Walking tip in the Upper Vinschgau
From Marienberg to Mals along the Oberwaal
This walk runs in one direction from Marienberg Abbey to Mals: through Burgeis, across the Malser Haide and along the Oberwaal, an old irrigation channel on the sunny slope, then down into the town. It is 9.7 km long and loses much more height than it gains.
Because you finish in Mals, plan the return by bus: line 277 runs from Mals station to Prämajur. With the Reschensee Guest Pass, bus and train in South Tyrol are included during your stay.
At a glance
- Distance
- 9.7 km
- Ascent
- 145 m
- Descent
- 470 m
- Walking time
- about 3 hours of walking, longer with stops
- Difficulty
- easy
- Highest point
- 1,337 m
- Start
- Marienberg Abbey, bus stop (line 277 from Prämajur)
- Trail numbers
- 17, 14
- Refreshments
- Marienberg abbey café, Schlossbar in Burgeis, Pflonzgortn Solis above Mals, inns in Mals
- Dog
- on a lead; narrow boardwalks on the slope, keep the dog short there
- Children
- doable for children who like walking; long, but mostly downhill; narrow boardwalks on the slope
- Season
- spring to autumn; the Oberwaal carries water from May; avoid in snow and ice
easy
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Elevation profile
Route sketch
Map
Route description
From the house take line 277 to Marienberg Abbey. From the abbey the Sonnensteig leads down through the forest to Burgeis; according to the Alpenverein description the path above the road past St. Stephan, with a view over the Malser Haide, is the nicer one. In Burgeis you pass near the Fürstenburg castle, the dairy and St. Michael’s church.
Beyond the village the path crosses the Malser Haide, a large alluvial fan, to the Punibach stream. Here the Oberwaal begins. It runs on wooden boardwalks along steep slopes, with views of the Ortler and the Sesvenna group, and climbs to the Pflonzgortn Solis refreshment stop above Mals.
From there you descend to Mals on the Matscher Weg and the Kührastweg. In town the route passes St. Benedict, St. Martin, the Fröhlich tower, the parish church of the Assumption and St. John on the way to the station.
What you see on the way
The Oberwaal is one of the old Waale of the Vinschgau, channels that led water from the mountains to the dry slopes. Its origins go back to the 14th century; the sources give the years 1346 and 1348. Since 1980 it has carried water only in part, replaced by modern sprinkler systems. The Ferienregion states that the channel carries water from May.
The Malser Haide is a cultural landscape unique in the Alps, with meadows and grain fields crossed by Waale. Behind it stand the highest mountains of the Eastern Alps. In Mals the towers of the town are the real destination: more is on our page about Mals.
Practical notes and safety
The walk is long, the path itself mostly easy. The Alpenverein profile rates it as medium because of the length and the narrow paths on the slope. The boardwalks on the slope are narrow; you need sure feet. In the wet, wood and roots are slippery, and in snow and ice you should avoid the path.
According to the Alpenverein’s note, the opening times of the churches in Burgeis and Mals do not always fit the walking plan; check them beforehand. Timetables for line 277 are on suedtirolmobil.info; factor the last return ride into your plan.
To shorten the walk, start in Burgeis: take line 277 or Citybus 274 to Burgeis-Sennerei, then walk from there. According to the Ferienregion that is about 6 km and about an hour and a half.
Frequently asked questions
- How do I get back after the walk?
- By bus: line 277 runs from Mals station to Prämajur. With the Reschensee Guest Pass the ride is included in your stay. Check the timetable on suedtirolmobil.info.
- Is the walk really almost all downhill?
- Yes. From Marienberg to Mals the route loses about 340 metres net; a few short rises, for example up to the Solis refreshment stop, come on top.
- When does the Oberwaal carry water?
- According to the Ferienregion from May. The path can be walked without water too; since 1980 the channel carries water only in part anyway.
- Can I shorten the route?
- Yes: take line 277 or Citybus 274 to Burgeis-Sennerei and start there. That saves roughly the first part from the abbey.
- Can I do it with a dog?
- Yes, on a lead. The boardwalks on the slope are narrow; keep the dog short there.
Related excursions
More hiking tips
Your stay
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Further pages
Alpenverein Südtirol: from Marienberg to MalsFerienregion Vinschgau: Oberwaal irrigation channel walkSüdtirol Mobil: timetables