One of the first mountains you can admire entering the Val d’Ultimo is the Guardia Alta
Image gallery: Guardia Alta
The Guardia Alta (1,608 m a.s.l. - Hochwart in German) is located on the sunny side of the valley and is also known as Guardia Alta of Naturno, due to its location between Naturno and San Pancrazio. There are different paths leading on the top of this summit, starting either from Val Venosta or from the surroundings of Merano, such as San Pancrazio, the Falcomai Valley and Monte San Vigilio.
From the mountain station of the Monte San Vigilio cable car you take the path to the S. Vigilio Church. Slightly below, at a fork, the trail no. 9 branches off, taking to the summit of the Guardia Alta. In parts it is rather steep and takes you past the "Rauher Bichl" (2,027 m a.s.l.) and further on to the Giogo Alto (2,402 m a.s.l.). From S. Pancrazio the trail no. 3 stretches up to the summit across the fabulous mountains of Val d'Ultimo.
The breathtaking view from the summit includes the Falcomai Valley, the S. Helena church above S. Pancrazio and the summit of the Sasso (2,530 m a.s.l.), another mountain of the Val d'Ultimo. Also the Val Venosta and the glaciers of the Ortles mountain range and the Oetztal Alps can be admired from the top of this mountain.
