A leisurely hike along the Merano High Route from Monte Santa Caterina to the Sottomonte farms on Naturno’s Monte Sole
Image gallery: Hike from Monte Santa Caterina to Sottomonte
This hike along the high mountain trail promises wonderful views of the Val Senales, Val Venosta, and Reinhold Messner's Juval Castle, leading past beautiful old farms. We start in Monte Santa Caterina. The village is visible from afar on a hill in the lower Val Senales.
We ascend path no. 10A on the slopes of the Texel Group up to the junction with the Merano High Route (no. 24), which we then follow towards the southeast. Passing the picturesque farms of Unterperfl, Wand, Kopfron, and Waldhof, we first reach the Innerunterstell mountain inn. The final section of the trail then leads to the Linthof and Patleid farms on the Monte Sole of Naturno.
We then head down path no. 10 to Sottomonte (Unterstell). From there, it is possible to either hike back along the same route or - as we did - take the cable car to Naturno and return from there by bus to Monte Santa Caterina. Incidentally, this section of the Merano High Route runs across meadows and through woods on the steep slopes of the lower Val Senales. It follows good forest paths that require surefootedness but are generally straightforward in good weather.
Passing small waterfalls and mountain farms clinging to the steep slopes, we can only imagine the effort and hardship with which mountain farmers have cultivated this land for centuries. The view from the Val Senales across the lower Val Venosta, the villages in the valley, and the neighbouring mountain ranges and peaks is also remarkable.
Author: AT
Experienced: September 2010
Last updated: 2026
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- Starting point:
- Monte Santa Caterina (1,237 m a.s.l.)
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- Overall time:
- 02:40 h
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- Total route length:
- 7,2 km
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- Altitude:
- from 1.237 m to 1.521 m
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- Altitude difference (uphill | downhill):
- +416 m | -368 m
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- Signposts:
- no. 10A, 24, "Alta Via di Merano", 10, 10A
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- Destination:
- Sottomonte (cable car station)
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- Resting points:
- Wald farm tavern, Linthof, Patleidhof, Unterstell mountain inn
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- Recommended time of year:
- Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec
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- Download GPX track:
- Hike from Monte Santa Caterina to Sottomonte
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- More information:
- The overall time shown above refers to the walking time only, not including breaks or stops (outward journey only, return by cable car and bus).
If you want to undertake this hike, we recommend checking the weather and trail conditions in advance and on site before starting this hike!
