Mountain hike towards Villgraten (A)

Starting point: Gsiesertal Valley – St. Magdalena, Head of the Valley (1460 m)

Distance: 17,1 km

Descent: circular hike

Walking time: 06:02 h

Difficulty: difficult

Altitude difference: 1424 m

Information: Line 441 www.suedtirolmobil.info

Hike from St. Magdalena through Pfoital Valley to Schwarzsee and on to Hochkreuzspitze, descending via Uwald Alm Hut.

Parking lot on payment at the head of the valley in the Gsiesertal Valley – St. Magdalena.

Train and bus: www.altoadigemobilita.info

Bus line 441

Starting from the Head of the Valley in the Gsiesertal Valley – St. Magdalena (1460 m, paid parking), turn right over the valley stream and then left, following trail marker no. 12 through the Pfoital up to the tree line. Continue straight into the valley to the Pfoialm (2134 m, no refreshments) and through the alpine valley to a junction. There, turn right and follow trail marker no. 13 to reach the Hintere Gsieser Lenke (2539 m). Beyond this col, a trail leads in a few minutes to the Schwarzsee (2455 m).

To continue to the Hochkreuzspitze, first return to the Hintere Gsieser Lenke, then turn right and follow trail marker no. 10 northwards to the summit of the Hellböden (2710 m). Along the ridge descend northwestwards into the Pfoischarte (2617 m), and from there, still on trail marker no. 10, ascend again northwestwards to the Hochkreuzspitze (2739 m).

Descent: return first to the Pfoischarte and then follow trail marker no. 12 over the southern ridge to the Uwald Alm (2042 m, refreshments available) and further back to the starting point.