Seebödenspitze (Cima Pian del Lago)

Overview

Summit panorama Seebödenspitze: Ötztal Alps

Seebödenspitze (Cima Piano del Lago) is located in the triangle between Italy, Austria and Switzerland near Reschenpass (Passo di Résia). It is an excellent lookout mountain since it afords views towards the Ortles Cevedale Group, the Bernina Group, the Silvretta Group and the Ötztal Alps. Moreover the landscape is deeply structured so that all summits are divided by deep valleys, mostly more than 2000m below the summit ridges.

You will rarely encounter pictures of Seebödenspitze (not even here) since the summit itself is of no particular beauty. It is a meadowy "hill" topping out at 2859m (look at the panorama including Elferspitze (Cima Undici) which is pretty similar to Seebödenspitze). It is popular, especially in winter since a cablecar station is located some 800m below at Haider Alm (Malga Muta). In winter ski lifts carry you further upwards so that the ski tour ascent only takes about 30min. In summer however you'll have to climb all the 800m. Thedirect route is rather ugly - due to the ski lifts but there is a beautiful ridge crossing from Schöneben (Belpiano) which traverses Zehnerkopf (Cima Dieci, 2674m) and Elferspitze (Cima Undici, 2926m) before reaching Seebödenspitze.

One of the most beautiful aspects of this summit is the view deep down towards Reschense (Lago di Résia) with the sunken church steeple of Graun im Vinschgau (Curon Venosta), a leftover from the time before the storage lake was built. Nowadays it is one of the landmarks of the Vinschgau (Val Venosta) region and pictures of it grace every other picture postcard of the region.

Getting There

From Italy
Take the Brenner motorway (A22) which you leave at Bozen (Bolzano) south. Take S38 (Vinschgauer Staatsstrasse) northwards towards Meran (Merano). The road follows the Etsch (Adige) Valley into Vinschgau (Val Venosta). Follow the road westwardsuntil you reach Tschengls (Sengles). (Here S38 goes on towards Europes highest pass, Stilfser Joch (Passo dello Stelvio)). Instead follow S40 northwards until you reach St. Valendin auf der Haide (S. Valentino alla Muta).

From Austria
Take Inntalautobahn (Motorway A12) westward from Innsbruck to Landeck. At Landeck turn onto road 180 which winds its way upwards the upper Inn valley towards Nauders. Between Nauders and Reschen (Résia) you cross the border and are directly on the shore of Reschensee (Lago di Résia). Go onwards until St. Valendin auf der Haide (S. Valentino alla Muta).

From Switzerland
Take motorway A3 from Zürich or E43 from Bregenz southwards in the direction of Chur. Shortly after the motorways meet turn off onto road 28, direction Davos. Behind Davos at Susch the road splits (27 / 28). You can take either roads - the southern one (28) leads you over Ofenpass (Passo dal Fuorn) into Vinschgau (there take SS40 northwards to St Valentin), the northern one (27) goes to the swiss-austrian border near Pfunds where you turn southwards again on 180 and head for Nauders, Reschen and St Valentin.

The Summit Panorama

Seebödenspitze is a perfect lookout summit. You see all the major summits of the eastern Alps. Just look at the pictures to get an impression of the 360° panorama.

Red Tape

No red tape, no permits required no parking fees. Like Seebödenspitze this is a ski region so the slopes are pretty eroded anyway.

When To Climb

Seebödenspitze can be climbed all year round. In winter you can do a ski tour across the summit ridge (Seebödenspitze, Elferspitze, Zehnerspitze). In fact you'll reach Seebödenspitze easier than in summer since the ski lifts go further up the slope.

Accommodation

For accommodation you can contact the Vinschgau Tourism office at

Tourism association Vinschgau
Kapuzinerstraße, 10
I - 39028 Schlanders
Southtyrol - Italy
Tel. +39 0473 62 04 80
Fax +39 0473 62 04 81
E-Mail : vinschgau@suedtirol.com
Web page: www.vinschgau.org

Another worthwhile web page (for those who speak German is www.suedtirolerland.it.

Mountain Conditions

For weather conditions in South Tyrol look at the page of Meteo Alpin. For the english text you have to scroll down the right frame.

Other sites with weather and webcam-links are
- www.vinschgau.org
- www.suedtirolerland.it (German)

Maps 'n' Books

I used the following Map and Book, both by Kompass Verlag (and in German - the map has an Italian section, though).

Map
Vinschgau / Val Venosta
Kompass Map WK 52
Kompass Verlag
ISBN: 3-85491-058-4

Book
Vinschgau / Ortlergruppe
Kompass Hiking Guidebook 950
Kompass Verlag
ISBN: 3-87051-404-3

Images

View Seebödenspitze (Cima Pian del Lago) Image Gallery - 16 Images