The Ritten plateau is connected to Bolzano by a wheelchair-accessible cable car and offers the many day-trippers wonderful hiking opportunities in the heart of nature. This pleasant hike leads from Oberbozen on the Ritten plateau to Klobenstein. Those who wish can take the tram back from Klobenstein to Oberbozen (hydraulic boarding aid for wheelchair users).

Reachability

From Bolzano North, take the winding panoramic road towards Renon. After passing through the village of Unterinn, you’ll come to the turn-off on the left for Oberbozen, the starting point of our hike. Alternatively, you can use the accessible Renon cable car, which connects the centre of Bolzano with Oberbozen (reserved parking spaces for people with disabilities are available on Rittnerstraße and in the car park at the valley station).

Description

From the car park in the small centre of Oberbozen (1,226 m), we follow signpost no. 35 towards Klobenstein. We leave the village behind and follow the gravel path alongside the tracks of the Ritten tram line until, after a small hill (gradient approx. 16%), we come to a level crossing with barriers (1,218 m). After crossing the gently ascending road, we now follow the marked hiking trail (Freudpromenade), which winds its way through the green meadows with a gentle incline. After a fairly steep climb (approx. 17.5%), the hike continues with a series of ups and downs, initially on gravel and then, for a short stretch, on tarmac. Passing a junction, the path leads us into the forest. Finally, we reach a wayside shrine on the right, near which there is a short 21% gradient to negotiate. We continue to follow signpost no. 35 towards Klobenstein. We pass a small wooden bridge and make our way through the woods until we reach a gently ascending tarmac road. From here, we enjoy a wonderful view of the sun-drenched meadows of the high plateau. We then come to a junction. We follow the signpost to the Südtirolerhof and leave the “Haus der Familie” (1,285 m) behind us. The path continues uphill and downhill until we finally reach a small wooden bridge, at the end of which there is a small fence (1,243 m). From here, we can already see the first houses of Klobenstein. Via a small footpath through the fields, we reach the car park of the Hotel Schönblick (currently closed, 1225 m). The return journey follows the same route. It is also possible to continue on to Klobenstein railway station (1190 m) and take the historic tram (there is a hydraulic boarding aid for wheelchair users) back to Oberbozen.