Just a few weeks ago, we visited the small community of Nauders am Reschenpass in Austria. Here in the Tyrolean Mountains, the small mountain village of 1,500 inhabitants lies at an altitude of 1,394 meters and borders directly on Italy and Switzerland. It’s not without reason that the Nauders region is also called the “border triangle.” Whether biking, horseback riding, hiking, climbing, rafting, paragliding, kitesurfing, or canyoning—in summer, you’ll be spoiled for choice. In today’s article, we’ll share our best tips for Nauders and show you what awaits you here at the Reschen Pass. Enjoy browsing!
- Our highlights in Nauders am Reschenpass
- 1. Walk through the municipality of Nauders
- 2. Lunch at the Stieralm
- 3. Bike & Hike to the Bazahlerkopf
- 4. Trail testing at the Bergkastel Bike Base
- 5. Zirmtrail adventure
- 6. Excursion to the tank barriers (Plamort Trail)
- 7. The viewing rock above Lake Reschen
- Overnight stay at the 4* Hotel Post
- Bike rental in Nauders
- Arrival in Nauders
- Conclusion on Nauders at the Reschen Pass
Our highlights in Nauders at the Reschen Pass
On the following map, we have marked the most important spots of our trip. There is, of course, so much more to discover, but unfortunately, we didn’t have enough time. Since we lost an entire day due to heavy rain, we had to shorten some of our tours the next day. Nevertheless, we had a great time in Nauders at the Reschen Pass and can only recommend this region to you. Have you ever been to Nauders? Feel free to share your experiences in the comments.
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1. Walk through the municipality of Nauders
After arriving in Nauders at the Reschen Pass and checking in at the Post Hotel, we first strolled through the small town to get a first impression. The community center houses several restaurants, hotels, and guesthouses, a few shops, a supermarket, a gas station, and a pharmacy. The Bergkastelbahn cable car is about a 15-minute walk from Nauders, and the Mutzkopf lift is only about 8 minutes away.
We strolled past Naudersberg Castle, then kept left and continued walking above the village to the church and back to our hotel. The road leading above the village gave us a fantastic view of the small community and the beautiful surrounding mountain scenery. Nauders itself has just around 1,500 inhabitants, but has around 4,200 guest beds.
2. Lunch at the Stieralm
During our trip, we didn’t exactly have the best weather for exploring nature. Unfortunately, it rained continuously for the first two days, making our explorations somewhat difficult. But we didn’t let the weather deter us and took an e-bike trip to the Stieralm. From Nauders, we rode past the valley station of the Berkastelbahn cable car and, after about 1 kilometer, turned left onto the forest path toward the Lärchenalm.
We then followed the signs and, after about 35 minutes, reached our destination at an altitude of over 2000 meters. In good weather, the historic Stieralm offers a magnificent view over the valley and Nauders. We particularly liked the modern ambience and the unique wooden construction made of pine wood. Here, where bulls once stood, guests now sit and enjoy culinary delights while enjoying the most beautiful views. By the way: This photo was taken the next day when we cycled past it again. Hence the good weather
- Opening hours: May 26th. – 09.10.22 open daily
- Menu: Soups, salads, dumplings, Kaiserschmarrn, hearty main courses and much more.
- Hiking: Starting point: Bergkastelbahn valley station (continue to the tank barriers and Rechensee)
3. Bike & Hike to the Bazahlerkopf
After the rain finally stopped, we were able to fully experience and explore the area around Nauders. Early in the morning, we set off with our guide on e-mountain bikes up towards the Bazahlerkopf. The route initially led along a paved road and later along a wide forest path through the high forest. We passed the Parditschhof farm and the Parditsch meadows, among other places. Shortly before the Labaunalm, we turned left, crossed the river, and followed the forest path to a wooden hut with a swing.
We left the bikes there and continued our leisurely hike to the Bazahlerkopf (2160 m). The view from up there was magnificent! Before us rose the mighty Swiss mountains, rising over 3,100 m, and on the other side, the Ötztal Alps. While our guide picked a few alpine roses for his wife, we strolled through the beautiful flower meadow and enjoyed the stunning view. We actually wanted to take the Edelweißsteig to the Fluchtwand (2,328 m), but unfortunately, due to the “lost rainy day,” we didn’t have the time.
- Hike via Edelweissstieg to Fluchtwand (Entrance: Trail No. 15 b | black marked trail)
- Requirements: Sure-footedness and a head for heights
- Duration: Ascent from Bazahlerkopf around 50 minutes
- Alternative: Summit tour to the “Nauderer local mountain” Schmalzkopf (2,728 m)
- Refreshments: Labaunalm (only Summer operation; closed on Wednesdays)
- Further information on hiking tours: Hiking in Nauders
4. Trail testing at the Bergkastel Bike Base
We took the Bergkastel cable car from the valley station up to the mountain station at 2,200 meters. Using a special device, we were able to hang our bikes on the gondola outside and thus make our way up in comfort. In addition to the magnificent view of the surrounding mountains, there were other highlights, such as the Goldpark adventure world, the panoramic restaurant, and the bike base with four newly created trails.
The Goldpark was built from natural materials and offers a host of activities for children between the ages of 3 and 14. There’s a gold digger course, a 5-meter slide tower, a tree carousel, a zip line, a giant sandpit, an air trampoline, water games, a labyrinth, a water wheel, and, starting in July, even a pirate ship. Use of the park is completely free. This way, the children can go on a discovery tour while the adults relax on the sun terrace of the restaurant.
But we were up there for trail riding and first tested the 4 newly created trails. The bike base is ideal for beginners and newbies to get a feel for trail riding. We encountered rock faces, small jumps and doubles, and some wooden structures. Our guide gave us valuable tips that were very useful for the remaining trails.
Information about the cable cars and bike transport:
- Goldpark Card from €23 per day (allows you to use all summer cable cars in Nauders)
- 3-country Enduro Bike day ticket from €41 (use all cable cars and bike transport)
- Uphill and downhill rides with the Bergkastel cable car from €21 per day
- All prices and rates here: Summer rates and operating hours of the Nauders cable cars
5. Zirmtrail Adventure
Marco and our guide then made their way to the starting point of the more challenging Zirmtrail at an altitude of 2,550 m. This is usually easily reached with the Zirmbahn cable car, but it was still closed during our visit. So the two had to cover the almost 350 meters of elevation gain on their own, using a lot of muscle power.
They were rewarded, however, with a 6-kilometer-long trail that winds beautifully through the alpine landscape. It is one of the easiest trails, but also offers plenty of variety. Marco enjoyed the undulating tracks and curves, some jumps and rocky terrain variations, and the numerous bends.
Around Nauders, you’ll find 2,000 km of cycle paths with 80,000 meters of elevation gain in the three countries of Switzerland, Italy, and Austria. So you’re spoiled for choice and can either take relaxing (e-)bike tours, whizz down flowing trails, or explore adventurous mountain bike routes. We highly recommend the Bergkastell Bike Base and the Zirmtrail. It was incredibly fun trying out the different trails.
Information about the recommended Zirmtrail:
- Length: 6 kilometers
- Start: Zirmbahn mountain station
- Destination: Zirmbahn valley station
- Difficulty: perfect for beginners
6. Excursion to the Tank Traps (Plamort Trail)
Our guide had another trick up his sleeve. After refueling in the panoramic restaurant at the mountain station, we rode our bikes to the Stieralm. While I took a leisurely ride along the wide forest path, Marco and our guide were on the Almtrail (S1) above. At the Stieralm we all changed to the Plamort Trail (a real classic).
The trail initially led in a flowing up and down with many We made our way through the forest on wooden elements before reaching the picturesque plateau of the Plamort raised bog a short time later. We crossed the Italian border and continued on to the striking tank traps (500 m long) and historic bunkers built during World War II. These dangerous-looking metal spikes don’t really fit into the landscape, but you should definitely see them. While we took a short break here, our guide provided us with plenty of interesting background information. You can find the complete route here: Bunker Trail and Tank Traps.
7. The viewing rock above Lake Resia
Just a few meters behind the striking tank barriers, the view opened up again, and we rode along a small path toward the viewing rock. This rock is also often called the “Poser Rock” and is THE photo spot on the Three Countries Enduro Trails. From up there, we had a magnificent view of the turquoise-blue Lake Resia and the surrounding mountains.
The reservoir in the municipality of Graun is the largest lake in South Tyrol and is best known for its church tower that protrudes from the water. You can make a detour to this church tower on the way down to Resia. We then went down from the viewing rock to Reschen and then directly to Nauders.
Overnight stay at the 4* Hotel Post
During our time in Nauders we stayed at the We stayed at the 4-star Hotel Post*. This family-run hotel is located right in the center of Nauders and has been welcoming guests from all over for over 200 years. A beautiful Alpine-style room with a comfortable double bed, seating area, TV, balcony, and a modern bathroom with shower and toilet awaited us. Wellness bags with a bathrobe and slippers were also waiting for us.
After our exciting days, we were able to relax in the wellness area. It features an indoor pool, relaxation room, steam bath, infrared cabin, Kneipp pool, and sunbathing lawn. The vaulted ceiling from the 16th century is particularly beautiful. In the morning, there was a delicious breakfast buffet, and in the evening, a varied and creative gourmet menu. We were able to store our bicycles in a designated area and also park for free at the hotel. Book a room here*.
Bike rental in Nauders
If you would like to explore the surrounding area by bike, we recommend the BIWAK bike rental in Nauders. This is just a few meters from the Hotel Post. There, you’ll not only receive excellent advice, but you can also rent a wide variety of bikes, helmets, hiking poles, trailers, and much more. We both had a fully e-bike and were very satisfied with it (€70 per day). For a hardtail e-bike, you pay only €45 per day, for an e-city bike €40, and for a regular trekking bike just €30. You can book your bike in advance here: BIWAK Nauders.
Getting to Nauders
By car: If you’re traveling by car, we recommend taking the route via Munich and Garmisch-Partenkirchen. From Munich, it’s only around 3 hours to Nauders. Don’t forget to get your toll sticker (vignette), which you can easily get at kiosks and gas stations (€9.60 for 10 days). Without one, you can expect a hefty fine if you’re stopped at a checkpoint.
After the border, the route continues through the towns of Ehrwald, Nassereith, the municipality of Imst, and Ladis-Fiss-Serfaus. We rented a car* from Munich and drove to Nauders. The trip from the Baltic Sea to the South Tyrol border would have been far too far for our own small city car.
By train: You can also travel comfortably by train* via Munich, Kufstein, and Innsbruck, for example. There are countless train connections from many European cities to Tyrol. Your destination station in this case is Landeck-Zams. From there, you can continue by taxi or post bus for about an hour to Nauders.
Conclusion on Nauders at the Reschen Pass
We sincerely hope that our report has been of some help and/or inspiration to you. We can 100% recommend a trip to the region around Nauders at the Reschen Pass, as there is so much to discover. The scenery was especially enjoyable for us, as the surrounding mountains are truly impressive. On our next trip, we’d like to do even more hikes and ride some of the trails again.