweet taste of the water.

Earth pyramids: A legend says that once the Lengmoser minister had been troubled by witches on his way back home. The pious man tried to flee but the witches followed him. So he asked God for help and his prayers were answered and the witches turned into high loam columns.