One of the eight South Tyrolean nature reserves is called Puez-Odle, or Puez-Geisler, and stretches around the famous - and name-giving - Odle Group, the characteristic peaks at the head of the Val di Funes valley, and the mighty Puez Group with the Monte Stevia. The nature park boasts all those kinds of stones, sediments and weatherings that are oh-so typical for the Dolomites. Among them there are the Val Gardena sandstone, the Bellerophon strata and the Werfen strata which dates back to the time when the primordial ocean, the Tethys Sea, covered this area.

The Puez-Odle Nature Park extends to the municipalities of Badia, Corvara, San Martino in Badia, Funes, Santa Cristina, Ortisei and Selva, and therefore to the Val di Funes, Val Gardena and Alta Badia valleys. It reaches an average height of 2,500 metres. Very popular is the Zannes Nature Experience Trail, South Tyrol's first wheelchair accessible nature path. The interactive stations make you discover the beautiful natural and cultural landscape in this place. The tours in the area, however, include summer hikes such as the hike to the Stevia Mountain Hut, and adventures in the snow like the winter hike to the Odle Mountain Hut - with return by sledge, if you dare.

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Founded in: 1978
Surface: 10,722 hectares
Altitude difference: 1,499 metres
Area: Val Gardena, Val di Funes, Alta Badia
Visitor centre: in Santa Maddalena di Funes

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