Rieserferner-Ahrn Nature Park

Boundless mountain fascination

Hochgall and Durreckspitze mountains, Dreiherrenspitze and Rötspitze peaks

With 38 peaks of over 3,000 m, the Rieserferner-Ahrn Nature Park is the most glacier-rich nature park in South Tyrol. Together with the Hohe Tauern National Park and the Zillertal Alps High Mountain Nature Park, it forms the largest protected area network in Central Europe.

IDM Südtirol-Alto Adige/Manuel Kottersteger

IDM Südtirol-Alto Adige/Alex Filz

IDM Südtirol-Alto Adige/Harald Wisthaler

Where the highest peaks are

Of all the South Tyrolean nature parks, the Rieserferner-Ahrn Nature Park has the highest proportion of glaciers. The core of the protected area is the Rieserfernergruppe range with such impressive peaks as the Hochgall mountain, the Magerstein and the Schneebiger Nock. Between the Reintal and Ahrntal valleys lies the Durreckgruppe range with the Durreckspitze peak. The Dreiherrenspitze and the Rötspitze are among the most imposing peaks in the Venedigergruppe range and offer breathtaking views of the surrounding mountain world.

Unspoilt Alpine pastures and picturesque valleys from the Röttal to the Hasental to the Knuttental or Wielebachtal valleys invite hikers to explore the beautiful natural features of the protected area. The shapes of the earth pyramids near Platten/Plata, created by erosion, are bizarre. Clear mountain lakes, such as the Antholzersee lake in the Kronplatz holiday region, mineral springs, thundering waterfalls like the Reinbach waterfalls and moors, such as the Pürschtalmoos, bear witness to the abundance of water in the nature park.

Visit high-Alpine gardens

The Alpine rock-jasmine, a modest cushion plant with pink or white flowers, even grows at 3,000 metres above sea level. Or you hike up to the Tristennöckl, above the Kasselerhütte mountain hut, where Swiss stone pines still grow at 2,465 metres. This is the highest tree population in the Eastern Alps.

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High, higher, the highest

No other valley in South Tyrol has such a high density of peaks of over 3,000 m as the Ahrntal valley, in the heart of the Rieserferner-Ahrn Nature Park. Around 80 peaks of over 3,000 m can be found here, as well as one of the highest mountain huts in the region.

To the superlatives

Events as diverse as the valley

Farmers and mountaineers have their roots here. Get to know their values and traditions at the events, enjoy down-to-earth mountain cuisine and marvel at sporting feats.

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What awaits you

Pause for a moment on the shores of Antholzersee lake, in the refreshing spray of the waterfalls or on a contemplative hike along the Franziskusweg trail. These experiences are among the best in the Rieserferner-Ahrn Nature Park.

Special insights: nature park visitor centre and info point

The nature park visitor centre in Sand in Taufers/Campo Tures focuses on the theme “The Limits of Nature and the Limits of Man”. At the entrance, a film from an eagle's perspective invites visitors to marvel, and a three-dimensional relief provides multimedia information about the geology of the area. The retreat of the glaciers, minerals, life-size hand-carved birds of prey, special plants and the valley’s characteristic dialect also amaze.

At the car park in Kasern/Casere at the end of the Ahrntal valley, the info point for the Rieserferner-Ahrn Nature Park is housed in a simple, modern wooden building. Four cross-border trails form the heart of the exhibition and provide information about the diversity of nature and the region’s history. In addition to the handicrafts and agriculture in the depth of the Ahrntal valley, the inhabitants themselves are also portrayed in an atmospheric way.

Your next travel destination?

The nature park with the most glaciers, the home of the Three Peaks or as a guest in the realm of the golden eagle. Learn here what advantages the nature parks and their holiday resorts bring. Find out how you can travel to our region in a sustainable way.