An easy winter hike with a cable car ride on Bolzano’s local mountain, covered in deep snow
Image gallery: Winter hike from Colle to the Prati di Colle
February and the recent snowfall have dressed the Colle in white, and we choose it as our destination for a winter hike. The climate in Bolzano means there is little snowfall during the colder months, but the surrounding high plateaus and mountains like the Colle and the Renon are often snow-covered at various times, making them popular excursion spots for the city's residents.
The Renon even has its own ski area. The winter hike from Colle to the Prati di Colle is easy and begins with a pleasant ride on the Colle Cable Car, which starts on the outskirts of Bolzano in the area known as Piani di Bolzano. Upon arriving at the top station, we are above the 1,000-metre mark. We follow the signposts towards the Prati di Colle (Schneiderwiesen) along trail no. 1.
Just as we pass Colle dei Contadini (Farmers' Colle, there is also a hamlet called Colle dei Signori, or Lords' Colle), the snowfall stops. The scenery is enchanting - even the valley basin below is covered in snow, a rare sight. We follow forest track no. 6B, which leads us into the woods. The path climbs uphill, and the freshly fallen snow makes the ascent challenging.
The absolute silence is broken only by the crunch of our footsteps and the solitary song of a bird. Arriving at the Prati di Colle behind the Schneiderwiesen Inn in Colle di Bolzano, we stop to admire the landscape before heading back to the cable car the way we came.
When there is no snow on the ground, Colle can also be reached on foot from Bolzano. The hike to the Schneiderwiesen can then be perfectly combined with the one from Bolzano to the Colle.
Authors: Elena & Luca
Experienced in: February 2019
Last update: 2025
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- Starting point:
- mountain station of the Colle Cable Car (1,155 m a.s.l.)
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- Overall time:
- 02:00 h
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- Total route length:
- 5,8 km
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- Altitude:
- from 1.155 m to 1.411 m
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- Altitude difference:
- +300 m | -300 m
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- Signposts:
- 1, 6B, 6A, 6
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- Destination:
- Prati di Colle meadows (1,411 m a.s.l.)
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- Resting points:
- no open rest points in winter
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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:
- Winter hike from Colle to the Prati di Colle
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- More information:
- The overall time shown above refers to the walking time only, not including breaks or stops.
If you want to undertake this hike, we recommend you to check the weather and trail conditions in advance and on site before setting out.
