Moso in Passiria
Moso in Passiria (Moos in Passeier) is the northernmost and innermost municipality of the upper Val Passiria (Passeiertal), in the...
Updated 17 July 2026
This season · July · Summer
What to do in Moso in Passiria now
The story
The story of Moso in Passiria
The innermost municipality of the upper Val Passiria
Moso in Passiria lies in the highest and innermost part of Val Passiria, South Tyrol's last side valley before the Austrian border, north of Merano and San Leonardo in Passiria. The village, seat of a municipality spread over a vast mountain territory, stands along the Passirio stream, surrounded by wooded slopes and rock faces rising towards three thousand metres. The scattered hamlets and farmsteads, some reachable only by footpaths or unpaved roads, bear witness to a traditional mountain settlement that has preserved rural architecture, alpine huts and high pastures. Its peripheral position has for centuries preserved an economy based on mountain farming and livestock breeding, which today coexists with nature-based hiking tourism respectful of the alpine environment. Being the last municipality before the pass makes Moso in Passiria a natural starting point for those heading towards Austria, whether by car or on foot along the old cross-border paths.
The Rombo Pass (Timmelsjoch) and its scenic road
From Moso in Passiria the road climbs towards the Rombo Pass (Timmelsjoch, 2,474 m), one of Europe's highest and most scenic alpine crossings, connecting Val Passiria with Austria's Ötztal valley. The road, tolled on its uppermost stretch and closed in winter, winds through hairpin bends cut into the rock, tunnels and sections suspended over the void, offering views of the peaks of the Texel Group and the Ötztal Alps. Along the route stand the viewpoint museums of the Timmelsjoch Experience, contemporary architectural installations that tell the story of the pass, its people and the feats involved in building the road, alternating exhibition spaces with panoramic terraces overlooking the valley. The pass has long been a historic destination for cycle-tourists and motorcyclists, as well as a starting point for high-altitude hikes, and has always been the most direct link between South Tyrol and North Tyrol through the upper Val Passiria.
The Stieber waterfall (Stuibenfall)
Near the village of Moso in Passiria lies the Stieber waterfall (Stuibenfall), which with a total drop of around 100 metres is the highest waterfall in South Tyrol. The waters of the Stieberbach stream tumble down in several stages through a gorge cut into the rock, creating a cool, moist environment covered in moss and ferns. A well-marked hiking trail, suitable for families too, leads from the valley floor to the base of the waterfall and continues via wooden walkways and stairs to higher viewing points, from which the sheer force of the falling water can be admired. The path, set within the coniferous forest typical of the upper Val Passiria, is best walked in spring and summer, when snowmelt and mountain rainfall feed the stream most abundantly. The Stieber waterfall is one of the most photographed natural attractions in the valley and is easily reached on foot from the centre of Moso in Passiria.
Texel Group Nature Park
The territory of Moso in Passiria falls within the Texel Group Nature Park, one of the largest protected areas in South Tyrol, safeguarding a high-altitude alpine environment of coniferous forests, high pastures and peaks rising above 3,000 metres. The park, established to protect the biodiversity of the mountain range separating Val Passiria from Val Venosta, offers a dense network of hiking trails, including stretches of the famous Meran High Mountain Trail (Meraner Höhenweg), which winds along the mid-slopes past alpine huts, mountain refuges and scenic viewpoints. The area is home to chamois, marmots and numerous birds of prey, as well as alpine flora including edelweiss and gentians in the summer months. For those staying in Moso in Passiria, the park is the preferred gateway to multi-day hikes between mountain refuges, with the possibility of crossing the range towards neighbouring valleys along the old paths linking the alpine farmsteads.
Mountain farms, high-altitude nature and hiking
The economy and landscape of Moso in Passiria remain marked by the presence of mountain farmsteads, traditional farming holdings often family-run for generations, which raise livestock and work the high pastures even above 1,500-1,800 metres. Many farmsteads offer agritourism-style accommodation, with rooms fitted out in old wood-and-stone buildings and local dairy produce. The hiking network starting from the village allows visitors to reach alpine huts, mountain lakes and peaks of the Texel Group via routes of varying difficulty, suitable for both families and experienced hikers, while in winter the valley lends itself to snowshoeing and cross-country skiing. The figure of Andreas Hofer, the hero of the Tyrolean resistance born in Val Passiria in 1767, remains an identity reference for the whole valley, commemorated in monuments and themed trails, testifying to the deep bond between the community and its mountain territory.
Not to be missed
- Drive or cycle the scenic road over the Rombo Pass (Timmelsjoch) up to the Austrian border
- Visit the viewpoint museums of the Timmelsjoch Experience along the pass route
- Follow the woodland trail to the Stieber waterfall (Stuibenfall), the highest in South Tyrol
- Walk a stretch of the Meran High Mountain Trail within the Texel Group Nature Park
- Discover the high-altitude farmsteads and sites linked to Andreas Hofer in upper Val Passiria
To see
What to see in Moso in Passiria
Routes · Trovido Route
