This pleasant walk offers the chance to discover the unique natural landscape of the Kalterer See wetland, the largest lake in South Tyrol. It is a true natural oasis, home to thousands of waterbirds, fish, amphibians and dragonflies. At the same time, the dense reed bed serves as an important resting place for numerous animals during the migration season.

Accessibility

From Bolzano, take the Mendelstraße towards Kaltern/Weinstraße. After passing through the village of Kaltern, turn left and follow the sign for Klughammer, where you can park directly in the car park at the marked entrance to the biotope (no reserved parking spaces for people with disabilities).

Description

From the car park (216 m), we cross the road and, after a short descent with a steep gradient of 20% (compacted earth and loose gravel) and a small step, reach the nature trail on wooden walkways. The fixed wooden walkway leads us straight into the biotope, surrounded by reeds and rushes, which provide a valuable source of food and a hiding place for fish, amphibians, insects and numerous species of water birds. The information boards along the path explain that reeds are a natural water purifier. They absorb nutrients, filter sediments and enrich the water with oxygen. Along the path, you can observe numerous species of water birds that inhabit this last large wetland area between the Po Valley and the Alpine ridge. We follow the footbridge (partly without a handrail) through the wetland and eventually reach a small tarmac road. Here we turn right and follow the straight road to a wooden viewing tower (218 m, accessible via steps only), which offers a unique view of the entire wetland. We now continue along the dead-straight road and eventually reach the second entrance to the biotope. Once again, we can venture deeper into the wetland biotope via a beautifully constructed wooden footbridge. The path winds through the tranquil marshland and eventually ends back on the tarmac road. At this point, we turn back and head left along the road to return to our starting point at the car park.