The Sciliar-Catinaccio Nature Park, or Naturpark Schlern-Rosengarten, got its name aftter two wonderful dolomitic massifs: Mount Sciliar, rising majestic in the Western Dolomites, probably the most iconic and symbolic mountain of the Alto Adige and the Mount Catinaccio Range, a sequence of legendary mountains.
The park is adjacent to the Alpe di Siusi Landscape Conservation Area that with its fifty-six square kilometers is the Europe’s largest alpine pasture. With its two peaks, Punta Euringer and Punta Santner, majestic Mount Sciliar is often considered the emblem of Alto Adige; all around it, the natural park was established in 1974; it was, then, enlarged and today it covers a surface of 7'291 hectares.
This wonderful territory features a motley environment that offers spectacular and evocative landscapes; Mount Sciliar is surrounded by conifer woods that provide a perfect habitat for numerous animal and plant species while little lake Laghetto di Fiè is surrounded by a wide Scots Pine wooded area. This wonderful stretch of water, a very popular destination, develops for a whole hectare, also featuring some rushes; a perfect ecosystem for many species of waterfowls.
The Sciliar-Catinaccio Nature Park features an endles and unique variety of plantlife and wildlife. There one can find the typical animals of the mountain woods that develope around Mount Sciliar and Mount Catinaccio: Golden Eagle, Alpine Grey Titmouse, Common Crossbill, Alpine Chough and Alpine Chamois. The park plantlife, as well, is very interesting and it welcomes many species of plants and flowers: Crocus and Rhododendron, Bear-Eared Primrose, Campanula and Devil's Claw. On the marvelous and renowned flowering meadows of the Alpe di Siusi it is also possible to spot the False Goat's Beard, the Alpine Snowbell and the Saxifraga.
At the entrance of evocative valley Val Ciamin, in Tires al Catinaccio, in the little village of Bagni di Lavina Bianca (Weisslahnbad), the Sciliar-Catinaccio Visitors’ Centre is hosted in the "Steger Säge", an antique Venetian water-powered sawmill; it has been renovated and it is in perfect working condition. Its beautiful facility hosts interactive stations that give informaion on the park’s geology and nature and on the ancient cultures and traditions of this wonderful territory. Another interesting information point is by little lake Laghetto di Fiè; it gives information on the flora and on the fauna that gravitate around the lake, in the rushes and in the damp areas.
The Sciliar-Catinaccio Nature Park, then, offers two Adventure-Trails: the Geologists’ Trail, almost ten kilometers long, that from Bagni di Razzes leads to alpine cottage Malga Prossliner and the Oswald Von Wolkenstein Trail that stretches in the Castelvecchio Forest by Siusi.
The Geologists’ Trail is a wonderful loop itinerary and it is one of the most geologically-interesting paths of all the Dolomites.
The Oswald Von Wolkenstein Trail, with its fifteen stations, is a very popular and appreciated destination for wonderful excursions, particularly for families.
The Sciliar-Catinaccio Nature Park can provide an endless number of possibilities with fantastic activities both in the summer and in the winter. Marvelous environments welcome the enthusiasts of all the ski disciplines -downhill and cross country- on track and off-piste, including ski mountaineering, freeride ski and snowboard, besides snowshoes excursions. And then trekking, skating, mountain bike, canyoning and rafting besides, of course!, climbing on spectacular rock walls through the classic and sports vias and through the very beautiful vie ferrate of the Dolomites. During the summer ski-lifts and cable cars allow to reach the comfortable starting points for an endless number of excursions among very beautiful alpine lakes, evocative woods and majestic rock walls.
The mountain guides of the Fassa Guide mountaineering school organize courses and excursions, both group excursions and with private mountain guide; stupendous activities and itineraries that will accompany you discovering the marvelous treasures of the Dolomites. Fassa Guide is at your disposal to assist you and to follow you in your adventures of freeride skiing, ski mountaineering, climbing and any other kind of excursion.
Get in touch with us for more information on all the activities:
Phone number: +39 349 642 4284
Reservations & info: booking@fassaguide.com
