The route passes through the Stelvio National Park and has been specially adapted by the valley community for walkers with mobility difficulties. Along a wide gravel track and wooden walkways that wind around the artificial lake, you can admire the snow-capped peaks of the Ortler Group and Mount Cevedale.

Reachability

From Bolzano, take the MeBo motorway to Merano and drive through the Vinschgau Valley towards the Reschen Pass. Passing Naturns and Kastelbell, turn left shortly after the village of Latsch and follow the signs to Martell. At the end of the valley, you will come to a dam. Continuing along Lake Zufritt, you will reach a car park at the Hotel Zum See.

Description

Starting from the car park at the Hotel Zum See (1,860 m), follow the forest track marked with signpost no. 36, which descends gently towards the lake. After the first wooden footbridge, you’ll come to a barrier, which can be easily bypassed via a gate. The route continues with constant ups and downs along the orographically right-hand bank of the reservoir, with short gradients of up to 15%. Then the forest thins out, revealing a magnificent view of the entire lake. Along the way, a number of information boards provide details about the unique flora and fauna of the Stelvio National Park. After passing a small wooden gate, we follow the footpath slightly downhill to a large meadow, where there is a rest area with tables and benches on the lakeside. We continue on our way and, near a pond, enter a wooded area once more. The forest track now climbs steadily. The walk then continues with a steady series of ups and downs (up to 14% in places) until we cross the Zufrittbach (1,870 m) on a bridge near a waterfall. In an area of massive rock outcrops, a series of wooden walkways allow us to descend to the dam: this section of the path has a steep gradient (up to 22% in places). After a few hundred metres, we finally reach a narrow metal gate (69 cm wide with an 8 cm high threshold), which marks the entrance to the dam (1852 m). Crossing the dam, we reach the main road, where our hike ends. We return to our starting point via the same route.