Sunny Mountain Trail

The start is at the Rathausplatz square in Naturno/Naturns, at 530 m altitude. The first few kilometers are on asphalt and gravel roads through the village of Naturno, leading to the beginning of the trails. As soon as the route reaches the first trail after approx. 3 km, there is a beautiful ascent (Path no. 39A) with an altitude difference of approx. 400 m to Unterrain Hof. Once there, a short asphalt road leads to the Unterwandhof, where the route changes back onto trails before arriving at the first descent (Path no. 26). After a fast but also somewhat crisp downhill stage of approx. 400 m altitude difference, it slowly rises again (Path no. 91) leading uphill in the direction of the Winkler Hof. Shortly before reaching the farm, the route turns and becomes more varied, and partly quite steep (Paths no. 39 – 2A – 2 – 8A), then leading up to the Durster Hof. There then follows (Path no. 26) a stage over great uphill and downhill terrain, which trail runners will surely find enjoyable. After about 2 km along this trail, the next ascent of 600 m altitude difference (Path no. 39) leads to the Gruberhof, where a beautiful but also partly steep ascent (Path no. 39B – 2) towards the Texel cable car is planned. The highest point (1,584 m) of the race is reached here, followed by a beautiful trail (Path no. 24) along the Merano High Mountain Trail, which ends after about 14.5 km of the race at an asphalt road. The route reaches the Hochforch Hof, before a very exciting and sudden entry to a gorge of about 1,000 steps. This ravine lives up to its name, as there really are many steep steps up and down to be completed. Once you have passed the gorge with its imposing suspension bridge and crossed the Pirchhof, a short stretch of asphalt follows to the Grub Hof. Continuing on the Merano High Mountain Trail, the route continues along trails and over a suspension bridge to the Galmein Hof, then on to Innerforch Hof and Linthof, before leaving Path no. 24, with a long descent of approx. 750 m difference in altitude to follow. The route leads past the Patleid Hof, then on to the Unterstell cable car station, to Höfl farm and then (Path no. 10) in the direction of Naturno. Arriving at an altitude of about 750 m, there is a nice flat trail of about 1.5 km, which leads uphill for a short time at the end and then downward again for about 200 m altitude difference. After this descent, the last ascent of about 100 altitude difference follows, before the trail and then a gravel – asphalt road lead to the finish point at Rathausplatz Naturno.