Watles summit from the hotel

You start at the hotel and follow marker no. 3 past the valley station of the Watles chairlift. The trail leads through light larch forest to the Höfer alp and on to the Plantapatsch hut at around 2,140 m. Up to here it is the same trail as the hotel's hut hike.

Above the hut, the well signposted trail no. 3 climbs steadily over meadows and gentle hills to the summit cross. The operator describes the route as steadily ascending but relatively easy to manage. You descend along the same route.

If you would like to save the first roughly 400 metres of ascent, the operator says you can take the chairlift to the top station and start there; the figures above apply from the hotel.

According to the operator, the Watles hiking area offers panoramic views of the Ortler group, the Sesvenna group, the Ötztal Alps and the whole Upper Vinschgau basin. At the top, Lake Reschen lies on the valley floor, and in clear weather the peaks of the Ötztal Alps stretch far into the horizon.

Livestock graze on the alpine pastures of the mountain, on the summit plateau as well. Around the summit you will find benches with a view; take time to look before you start back.

If you still have energy after the summit, you can combine it with the Pfaffensee lakes in a loop; the operator also describes separate routes to these lakes from the Plantapatsch hut. Shorter alternatives are the hotel's hut hike to the Plantapatsch hut or, for experienced hikers only, the long high-level trail towards the Schlinig valley.

On the summit ridge you are exposed to wind and weather. Thunderstorms are the main reason to turn back: start early, take rain protection, warm clothing, sun protection and enough water, and check the weather and webcam beforehand. In early summer patches of snow often remain, and in autumn it can snow early.

You can stop at the Höfer alp, the Plantapatsch hut and the inns in Prämajur. Which of them are open depends on the season; information is on watles.net.

If you travel without a car: you reach Prämajur from Mals by bus no. 277. With the Reschensee Guest Pass, train and bus travel throughout South Tyrol is included in your stay.