Urlesteig in Reinswald (San Martino): A Family-Friendly Hike in the Sarntal Valley

The Urlesteig in Reinswald (San Martino) is one of those family hikes where kids are unlikely to get bored. There is always something to explore, try out or climb along the way.

Kids can scramble over a giant dragonfly, cross a small pond on a raft, explore water channels or find their way through a pine maze. Along the route, they also learn fun facts about animals, plants, nature and history of the Sarntal Valley.

A Practical Bonus: Start with the Cable Car

The Urlesteig begins at the mountain station of the Reinswald cable car, which means you can skip most of the uphill effort and comfortably ride to the top. From there, the trail gently leads downhill back towards the valley. Especially with kids, this makes for a far more relaxed day outdoors. Of course, you can also start the hike on foot from the valley.

The Urlesteig is divided into six themed sections and can easily be adapted to your family’s interests, energy levels and hiking motivation. You can combine different sections or simply choose a shorter route.

These are the themed trails along the way:

• Water (approx. 20 minutes walking time)
• Animals (approx. 30 minutes walking time)
• History & Culture (approx. 60 minutes walking time)
• Plants (approx. 60 minutes walking time)
• Forces of Nature (approx. 60 minutes walking time)
• Butterfly Path (approx. 25 minutes walking time)

Another big plus for families: every section has a family-friendly mountain hut or refreshment stop nearby. For a good overview, take a look at the Urlesteig map further below. It also shows at a glance which trails are stroller-friendly.

Our Route: Combining the Water and Animal Trails

We combined the Water and Animal sections and found it to be the perfect mix for a family hike. From the mountain station, the trail gently leads downhill towards Pfnatschalm. Beautiful mountain views accompany the walk until, after around ten minutes, the first water play stations appear.

The installations are beautifully designed and made entirely of wood. Small water channels, sluices, mills and water wheels invite children to experiment, play and explore.

A little further along, you’ll find a small pond with a raft, more water play areas and creative wooden structures for climbing and balancing. On warm summer days, it is also a lovely spot to cool off.

Just below sits Pfnatschalm, complete with a playground and perfect for a relaxed break.

Back Down the Valley on the Animal Theme Trail

After coffee and cake, we continued downhill and followed the Animal Theme Trail towards the valley. The signposts make navigation easy.

Along the way, you pass large wooden animal sculptures while information boards introduce the local wildlife of the Sarntal Valley. The clear highlight for many kids is the giant dragonfly, perfect for climbing and scrambling around.
Not long after, you reach Sunnolm, another family-friendly stop with a playground and even a hay barn for jumping and playing, which quickly became a favourite with the kids. We stopped here for lunch before continuing our relaxed walk back down into the valley.

Just before reaching the cable car valley station, another large natural playground awaits and rounds off the day perfectly.

A Shorter Option for Younger Kids: The Reinswald Mills

If you prefer not to take the cable car or only have limited time, the short walk to the Reinswald Mills is a great alternative. This section follows part of the Butterfly Trail, takes around 25 minutes and is stroller-friendly, making it especially suitable for younger children. You can find a detailed description of the walk here.

What we loved about the Urlesteig

The Urlesteig in Reinswald (San Martino) is a relaxed and flexible family hike. What we liked most is how easy it is to adapt the route to your family’s needs. Whether you are after a short walk or a longer hiking day, you can simply mix and match the themed sections to suit your plans.

You can find current opening times and ticket prices for the Reinswald cable car on the official website.

Coming Soon: A Brand-New Upgrade

The existing lift will be replaced by a modern 10-person gondola with ground-level boarding, further enhancing comfort, transport capacity, and the overall appeal of the ski and hiking area. Construction is currently scheduled to begin in April 2027, with the new gondola expected to be operational for the start of the 2027/28 winter season.

Learn more here.