Hiking Collection by Valerie
22
Tours
115:08 h
141 mi
49,950 ft
Absolute silence, lofty mountain peaks as far as the eye can see, and the picturesque Ötztal valley at your feet. Covering a length of 65 kilometres (40 miles), the valley is a manageable distance. The Ötztal Trek runs through impressive mountain landscapes to extend your hike to 227 kilometres (141 miles). This long-distance alpine hiking trail should be on the bucket list of all experienced mountain lovers.
Starting from the historic Ötztal train station, you hike up to lofty heights straight away. Following the eastern side of the valley and in the footsteps of Ötzi, you hike to Sölden municipality in the heart of the valley. From there, a bus takes you to Obergurgl where you explore the Ötztal Nature Park before hiking north again on the western side of the valley, the so-called Geigenkamm. Darting ibexes, fantastic glaciers, and views that would once have been enjoyed by the hot air balloon pioneer Auguste Piccard accompany you back to the starting point.
Over 22 stages, you cover an impressive 15,000 metres (49,200 feet) in altitude and visit many magnificent natural spectacles. The route takes you over notches, ridges, summits, and even glacier ice. This is a unique experience, but you should have adequate alpine experience and the right equipment for glacier crossings.
You hike through this marvelous landscape from hut to hut. Provided you plan your Tour correctly and reserve in advance, you can look forward to delicious hut specialties and a cosy bed every evening. The 22 stages are divided into six routes. So if you only want to complete one section, you can simply descend into the valley at the respective endpoints, and sometimes also in between. Of course, you can also leave yourself more time for the individual stages if you wish.
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Last updated: December 9, 2021
Stage 1 of the Ötztal Trek is also part of the first route. It is the route for beginners, requires good physical condition, but can be mastered with a little practice. For stages 4 and 5 you need a little more experience, but everything in sequence.
Today you start your adventure first. And that over…
by Valerie
Stage 2 of the Ötztal Trek is a little more relaxed, at least as far as the kilometers to be mastered are concerned. But there are some vertical meters on the program. But you can do it with your left hand, because on the way there are again some natural highlights, at the end then a warm bed in the…
by Valerie
Get recommendations on the best single tracks, peaks, & plenty of other exciting outdoor places.
At the Schweinfurter Hütte, yesterday's stage destination, the wonderful Horlachtal meets the delightful Zwieselbachtal. You can explore the latter today - it's a total of almost ten and a half kilometers in the direction of the Winnebachseehütte.
You start right outside the door of your quarter and march…
by Valerie
Stage 4 of the Ötztal Trek requires glacier experience and appropriate equipment for the first time. A mountain guide can also be helpful here. Because it goes high and once across a further. If you do not trust yourself, you can also hike from the Winnebachseehütte back into the valley.
From the Winnebachseeh…
by Valerie
High alpine experience is also required for stage 5 of the Ötztal Trek. There is again a further crossing. For this you should of course also bring the appropriate equipment and possibly even a mountain guide. This is sure to turn into an unforgettable adventure - in a positive sense.
From the Amberger…
by Valerie
Stage 6 marks the start of Route 2 of the Ötztal Trek. With its course along old smugglers' trails around the Windachtal natural forest reserve east of Sölden and over many proud peaks, it is a classic for mountaineers. You should therefore have the appropriate experience and equipment for them. And…
by Valerie
Stage 7 only requires five and a half kilometers and a good 300 meters of altitude from you. It also leads you into the territory of the Zuckerhütl, the highest mountain in the Stubai Alps. But it starts at the door of your night quarters first. Along the ascent to the hut, you march down through the…
by Valerie
Stage 8 of the Ötztal Trek lets you loosen up your legs in between. You leave the dizzying heights for now and hike a little further down the valley. But resting is not the order of the day here either - it goes quite long and sometimes steeply downhill.
But before that, starting from your night quarters…
by Valerie
Today the last stage of Route 2 of the Ötztal Trek is on the program. It lets you master a lot of altitude again, but also rewards you with unique nature and impressive mountain peaks. You start at your destination yesterday, the Gasthof Hochfirst.
From here you hike up to the rest house on Timmelsjoch…
by Valerie
Ready for Route 3 of the Ötztal Trek? It leads to the rear of the Ötztal and lets you hike in the footsteps of the balloon pioneer Auguste Piccard and the glacier man Ötzi. It also invites you to discover the wonderful world of glaciers near Vent. You will also make a detour to South Tyrol on the way…
by Valerie
Around 12 kilometers through a unique mountain world await you on the eleventh stage of the Ötztal Trek. Woke up at yesterday's stage destination and well strengthened from breakfast, so you no longer wait long, but start straight away - with the ascent to Ramoljoch. It goes over rock slabs and scree…
by Valerie
Well rested and full of vigor, you get ready for stage 12 of the Ötztal trek. Your companion today (in addition to a well-filled backpack and alpine equipment)? The glacier man Ötzi, also known as the “Mummy of Similaun”. The Similaunhütte, which sits enthroned at over 3,000 meters above sea level on…
by Valerie
Route 4 of the Ötztal Trek starts high up on the dizzying 3,019 meters of the Similaunhütte. It gives you a deep insight into the glacier world around Vent in the Ötztal. Here, too, you will sometimes be accompanied by Ötzi and the correspondingly difficult passages. Without high alpine experience, appropriate…
by Valerie
Today it goes up again to majestic heights! The Brandenburger Haus, the destination of the fourteenth Ötztal Trek stage, sits enthroned at an impressive 3,277 meters above sea level. Well thought out on a rock above the Kesselwandferner, there are unique views of the glacier.
Let's go to yesterday's night…
by Valerie
Today it's again going downhill more than uphill. After your night at such dizzying heights, you might even look forward to taking a deep breath a little further down.
From the Brandenburger Haus you go down through the blockwork to the Kesselwandferner. This time you cross the glacier in a north-easterly…
by Valerie
Today there are almost seven kilometers ahead of you. Technically it won't be too challenging on this stage. But you enjoy spectacular views all the more on the way. Among other things to the Großer Vernagtferner with the Hochvernagtspitze.
But let's start at the door of yesterday's quarter. You march…
by Valerie
Stage 17 is the culmination of Route 4 of the Ötztal Trek. Starting from the Breslauer Hütte and past the foothills of the Rofenkar, it starts off downhill. After a while you will reach a beautiful high path, which a little later joins a wonderful panorama path. It always leads you beautifully over the…
by Valerie
Route 5 marks the penultimate section of the Ötztal trek. And here too - you are used to it from the long-distance hiking trail - a lot of experience is required. This route is very demanding, some sections even require a certain level of climbing ability. In return, you can expect some natural highlights…
by Valerie
Hopefully you have recharged your batteries. Because today it won't be much less demanding than on stage 18, yesterday. There are a few crags and a small glacier to overcome. At the end, a self-catering hut awaits you, so you should take care of that. And so much can be said: This stage is one big up…
by Valerie
Route 5 is over that quickly. At least after today's stage. And they mean it relatively well to you compared to the last two: On almost seven and a half kilometers you hike through beautiful nature and past a few picturesque mountain lakes. The best: There is only one (longer) climb to master.
Before…
by Valerie
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