The Gardena Valley trails...

From Ortisei:
   
The path into the ANNA VALLEY starts at the base lodge of the Seceda Cableway and leads up a gentle incline for about 30 minutes to the Cafe Annatal.
   
The LUIS TRENKER PROMENADE leads from the Parish Church to "Stua Zirm" (10 minutes) and then joins the main road and continues to S. Cristina (1 h) and Selva Gardena (2 h).
   
From S. Giacomo you can also walk to the hamlet of SOPLASES. This path branches off down-hill through the woods shortly after passing the Somont Inn (45 minutes). From the bottom of the path, the old railway track can be followed back to Ortisei (another 40 minutes). Some people prefer to simply take the bus back.

A somewhat steeper path branches off from Str. Sacun shortly after Hotel Regina and zig-zags its way up to the COL DE FLAM CROSS (20 minutes). From there it is another 10 minutes to the Catores Wine Lodge. A Dialogue Way has been created here for the Holy Year 2000 and is characterised by four works of art in porphyry and metal that represent dialogue in its various shapes and forms.
Str. Sacun itself continues to SAN GIACOMO (35 minutes). From there two paths lead to the idyllically situated forest chapel of St. Jacob with its famous frescoes (another 25 minutes).

You can also walk along the southern fringe of the woods to OLTRETORRENTE: Minert-Hof- Hotel Ronc - Pens. Pradell - Roncadizza 50min.).

The walk to SELVA GARDENA starts at the back of Hotel Wolkenstein above Piazza Dosses and leads to Hotel Oswald. The return route to S. Cristina is via La Selva, Ciaslat and Monte Pana.
   
S. Cristina boasts the only PLANETARY TRAIL in South Tyrol. It is situated along the promenade built on the route of the former Val Gardena railway. The nine planets of our solar system (including the Earth) have been set up true to scale, and information boards have been added to provide the relevant date, such as the diameter of the planets, their density, distance from the Sun, number of moons etc. The educational goal of the Planetary Trail is to demonstrate to visitors the literally astronomical dimensions of the Universe.

   
From Selva Gardena:

The walk through the VALLUNGA starts from the Parish Church following first the str. Puez and then the str. Cir to the Garni Mezdi. Follow the path to the left of Garni Mezdi, which rejoins the road after about three-quarters of a mile. The walk to the end of the valley (Pra da Ri) takes about 1 1/2 hours (open in winter).

There is also a path running beneath the STEVIA WALL, which leads through particularly beautiful scenery. This path starts in Daunei and leads to St. Silvester's Chapel in Vallunga. It is also a path of meditation, with fourteen stations of the cross, which were created by a group of local artists and the young people of the village in 1983. The various stations of the Passion have been carved into tree trunks. An explanatory booklet is available at the church. (The path is also open in winter.)

The ruins of WOLKENSTEIN CASTLE can be reached by a steep path that branches off to the left at the Carabinieri training centre in Vallunga. The path can also be reached from St. Silvester's Chapel. The return route is via Daunei to the centre of Selva Gardena. (The path can sometimes be used with caution in late winter).

The BELVEDERE walk ("sai uedli") leads from Hotel Corona in the direction of the Danter-cepies Gondola. At Pensione Scoiattolo, there is a turn right and the path zig-zags steeply up to the ridge of Piz Ciaslat (15 minutes). The views from the top are very rewarding. The path is not recommended in winter.

The old line of the VAL GARDENA RAILWAY is now used as a path that takes you to S. Cristina in a leisurely hour, and on to Ortisei in a further hour. Or you can follow the trail of the Val Gardena Railway in the other direction, to Plan and Plan de Gralba (open in winter). The walk to MOMTE PANA starts from the Oswald von Wolkenstein Cultural Centre. The route starts as a steep zig-zag path to the left before descending slightly to the Pensione La Pineta. Then turn left through the woods to La Selva and continue through wood and meadow to Monte Pana (1 1/2 hours; not recommended in winter).

Dalla Casa di Cultura "Oswald von Wolkenstein" verso Monte Pana: inizia con una salita serpeggiante, quindi leggera discesa fino alla Pensione La Pineta, a sinistra attraverso il bosco verso la frazione La Sëlva, infine verso il Monte Pana attraverso prati e boschi (1½ ora); sconsigliata d'inverno.

There is also a KEEP-FIT PATH with a total of 18 exercises leading from the Oswald von Wolkenstein Cultural Centre to a fine vantage point. The view towards Vallunga reveals the prehistoric processes of glaciation in the valley. The course takes an hour to complete if you do all exercises as recommended (not for winter use).

(Text: Val Gardena Holiday Guide)