Hike to the Earth Pyramids on the Ritten

The Renon/Ritten earth pyramids are a phenomenon caused by erosion, appearing where ice age moraine loam from glaciers collected in the valleys. When dry, the material is as hard as rock but, combined with water, it becomes a clay-like mush which flows into the valley. It remains protected from the rain under large stones so that columns of earth are built up becoming taller after each rainstorm.

Route: the hike begins in Collalbo/Klobenstein, the main village on the Corno del Renon mountain. The trail leads through Collalbo to Longomoso/Lengmoos until to the hiking trail no 24 in the Erdpyramidental valley, which is so flat that it can be walked with any sort of shoe and with a buggy. View the earth pyramids against the backdrop of the imposing Dolomites from the viewing terraces. Return via the same route, through Longomoso to the beginning of trail no. 37, the von-Eyrl Promenade and the starting point at the railway station in Collalbo.

Tip: the easy way to get from Bolzano/Bozen to Collalbo is on the Rittner Seilbahn cable car and Rittner Bahn narrow-gauge railway.