Mühlwald: Reservoirs, Hiking Trails and Water Culture

Water, Trails and Landscape

Mühlwald combines destinations by the water with hiking, winter sports and culture centred around water. If you’re looking for a hotel in Mühlwald, you can consider which of these activities you’d like to focus on during your stay.

The small Mühlwald Reservoir is located at an altitude of about 1,220 metres at the far end of the valley, just before Mühlwald/Selva dei Molini. Farms and flowering meadows shape the landscape on both slopes around the Selva dei Molini valley. The lake and the slopes reveal different sides of the surroundings: a body of water at the end of the valley and a landscape defined by farms and meadows.

Hikes and Getting Your Bearings

The circular trail around the Mühlwald Reservoir is considered a short excursion. Another option is the hike to the Raschtl Waterfall: it starts at Lake Mühlwald (Meggima) and follows the yellow signs marked “R-Raschtl-Wasserfälle”. The waterfall lies in a secluded spot deep in the forest above Mühlwald/Selva dei Molini. The two destinations therefore differ in character: a loop around the reservoir or a hike to a waterfall in the forest.

There are also several themed trails in the Selva dei Molini valley, where you can get to know the valley better. Together with the circular trail and the signposted hike, they offer different ways to explore: an excursion described as short, a named destination in the forest, and trails with a thematic focus.

To get to Lake Mühlwald, you can use the “Mühlwaldersee/Lago di Selva dei Molini” bus stop. It is served by bus line 451 and is about a one-minute walk from the lake. Parking is available at the Meggima car park by the lake. The return journey from the hike through the Selva dei Molini valley takes ten minutes on line 451. As bus services may change, check the connection before your trip; you should also check the parking options in advance.

Neves Reservoir in Summer

Access to and visits to Neves Reservoir are limited to the summer season. In summer, you can reach the lake from Lappago via a narrow mountain road with a toll. During the summer months, you can cross the dam on foot. If you plan to visit, check the access conditions locally before setting off. Summer is therefore the key period for both driving to the lake and walking across the dam.

Winter and Cultural Experiences

If winter sports are part of your travel plans, the “Snow & Fun Tamarix” Family Park lets children try out various winter sports. This offers a different focus from the excursions around the lake and through the valley and may be a factor in planning your trip around the seasons.

Water also features in the cultural offerings: since 2010, the “Magia dell’Acqua” Museum has explored the creative and destructive forces of water. The museum trail is housed in the old parish cellar in Lappago. Another historical landmark is the parish church of St. Gertraud in Mühlwald, which was consecrated on 1 September 1838. The museum and church thus offer different points of interest for a stay that includes local culture as well as the landscape and hiking destinations.

Discover more destinations: Floronzo, Prettau, Valle Aurina, San Candido, Sesto, La Valle, Chienes, Campo Tures.

Back to the main travel overview: Val Pusteria.