NATURE PARKS
Naturpark Puez-Geisler/Puez-Odle Nature Park
The Puez-Odle nature park is a protected area that you can access from Val Gardena via the Vallunga, but also from Val Badia and Valle Isarco. Through the now disused via ferrata Sandro Pertini with attack in Vallunga, you could reach the park up to the Stevia Refuge. If the via ferrata is your passion, then you could try the Sass Rigais route, of medium difficulty, which starts from Santa Cristina and arrives at the Rifugio Firenze: one of the most equipped paths ever!
Surely this park is one of the most varied in the Dolomites and contains the highest peaks: Plose, Monte Gabler, Sass de Putia, Gruppo delle Odle with Furchetta and Sass Rigais (over three thousand meters) and the Group of Puez with the Piz de Puez and Sassongher.
The fauna of this park is as rich as its flora. The latter includes the Swiss stone pine and larch as the main species, but also spruce, rhododendron and mountain pine. The animals that you can see here are the roe deer, the eagle owl, the capercaillie and the golden eagle.
Naturpark Schlern-Rosengarten/Sciliar-Catinaccio Nature Park
One of the first parks to be established in South Tyrol is the “Sciliar” park, to which the Rosengarten section was added in 2003. The Sciliar massif with its Santner peak (and the less famous Euringer peak) is often considered to be the emblem of the region.
In addition to the aforementioned peaks, the park also features the Cima Catinaccio and the majestic Vajolet Towers. The Catinaccio d’Antermoia (3002 metres) is also part of this group.
The total area of this paradise reaches 7,291 hectares and has a very varied fauna: it will be fun to look for squirrels, hawks, marmots. Typical of this area is also the spruce and the Scots pine.
There are two information points for guided tours: in Bagni di Lavina Bianca (Weisslahnbad) at the old sawmill “Steger Säge” you will find the visitor centre, while at the pond of Fiè allo Sciliar you will find the information point. And about the little lake of Fiè: it’s swimming. You can find the right refreshment from the summer heat; if you happen to be in winter, you can skate there. Not bad!