Stage 5: Grenzlandweg to Thurntaler Urban

A parade of the Sexten Dolomites

After a magnificent climb through the Alfental Valley, past beautiful alpine huts and across flower-strewn meadows, the Sexten Dolomites and their famous Three Peaks rise in all their glory. They are the undisputed stars of this stage and make you forget that a hotly contested border once ran here, the remains of which still stand conspicuously as a reminder in the landscape. The view from the Toblacher Pfannhorn (2.663 m) represents a high point of the 'Ace of Hearts' and reveals even older traces in the landscape: a geological seam between continents, the collision of the African and European plates, along which the Pustertal Valley now stretches far down into the Vinschgau Valley.

The personal highlight is a detour to the Thurntaler See and the Parggenspitze (2.323 m) with the youth cross.

Descent options

• via the Tafine from the Astattsattel to Innervillgraten.
• via Sennersteig and Thurntaler Bergstraße to Außervillgraten
• at the Gadein mountain station, take the gondola to Sillian
• from Thurntaler Rast pick-up by Herz-Ass-Villgratental hiking taxi

Description

Our hike takes us along Alpine Trail No. 13 through the Roßtal Valley, past alpine pastures, to the Maxer Leck (signpost). There, we leave the Alpine Trail and ascend on Trail No. 13a over gentle meadow grass to the Kalksteinerjöchl (2.325 m), where the Bonner Höhenweg (highway) joins shortly before. We now follow Bonner Höhenweg No. 12, leisurely walking south to the Bürglerslenke, and then, following a gentle ascent, reach the Pfanntörl (2.508 m, the state border). From the Pfanntörl, we reach the Toblacher Pfannhorn (2.663 m) along the rocky ridge and see the Sexten Dolomites in all their glory. Here, you also have the option of spending the night at the Bonnerhütte (Bonner Hut). Continuing along the Bonner Höhenweg, past old military punk huts dating back to the First World War, we reach the Marchkinkele (2.546 m). Along the old military road we reach the Hochrast (2.436 m). A worthwhile destination, less than 15 minutes from the Schwarzflecken (Sage), is the peacefully nestled Lake Thuntal and, even further, the Thurntal Youth Cross (Parggenspitze 2.323m). From here, the trail continues over gentle pastures to the Astattsattel (2.295m). Here, there is the option of descending to Innervillgraten. To do this, we leave the ridge again and descend on the Villgraten side (trail no. 4) through forests and meadows to the Tafinalm (1.906m). We continue through the Tafintal valley, past the Lanzlisilans Schupfe footbridge, and through the Oberhofertal valley to Innervillgraten. The route continues along the Tyrolean Jubilee Trail 'Around the Thurntaler,' so we continue descending eastward and reach the Sillianeralm (Ausseralm) across alpine meadows with views of the Sexten sundial and across the Pustertal valley with the Lienz Dolomites and the Carnic Ridge. From there, the alpine path leads us further to the Panoramagasthof Gadein. At the Gadein mountain station, we can take the cable car down to Sillian. The hiking tour can also be continued along the path to the Thurntaler Rast, where you have the option of spending the night at the end, or the hiking taxi can pick you up from there if you have made a reservation. The final descent follows the Thurntaler Bergstraße for about 500m, until you reach a signpost (Sennersteig Außervillgraten), which leads over alpine pastures and through larch and spruce forests, offering a wonderful view down into the Pustertal Valley and across the Carnic Main Ridge and the Villgraten mountains. Very soon, we return to the Thurntaler Bergstraße, which we follow past beautifully situated mountain farms with views down to Außervillgraten. This completes the hiking tour.