The Hike to the Obisellsee Lake

Val Passiria, Merano & Surroundings

Difficulty:

Description

This hike leads through some fascinating, isolated Alpine terrain at unusually low altitude down in the valley. This is for those interested in seeing the renowned views of the Merano basin and willing to go on a longer excursion at high altitude. Starting at the unmanned Hahnenkamm refuge to the Pfitschkopf summit, take the Lustige Kameraden-Steig trail (5a) across the partly exposed ridge. Cross the very steep face that sometimes dips slightly downwards the exposed trail (5) northwest to the Obere Obisellalm hut and lake Obisellsee.

Starting point: Öberst-Vernurio/Vernuer

Endpoint: Öberst-Vernurio/Vernuer

Refreshment stop: Öberst, Obere Obisellalm hut

Details

Climbing west from the Obersthöfe hamlet to Vernurio/Vernuer, cross the field and continue through the woods to the crossing on the steep mountain crest beneath the Hahnenkamm ridge (21a). Without any noticeable difference in altitude, traverse the slope while changing direction slightly from northwest to north up to the Untere Obisellalm Alm pasture (21).

From there, head northwest on a steep climb up to the picturesque Obere Obisellalm hut, which stands on a small hill to the right of lake Obisellsee (5). Alternatively, to circumvent the Untere Obisellalm pasture: bend left (westwards) a few hundred meters before the Untere Obisellalm on the Lustige Kameraden-Steig trail (5a) running along the slope and then head north to the Obere Alm-Obisellalm (first 5a, then 5).

The return is along the same trail as to the Untere Alm-Obisellalm (5).

Descend from the Untere Obisellalm pasture (southeast) on the right side of the Saltauser Tal Valley along the steep path to Vernueralm pasture. Now follow the small and mostly flat road as far as the main road (5) that leads from Vernurio to the Obersthöfe hamlet for the last few hundred meters back to the starting point.

Source: “Wanderführer Passeiertal ” – Heinz Widmann