In Vallelunga, a quiet side valley branches off towards an idyllic destination: the Malga dei Buoi with its rustic hut
Image gallery: Winter hiking path and sledge path Malga dei Buoi
At the start of our hike, setting off from the hamlet of Caprone in Vallelunga, a side valley of the Val Venosta, the initial steep and modest stretch of the trail gives little hint of the wide basin waiting higher up. After about half an hour of walking, however, the view opens out.
The mountain scenery of the Oetztal Alps unfolds before us in all its splendour. We follow the signposts to the Ochsenbergalm, or Malga dei Buoi (trail no. 14) throughout. Just a few metres in, a marked path branches off the main track, serving as a shortcut to the pasture.
However, this shortcut is very steep in parts during winter! The Malga dei Buoi hut with the Chapel of St. Wendelin sits at 2,160 metres above sea level in the heart of the small high valley.
You can return on foot along the same route or - in roughly half the time - ride a toboggan back down into the valley. The route is listed among the toboggan runs in the Val Venosta.
Author: Giacomo Roccabruna
Experienced: March 2017
Last updated: 2026
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- Starting point:
- Caprone in Vallelunga (1,666 m a.s.l.)
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- Overall time:
- 03:30 h
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- Total route length:
- 7,4 km
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- Altitude:
- from 1.666 m to 2.160 m
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- Altitude difference (uphill | downhill):
- +494 m | -494 m
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- Signposts:
- no. 14, "Ochsenberger Alm"
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- Destination:
- Malga dei Buoi (2,160 m a.s.l.)
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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 hiking path and sledge path Malga dei Buoi
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- More information:
- The overall time shown above refers to the walking time only, not including breaks or stops. The return journey is made by foot here - if you do it on a sledge, it'll take less time. According to Legislative Decree 96/2025, helmets have been mandatory for everyone when tobogganing since the 1st of November 2025: A CE-certified ski helmet (EN 1077) is required. The mountain hut itself is not managed.
We highly recommend checking the weather conditions in advance and on site before starting your tour. Don't forget to check the current avalanche forecast!
