Parco Naturale Vedrette di Ries-Aurina (Rieserferner-Ahrn Nature Park)
Stretching north from Brunico into the Ahrntal (Valle Aurina), the Rieserferner-Ahrn Nature Park protects 31,000 hectares of glaciated granite peaks, ancient larch forests and remote high-alpine valleys that see a fraction of the visitor numbers of the more famous Dolomite parks to the south. The valley road from Brunico to Kasern at the head of the Ahrntal is one of the most scenic drives in the
The Ahrntal Valley Drive and Kasern
The 60 km drive up the Ahrntal from Brunico to the road-end hamlet of Kasern (1,582 m) passes through a succession of villages — Sand in Taufers, Luttach, Steinhaus — each with a fortified tower or Romanesque church that hints at the valley's medieval importance as a silver-mining corridor. Stop at Sand in Taufers to walk around Taufers Castle, one of the best-preserved medieval fortresses in South Tyrol.
At Kasern, the valley closes into a tight cirque and the road ends at a cluster of farmhouses and a small chapel. From here, trails fan out toward the Röten glacier and the Birnlücke pass into Austria — even a one-hour walk up the Kasern valley floor rewards with views of hanging glaciers and waterfalls.
Best Day Hikes in the Park
The trail to Neves reservoir (Lago di Neves, 1,856 m) from Lappach is a classic half-day outing: a 4 km path through larch and stone pine forest opens onto a turquoise glacial lake backed by the Rieserferner massif. The trailhead car park fills by 9 am on summer weekends — arrive early or take the local bus from Sand in Taufers.
For a more demanding route, the ascent to Röteck hut (Rifugio Vallarga, 2,560 m) from Kasern gains 1,000 m through boulder fields and snowfields, reaching a perch above the Röten glacier with views extending to the main Alpine divide. The hut serves hot food and has overnight dormitory beds.
Wildlife and Seasons
The park is one of the best places in the South Tyrolean Alps to observe golden eagles, which nest on the granite cliffs above the treeline and are regularly seen riding thermals over the Ahrntal between April and September. Chamois and ibex are common above 2,000 m; red deer descend to the valley-floor meadows at dusk.
Autumn is the most spectacular season: the larch forests turn a blazing amber-gold in October, the valley is quiet after the summer crowds, and the Törggelen season means farmhouse restaurants throughout the Ahrntal are serving new wine, roast chestnuts and fresh-pressed apple juice alongside hearty mountain meals.
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