Geography
The valley is crossed by the Ratschinger stream and branches off from the Ridnauntal valley in a south-westerly direction at the Gilfenklamm gorge, in the locality of Stange. It borders the Ridnauntal valley to the north and the Passeiertal valley to the west and south. It is separated from the parallel Jaufental valley to the south-east by a wooded mountain ridge. The villages in the lower part of the valley and at its entrance, where the main locality of Stange is located, form the Außerratschings district, while the settlements in the higher part form the Innerratschings district. Bichl – the largest locality in the inner part of the valley – is the gateway to the Ratschings-Jaufen ski area, which extends all the way up to the Jaufen pass connecting the area to the Waltental and Passeiertal valleys. The higher areas of the valley are dominated by majestic mountain peaks, with Mt. Ratschinger Weiße reaching up to a height of 2,818 metres.
