The Fischleintal is one of the most beautiful valleys in the Sesto Dolomites Nature Park. During the First World War, the Kaiserjäger and the Alpini fought on the peaks of the Hohe Gaisl and on the rocky ledges of the Popera and the Paterno. Traces of these battles are still visible today. The route into the valley follows narrow roads that alternate between flat and uphill sections along the Fischleinbach stream, leading to a beautiful spot.

Reachability

From the Brenner motorway, take the Brixen-Nord exit and follow the Puster Valley road to San Candido. Just before the village, turn right and follow the signs into the Sesto Valley to Sesto. In the village centre, cross the Sesto stream and you will reach the car park by the sports centre.

Description

From the car park by the sports hall in Sesto (1,321 m), we follow the tarmac cycle path no. 102 through gently sloping meadows. At the bridge over the Fischleinbach stream, we can cross the river and continue along a tarmac road or stay on the natural-surface footpath, as the two routes rejoin shortly afterwards in the hamlet of Bad Moos. In Bad Moos (1362 m), there is also another parking area near the Rotwandwiesen cable car. The two hiking trails meet again near a nearby bridge. From here, a forest track leads us uphill towards the Fischleintal valley (signpost no. 102). After a short tarmac section, the road turns back into a forest track. Following an ascent of around 700 m, with a gradient of 13–14%, the forest track (with a somewhat bumpy surface in places) continues, winding constantly up and down through meadows and larch forests, until it reaches the car parks at Fischleinboden (1,454 m). There is also a bus stop here. Behind the Hotel Dolomitenhof, our walk continues on level ground for a while. For a short stretch, the path remains on tarmac, then switches to a gravel surface, and finally winds its way steadily uphill through the sparse woodland towards the Talschlusshütte. Along the way, there are numerous rest areas with seating, offering magnificent views of the mountains. At a junction, we can once again decide whether to continue our hike along the smooth cycle path or the rather bumpy footpath to the Talschlusshütte (1,548 m). The Talschlusshütte is open all year round and can also be reached by horse-drawn carriage. You return to Sesto via the same route.