Walk along the Arena di Prato nature trail

The Arena di Prato near Prato allo Stelvio is a well-known biotope and one of the last floodplain areas in South Tyrol. It is located at the sandy delta of the Rio Solda. Numerous animals live here, forming a unique fauna that we might get to see in part today. These are the first days of spring, and the air still fluctuates between warming rays when the sun shows itself and the last traces of winter. We start at the gravel car park next to the recycling centre just before the Arena di Prato.

The starting point is also easily accessible by bus: simply get off in the village of Prato and walk to the recycling centre. An orange and white windmill on the ground shows us the exact start, and we turn right. Two of the three nature trails lead us around the lake and take just over an hour to complete. Interactive and information stations along the path tell us about the animals and plants in this area. We also learn previously unknown details about this dry floodplain, which represents one of South Tyrol's last remaining floodplain landscapes.

The forest track leads us to a viewing point with a telescope, followed by the fishing pond, where a restaurant invites us to take a break. It can get quite hot here in summer, but at the end of March, it is very pleasant with a jacket. We follow the path around the pond and notice that there are actually four bodies of water, not just a single pond. To fish here, a valid fishing licence is required for three of the ponds, while a day ticket is sufficient for the fourth (as of 2026).

We prefer to watch the fish in the water from the bank. We also observe the ducks, which seem to be in quite a hurry, and the water insects and dragonflies bustling about in the shore area. Our walk now leads us back into the forest. There, we reach a broader forest road that reliably brings us back to the car park near the recycling centre after just over an hour.

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Author: RB

Experienced: March 2026

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