The trail through Valgiovo leads up to the Passo di Monte Giovo and to the Valgiovo and Racines alpine pastures
Image gallery: Hike to the Cresta del Giovo ridge
The hamlet of Val di Mezzo in Valgiovo is the starting point for our September hike on the Cresta del Giovo ridge (Jaufenkamm). From the bus stop near the church, we first follow the road, passing the hamlets of Obertal and Casalupa. Here, our route leaves the asphalt and follows a forest road towards the Valgiovo alpine pastures. Initially almost flat, the path soon becomes steeper.
Passing the unmanaged Borstalpe Hut and continuing along a trail to the former Passo Giovo Hut, or Jaufenhaus, we reach the 2,000-metre mark. By late September, the heathland vegetation displays shades of red, ochre and brown. The Passo Giovo Hut stands at the penultimate bend of the Passo di Monte Giovo road: From here, we follow trail no. 11A up to the pass.
At the top of the pass, an obelisk commemorates the construction of the Passo Giovo Hut during the reign of Emperor Franz Joseph, and the pass itself provides views of the Val Passiria. At the Edelweiss Hut, the first place to stop for refreshments, we take the opportunity for a relaxing lunch break, before crossing to the other side of the road to continue towards the Sella di Rinner saddle.
We now hike along the Cresta del Giovo ridge, following the path from the 2,031-metre-high Sella di Rinner to the Wasserfaller Lakes before finally reaching the Rinner Hut. It is located on the Racines alpine pasture trail near the "MountainAdventureWorld" family walk. From the hut, we can also reach the mountain station of the Racines-Giovo Cable Car, which takes us down into the valley to Racines di Dentro. From there, we return by bus to our starting point in Val di Mezzo.
Author: AT
Experienced: September 2017
Last updated: 2026
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- Starting point:
- hamlet of Val di Mezzo in the Valgiovo (1,149 m a.s.l.)
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- Overall time:
- 04:10 h
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- Total route length:
- 11,8 km
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- Altitude:
- from 1.149 m to 2.094 m
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- Altitude difference (uphill | downhill):
- +1021 m | -288 m
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- Signposts:
- no. 12, 11A, 12, "Rinneralm"
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- Destination:
- Rinner Hut at the Racines-Giovo mountain station (1,837 m a.s.l.)
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- Resting points:
- Edelweiss Hut, Rinner Hut (both from May/June to October)
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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 to the Cresta del Giovo ridge
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- More information:
- The overall time shown above refers to the walking time only, not including breaks or stops. The highest point of the tour is the Passo di Monte Giovo, at 2,094 metres. The dates apply to the hike from Val di Mezzo to the Rinner Hut - the way back is made by cable car and bus (lines 319 and 314, changing at Casateia, approx. 50 minutes).
If you want to undertake this hike, we recommend checking the weather and trail conditions in advance and on site before starting this hike!
