Walking tip in the Upper Vinschgau
The Lake Reschen Loop
The walk around Lake Reschen is one of the easiest full-day walks in the Upper Vinschgau: just over 15 kilometres on a walking and cycling path, mostly flat, with the church tower of Alt-Graun as its best-known sight. We start at the visitor car park by the church tower in Graun. From Ferienhotel Kastellatz it is about 20 kilometres, about 30 minutes by car.
Sources give 15 to 15.5 kilometres and a little under four hours of walking time. If you do not want to do the whole loop, walk a stretch along the shore and turn back, or take the bus back from the halfway point.
At a glance
- Distance
- 15.3 km
- Ascent
- 145 m
- Descent
- 145 m
- Walking time
- just under 4 hours walking time, half a day with breaks
- Difficulty
- easy
- Highest point
- 1,533 m
- Start
- Visitor car park by the church tower in Graun (about 1,500 m)
- Refreshments
- Restaurant Schlössl in Reschen, Hofschank Giernhof on the west side, cafés and bars in Graun, Restaurant Mein Dörfl by the tower
- Dog
- possible at the lake and on the loop; on the shared walking and cycling path dogs belong on a lead
- Children
- suitable for pushchairs, mostly paved; the length is the hurdle, and the loop can be split
- Season
- walkable all year, also described as a winter walk
easy
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Elevation profile
Route sketch
Map
Route description
From the visitor car park by the tower, follow the walking and cycling path along the east shore to the north, towards Reschen. The surface alternates between asphalt and good gravel and mostly runs beside the main road, in places separated from it by a strip of woodland.
In Reschen on the north shore, cross the meadows to the west side of the valley. Here the path passes the valley station of the Piz Schöneben cable car and then runs south on an asphalt track, alternating between the forest edge and meadows. Across the water you can see Graun and the entrance to the Langtauferer valley.
About 8 kilometres after Reschen you reach the south shore with the power station buildings. You cross to the east side over the dam and walk back north along the shore, past the village of Graun to the tower. The loop can also be walked in the opposite direction; the GPX file follows this description.
What you will see
The tower belongs to the Romanesque church of Alt-Graun, built in the 14th century. In 1950, 163 houses were blown up and Graun, together with part of Reschen, was flooded. The full story is on our page about Lake Reschen.
On the north shore the Seeschlössl is reflected in the water, and on the west side a small chapel stands by the Jausenstation Giernhof. Ducks, dragonflies and many butterflies are about at the water's edge. From the dam, an earth embankment with a crest 415 metres long, you can see the whole lake, about 6 kilometres in length.
Lake Reschen is a reservoir, built between 1947 and 1949. Only on the south side do the power station buildings remind you of this; for the rest of the way it looks like a natural alpine lake, with the Ortler and Cevedale on the horizon.
Practical tips and safety
The path is also a cycle route: do not walk the full width side by side and give way to cyclists. The length of over 15 kilometres is easy to underestimate. Take water, sun protection and a jacket; the wind at the lake can be strong.
During construction work at the lake, individual sections may be closed or diverted. Follow the signs on site and ask the Ferienregion Reschenpass. In winter, do not step onto the ice on your own initiative: the path along the shore is the safe choice.
Getting there from the hotel: from Prämajur via Burgeis onto the Vinschgauer Strasse, past St. Valentin to Graun, about 20 kilometres. With the Reschensee Guest Pass, rail and bus in South Tyrol are included during your stay; timetables are on suedtirolmobil.info.
Frequently asked questions
- How long is the walk around Lake Reschen?
- About 15.3 kilometres; sources give 15 to 15.5. Walking time is a little under four hours, so plan half a day with breaks. The path is mostly flat.
- Can I take a pushchair?
- Yes. The path is mostly paved with little height difference, and some sections have firm gravel. For small children the length is the issue, but the loop splits well.
- Can my dog come along?
- Yes, dogs are possible at the lake and on the loop. As the path is also a cycle route, keep your dog on a lead.
- Can I walk just half the loop?
- Yes. You can walk to the halfway point and take the bus back, or walk a stretch along the shore and turn around. Timetables are on suedtirolmobil.info.
- How do I get from the hotel to the start?
- By car it is about 20 kilometres and about 30 minutes via Burgeis and the Vinschgauer Strasse to Graun. The visitor car park is by the church tower.
Related excursions
More hiking tips
Your stay
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Further pages
Ferienregion ReschenpassFerienregion Vinschgau: Turm im ReschenseeSüdtirol Mobil: timetables