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The Stelvio Pass National Park

The Stelvio Pass National Park is located in the heart of the Alps and covers the entire Ortles-Cevedale mountain massif.

As an Alpine national park it holds all typical form elements and living spaces, from icy mountains at about 3,900 m down to the valley at 650 m.

It borders with the Swiss National Park. Due to the vast variety of alpine animals and plants it is very characteristic.

The Stelvio National Park represents one of the largest protected areas in the Alps.

The National Park was founded in 1935 in order to protect and improve the local fauna, to provide the fauna with a safe livelihood and to preserve and promote the special geological presence and the natural beauty of this area.

Guided tours of the National Park are available.

The Fauna

Red deer, red fox, badgers, pine martens, squirrels and other wild animals live in these forests. The alpine pastures provide the living space for chamois and marmots. The mountain hare and the snow grouse carry a camouflage fur, which changes colour in summer and in winter. Especially protected bird species are the golden eagle, the owl, the black woodpecker, the capercaillie cock, the playcock, the white-throated dipper, the alpine chough, the rock thrush and the nutcracker. The live-bearing alpine salamander has perfectly adapted to the short summers in high mountains.

The Flora

The variety of flowers and plants is endless. The most varied species can be found in various altitudes. The coniferous forest is made up of spruces, larches and stone pine. They are followed by the dwarf bush and alpine grassy areas with nigritella, arnica and the edelweiss. In the rocky areas we find survivable plants like the alpine cushion pink, the alpine toadflax and the glacier buttercup with succulent leaves. The moss and lichens penetrate all the way into the glacier regions.

The Visitors’s Centre

The Visitors’ Centres of the National Park are located in Martello, Prato allo Stelvio, in Trafoi and in Santa Gertrude in the Ultimo Valley. The centres are open for locals and guests.
Every building presents an exhibition on a special topic and our employees will inform you about the National Park, events, the weather or the condition of the paths.