This popular cycle route runs alongside the River Passer, which is crossed several times via wooden bridges. The valley floor is characterised by extensive meadows and apple orchards, whilst the mountain slopes are covered in dense coniferous forests.

Accessibility

From Bolzano, take the MeBo motorway to Merano and continue into the Passeier Valley as far as Saltaus. From the car park at the Hirzer cable car, a small village road leads down to the valley floor, where there are a few parking spaces near the bridge over the Passer. To shorten the walk, you can drive further into the valley to the hamlet of Quellenhof and park there.

Description

From the car park by the tennis court (490 m), we follow the well-marked cycle path to the left towards St. Martin, which takes us along the riverbank into the valley. The path alternates between the right and left banks of the Passa, climbs gently and has a firm, natural surface. After around two kilometres, we reach the village of Quellenhof (548 m), where there is a small golf course and sports facilities. There are only two significant inclines: when crossing two small tributaries at km 5.7 and at km 6.7 (a 100 m climb with an gradient of approx. 16%). Some sections of the cycle path are tarmac-surfaced. In St. Martin (602 m), we come to a covered wooden footbridge over the Passer River, which leads to the Martinerhof brewery inn. Our walk, however, continues northwards into the valley. Passing the St. Martin sports ground, the Passeier craftsmen’s area and the Bar Lände, we reach a cosy rest area at the Sandwirt, the birthplace of Andreas Hofer, just before St. Leonhard. The building on the main road is accessible from the cycle path via a short climb and houses the beautiful Passeier Museum (629 m). Those wishing to continue on to St. Leonhard can carry on the hike via an underpass. Passing a nature reserve, we reach the entrance to the village (650 m). Here you can choose to head up to the village centre or return to the Sandhof via the flat “Gandöllenweg”. This footpath is lit in the evening and features several information boards detailing the history and legends of this valley. After about half a kilometre, we reach the Sandwirt and a public bus stop. The walk can also be started in the opposite direction from St. Leonhard, or as a significantly shorter circular route from St. Leonhard across the flat Gondellen meadows to the Sandhof and back to St. Leonhard via the cycle path along the Passer (around 3 km).