Puflerbach Falls

Looking for a beautiful waterfall walk in the heart of the Dolomites without committing to a long hike? The Puflerbach Falls walk near Ortisei is a perfect place to relax and enjoy a series of cascading waterfalls.

Located along Streda Pineies, this easy, 0.15 km (0.1 mile) out-and-back trail is less of a trek and more of a delightful five-minute detour that instantly rewards you with scenic cascades. Discover the rushing waters of the Puflerbach stream as they tumble down a series of magnificent waterfalls, creating a tranquil, picture-perfect setting. Ideal for families, travelers with limited time, or anyone looking for a quick dose of stunning natural beauty in Val Gardena, this short walk delivers maximum impact for minimum effort. Simply park at the small turnout (check your map for coordinates) and prepare to be enchanted by one of Ortisei's most accessible hidden gems.

Puflerbach Falls Trail Guide: A Quick Scenic Cascade in Ortisei

This short walk to Puflerbach Falls begins along Streda Pineies in Ortisei, Italy where you'll find a small parking turnout and trailhead on the southwest side of the road. The trail leads in from the road and hits a fork where hikers can choose to head up the mountainside for a longer day hike or take a left-hand turn to reach Puflerbach (Pufler Stream). This route heads directly to Puflerbach and its series of waterfalls.

After walking just a few meters from the parking turnout, you'll reach the side of Puflerbach's rushing water as it cascades down toward the center of Ortisei. Immediately, you'll find a multitude of small waterfalls, approximately 5-feet tall each, that spill down the mountainside along steps. Following the trail downhill, crossing under the Streda Pineies bridge, you'll find even more waterfalls, including a slightly-larger cascade. Some of the most scenic waterfall viewpoints sit on the north side of Streda Pineies bridge where you'll find a series of at least six tumbling waterfalls.

After you're done exploring the cascades of Puflerbach, the walk back to parking wraps up this very short, but easy 0.15 km out-and-back walk.

Getting to Puflerbach Falls in Ortisei (The Trailhead & Parking)

Visitors to Puflerbach Falls will find a small parking turnout at the coordinates provided (46.568548, 11.643308), located on the southwest side of Streda Pineies near Ortisei. The turnout is large enough to fit at most 2 or 3 vehicles as of September 2025. If you plan to take public transportation, like the local bus, there's a bus stop located near the trailhead at (46.568366,11.644641) which adds just a couple of minutes to this already short walk.

Photography Tips for Capturing the Waterfall Series

For a truly stunning photograph of the Puflerbach Falls, embrace the silky water effect popular in landscape photography. Since this is a short walk, a compact tripod and a lens cloth (to wipe away mist) are your essential gear. The key is using a slow shutter speed—start at around 1/4th of a second up to two seconds—to blur the falling water into a soft, ethereal ribbon while keeping the surrounding mossy rocks and foliage of the Ortisei forest sharp. Visit on a cloudy or overcast day, or in the soft light of early morning, to avoid harsh shadows and capture the vibrant greens of the cascade's environment for a dramatic, low-contrast shot.