Gravel on the Ritten Plateau: The Rittner Horn and Villanderer Alm Loop

If you're looking for a gravel route away from the crowds, one that offers wide-open spaces, high-altitude pastures, and one of the most spectacular 360° views in the Alps, the Ritten Plateau (Renon) is the answer. Located just above Bozen (Bolzano), this natural balcony offers a network of flawless gravel roads, rewarding climbs, and open vistas across the entire Dolomites range.

This gravel loop combines the climb up to the summit of Rittner Horn (Corno del Renon)—which I had also tackled in winter—with the open panoramas of the Villanderer Alm (Alpe di Villandro), passing traditional alpine huts and landscapes reminiscent of the great plateaus of northern Europe. A half-day adventure rich in charm, technical riding, and delicious stops.

Starting from Tann and climbing toward Obergrünwald

Our itinerary kicks off just above Klobenstein (Collalbo), right near the renowned area of Tann (1,488 m). Once clipped in, the climb makes itself felt right away as we turn onto Via Tann heading toward Obergrünwald.

The first three kilometers pass quickly on quiet asphalt, perfect for warming up the legs. Leaving the paved road behind, the scenery changes dramatically. You step into the gravel soul of the route: the road turns into a compact gravel forest track rising at a steady gradient, first sheltered in the shade of a dense spruce forest before gradually opening up to high-altitude alpine pastures.

Along the way, we bump into an elderly farmer walking back down the track with a hoe in hand, stopping at every drainage channel to clear out debris left by yesterday's rain. Moments like these reveal true dedication to the land, explaining why South Tyrol is so impeccably maintained.

The Unterhornhaus Lodge and the 360° summit view

Continuing the climb up the mountain slope, the view begins to open up spectacularly. An unmissable coffee break awaits us at the Unterhornhaus (Rifugio Corno di Sotto, 2,044 m), a strategic point before the final push toward the peak.

Just a bit higher up, a detour from the main track leads to the top of the Rittner Horn (Corno del Renon, 2,260 m). The effort put into the last steep ramps is rewarded by one of the most famous and comprehensive panoramas in all of South Tyrol. The gaze sweeps across 360 degrees: right in front of us, the Dolomites seem almost close enough to touch. You can clearly spot the walls of the Latemar, the mighty Rosengarten (Catinaccio) group, the peaks of Langkofel (Sassolungo) and Plattkofel (Sasso Piatto), all the way to a view of the undisputed queen, the Marmolada.

Heading toward Villanderer Alm: old-world atmosphere

After taking in the view from the summit, we dive back down onto the previous gravel track to head north. The route remains very rideable, smooth, and well-kept, winding through alpine meadows framed by old dry-stone walls—a vast, lush landscape that, in color and scale, closely resembles the moors of Scotland or Ireland.

What follows is a pleasant descent leading straight to the Villanderer Alm (Alpe di Villandro), one of Europe's largest high-altitude pastures. Here, riding becomes relaxed, accompanied by cowbells and the presence of grazing cows, sheep, and goats among traditional alpine huts and rustic wooden chalets.

Barbianer Alm, Huberkreuz, and the return

Leaving the Villanderer Alm, it's time to gain elevation once again. The trail sweeps in a broad loop to head back toward the Ritten area, riding along the slopes of the Barbianer Alm (Alpe di Barbiano), situated right below the Rittner Horn peak visited earlier.

The track offers continuous views over the valleys below. After passing the tiny snack shack at Huberkreuz—ideal for a refreshing break featuring local speck and alpine cheeses—we tackle the final uphill sector.

To cap off the adventure in style, the route treats us to a short but fun singletrack: a natural surface with exposed tree roots requiring a touch of bike handling, guaranteed to put a smile on your face before reconnecting with the forest road that quickly leads back to the start at Tann.

We rode this itinerary on e-MTBs, but it is entirely doable on a gravel bike too—with the sole exception of a few hundred meters along the flat singletrack trail, which can easily be pushed on foot if it feels a bit too rough.