abstieg zum unterstell hof
abstieg zum unterstell hof

Hike to the Sottomonte Farms

Along the Merano High Route we walk from the village of Monte Santa Caterina in the Val Senales valley to the Sottomonte Farms at the Monte Sole in Naturno

This walking tour promises beautiful views on the Val Senales valley, the Val Venosta and Reinhold Messner's Juval Castle. Our starting point is Monte Santa Caterina (Katharinaberg) in Senales. The village is located on a hill in the lower Val Senales valley. Along the path no. 10A we climb up to the junction with the Merano High Route (no. 24) which we follow towards south-east.

We pass picturesque old farms (Unterperfl, Wand, Kopfron, Waldhof) and reach the Innerunterstell inn, then the route leads us to the Linthof and Patleid Farms at the Monte Sole in Naturno. There we take the path no. 10 down to Sottomonte (Unterstell). For the way back you can either take the same route or choose the cable car to Naturno and then the bus back to Monte Santa Caterina.

This section of the Alta Via di Merano (Meraner Höhenweg, Merano High Route) proceeds across meadows and through woods on the steep slopes of the lower Val Senales valley, along well-prepared forest paths, which require surefootedness but are easy to walk. Past little waterfalls and extremely located mountain farms we can only guess how difficult farming has been here for hundred of years. Also impressive is the view from the Val Senales valley across the lower Val Venosta, the villages in the valley and the neighbouring mountain groups.

Author: AT

difficulty: moderate with lifts
  • Starting point:
    Monte S. Caterina / Katharinaberg (village centre)
  • Time required:
    02:40 h
  • Track length:
    7,2 km
  • Altitude:
    from 1.237 m to 1.521 m
  • Altitude difference:
    +416 m | -368 m
  • Signposts:
    10A, 24, Meraner Höhenweg / Alta Via di Merano, 10, 10A
  • Destination:
    Unterstell (cable car station)
  • Resting points:
    Kopfron, Hofschank Wald, Linthof, Patleid, Unterstell
  • Recommended time of year:
    Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec
  • Download GPX track:
    Hike to the Sottomonte Farms

If you want to do this hike, we suggest you to check the weather and trail conditions in advance and on site before setting out.

Suggest an edit/correction

Our editorial staff is always committed to ensuring the highest quality and accuracy of the information we publish. If you have suggestions to improve this page you can send them to us using the form below. Thank you in advance!

Close

Suggested accommodations

Tips and more infos