Rastenbachklamm

Useful Information

Location:	39052 Altenburg, Autonome Provinz Bozen. (46.3808139, 11.2405173)
Open:	no restrictions. [2023]
Fee:	free. [2023]
Classification:	Gorge
Light:	n/a
Dimension:
Guided tours:	self guided
Photography:	allowed
Accessibility:	no
Bibliography:
Address:	Rastenbachklamm, Tourismusverein Kaltern am See, 39052 Altenburg, Autonome Provinz Bozen, Tel: +39-0471-963169. E-mail:
As far as we know this information was accurate when it was published (see years in brackets), but may have changed since then. Please check rates and details directly with the companies in question if you need more recent info.

History

2016-2017	comprehensive renovation of the gorge.
2024	new viewing platform with panoramic view of the gorge.

Description

The Rastenbachklamm (Rastenbach Gorge, Gola Rio Pausa) is a spectacular gorge between the villages of Altenburg (Castelvecchio) and St Josef am See (San Guiseppe al Lago), located above the Kalterer See. There are bridges made of weatherproof corten steel through the narrow parts, trails leading uphill to the rim in serpentines, and two viewpoints with benches. Older descriptions tell about wooden bridges, but they were modernized in 2016 and 2017 in a massive renovation of the gorge. Over the course of time, the Rastenbach stream has dug a deep trench into the Mendel Mountains near Kaltern through erosion. Quite exceptional is the fact that the rock is porphyry, not limestone as the surrounding southern limestone alps. This area is called the Dolomites, and the mountains are normally made of the homonymous limestone variety. There are numerous rapids and waterfalls, the highest is 30 m high. The lower canyon is narrow with rapids and gullies, while the upper part, above the 30 m waterfall, is more like a jungle and protected for its plants and animals.

This is the German speaking part of the Trentino, which is actually called Südtirol, and so we give the German names. The names were translated into Italian, which are in brackets. Signs are typically bilingual.

A special thing with this gorge is that it is probably the only one in the Alps, which is accessible all year. It is quite low, only 100 m asl, and on the southern side of the Alps, there is rarely snow. And so the gorge is freely accessible all year without restrictions or fee. The development and the maintenance are paid for by the Tourismusverein Kaltern, the owners allow free access, and the caretakers for the trails work honorary. It’s essential to be careful and leave no trash, because due to additional costs like waste disposal the free access may quickly become history. The best starting point is the car park at the St. Anton sports centre in Kaltern, which is free and has enough spaces even during high season. The car park at Müllereck in Altenburg is small and fills up quickly, it is only for low season or very early in the morning. But it offers the shortest route to the gorge. The car park at St Josef am See (San Guiseppe al Lago) is the most popular, as it starts at the lower end of the gorge leading upwards, and in general a gorge is more spectacular walking uphill. It’s possible to make a round trip, or if you have two cars make a through-trip. The duration depends on the route, but you should plan a half-day hike.