In the Passeier Valley, no major summit counts anymore, but the rhythm of walking: across farms, slopes and through gorges to St. Leonhard in Passeier/San Leonardo in Passiria and finally, in switchbacks, up to Pfandler Alm/Malga Pfandler – simple, rugged and authentic.
The Passeier Valley becomes quiet. No more border drama, no spectacular passes – instead a long hiking day through one of South Tyrol’s rugged hearts. The route leads across old farms and steep forest slopes up to Stuls/Stulles and Glaiten, where the mountains suddenly feel vast and the valley lies far below. Then it continues back down toward St. Leonhard in Passeier/San Leonardo in Passiria, the home of Andreas Hofer. Past gorges, the sound of rushing water and traditional mountain farming culture.
This stage does not live from a big summit moment, but from the rhythm of walking: ascending, traversing, descending, continuing onward. Only at the end does the path climb seriously once more, switchback after switchback to Pfandler Alm/Malga Pfandler. Up there awaits no luxury, but exactly what you begin to seek on the E5: simple warmth, the scent of wood and the feeling of having walked far enough.
Description
The tour starts in Moos in Passeier/Moso in Passiria. In the village centre, next to the Mooserwirt, you can fill your water bottles at a fountain. Follow the sidewalk to the main road at the town hall and turn left uphill. The path that originally led right toward the via ferrata and waterfall is closed.
After about 0.5 km, the Stullerweg branches off steeply uphill to the right, crossing the Timmelsjoch road and the Stuller road several times until reaching a farm. From there, follow initially the Stuller road and then a path above the road. This leads to the Antonius Chapel, which offers an impressive view into the Pfelderer Valley.
In Stuls/Stulles, follow the asphalt road through the village for about 2 km before, after leaving the village and crossing the Sagbach gorge, turning right onto a descending path. After about 50 metres of descent, the E5 branches left and traverses at a constant elevation back to the road between Stuls/Stulles and St. Leonhard in Passeier/San Leonardo in Passiria. After about 900 m in the same direction, another hiking path branches off to the right, leading in several switchbacks down to another asphalt road.
Follow the road briefly to the right and then immediately turn again onto a hiking trail, which leads back down to the asphalt road you just left. Continue downhill along this road to reach a larger asphalt road (“Jaufen Pass road”) and subsequently St. Leonhard in Passeier/San Leonardo in Passiria (walking time from the starting point approx. 3:30 hours).
At a right-hand bend, you can continue straight ahead via the Schlossweg downhill through the village before reaching the main road again. After the Hotel Stroblhof, keep left and follow the E5 signs (trail no. 3) uphill towards Pfandler Alm/Malga Pfandler up to the primary school.
Continue on a small mountain road (signposted E5 or no. 3) towards Sandhof – Andreas Hofer Trail. After the Gander farmstead (about 1.2 km from Hotel Stroblwirt), a hiking path branches off to the right. Soon the routes split: trail no. 3 allows a recommended detour to the “Sandwirt”, the birthplace of Andreas Hofer – however, the E5 takes the left path marked as trail no. 5A, which pleasantly leads through forests and meadows slightly above the valley floor, passing the Pfeifertal waterfall and eventually reaching the Pfeiftal inn.
From there, you reach Pfandler Alm/Malga Pfandler via trail 5A and then trail no. 1 in about 1:45 hours (600 metres of ascent). The stony forest path is partly steep and repeatedly crosses small asphalt roads or tracks.
At Pfandler Alm/Malga Pfandler, Andreas Hofer once hid before he was captured by French troops on January 28, 1810, and later executed in Mantua. Along the route, information stations provide insights into his final days.
At the alpine pasture, there is a clearing with a deer enclosure as well as the old hut in which Hofer once hid. Pfandler Alm/Malga Pfandler is perfectly suited as a base for an overnight stay on the E5.
