A place to climb, explore, and breathe right in the heart of nature
Sponsored: this post was created in collaboration with Gossensass Tourism.
Some places don’t have Wi-Fi, but the best kind of connection. With nature. With childhood. With the freedom of doing absolutely nothing. The Portjoch forest playground near Gossensass is exactly that kind of place for a day out with kids in South Tyrol. A hidden gem in the woods where everything revolves around movement, nature, and laid-back family time.
Out of the car and straight into forest mode
Right behind the Ladurns valley station, the car-free forest path begins. It’s stroller-friendly, gently sloping, and just what you need after a long drive or when the kids need some fresh air.
Just a few minutes later, you’ll find yourself surrounded by trees—and right in the middle of it all: the Tropfenhaus, a wooden playhouse that looks like it was dreamed up by a nature-loving designer with a child’s imagination. This isn’t just a place to play. It’s made for climbing, running wild, and discovering.
Treehouse dreams and balancing acts
The entire playground is built from wood and blends beautifully into the forest. Balance beams, ropes, nets, and of course the slide that takes you from the Tropfenhaus back down to the forest floor. No plastic, no loud colors—just moss under your feet, birdsong in the trees, and plenty of space to try things out.
Picnic under the treetops
The playground is also the perfect spot for a forest picnic. Just find a cozy place beneath the trees, lay out a blanket (if you brought one), open up your lunch boxes, add a few pinecones for decoration—and you’ve got the prettiest little picnic corner right in the middle of nature.
What we never forget to pack: a few of our favorite snacks from Mogli. The pizza sticks are just the right size for little hands and hit the spot after all that running around, while the raspberry cream bites make the perfect “forest dessert.” Organic, handy, and just right for a family outing in South Tyrol.
Bonus discovery: Ponds full of adventure
If you walk a little further past the playground, you’ll come across two small ponds—teeming with frogs and tadpoles.
Kids love watching the tiny creatures swim around. With a magnifying jar, they quickly turn into little frog researchers, but even without one, the pond visit is a hit.
Good to know: The Portjoch playground is part of the “Tracing Water” discovery trail, a ten-kilometer path through the valley with interactive stops, a herb garden, play stations at the Nestl pond, and—for those up for more—the trail ends at the impressive Hölle waterfall.
