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Long Distance Hiking recommended route

Ötztal Trek Route 1

Long Distance Hiking · Ötztal
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  • Dortmunder Hütte
    Dortmunder Hütte
    Photo: Roland Grüner, Ötztal
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    Stage 1-5

    Ötztal-Bahnhof (704 m) – Dortmunder Hütte (1.949 m) – Schweinfurter Hütte (2.036 m) – Winnebachseehütte (2.361 m) – Amberger Hütte (2.136 m) – Hochstubaihütte (3.174 m)

    moderate
    Distance 55.4 km
    22:00 h
    5,141 m
    2,670 m
    3,163 m
    688 m
    A SEA IN THE HIGH MOUNTAINS

    Elevation gain: 4,950 meters ascent; 2,500 meters descent Distance: 55 kilometers

    The beginner route requires good physical condition, but not extensive alpine experience, as the crossings - except for the last two stages - are free of ice. An exit is easily possible before these stages.

    Profile picture of Roland Grüner
    Author
    Roland Grüner 
    Update: April 25, 2024
    Difficulty
    moderate
    Overall difficulty
    moderate

    Derived from the technical difficulty and the stamina requirements.

    Experience
    Landscape
    Highest point
    3,163 m
    Lowest point
    688 m
    Best time of year
    Jan
    Feb
    Mar
    Apr
    May
    Jun
    Jul
    Aug
    Sep
    Oct
    Nov
    Dec

    Track types

    Show elevation profile

    Safety information

    Moderate mountain trail; for sure-footed and experienced hikers. Good physical condition, mountain experience & mountain equipment (see notice equipment) necessary. Please pay attention to the current weather report

    Tips and suggestions

    Exit in Gries near Längenfeld (Stage 3 + 4) possible, for Stage 4 + 5 glacier experience is necessary, (possibly only with a mountain guide).

    More details about hiking In Ötztal: www.oetztal.com/hiking

    Start

    Ötztal Bahnhof
    Coordinates:
    DD
    47.238215, 10.859505
    DMS
    47°14'17.6"N 10°51'34.2"E
    UTM
    32T 640738 5233313
    w3w 
    ///fans.secret.remedies

    Destination

    Hochstubaihut

    Turn-by-turn directions

    Stage 1:

     

    We start in Ötztal-Bahnhof on the main road east of the entrance to the village at the construction waste disposal site towards "Larchet, Höpperg". Before the chapel, turn right towards "Grün", until we turn right again at the junction to Höpperg. Arriving at the houses, we continue on the unpaved road until it descends and then turn left onto the trail. Soon we reach the hidden highlight of this stage, the Brandsee - also known as Amberger See! We continue towards "Sattele", where we take the trail marked with 45 minutes to the east of the road to Marlstein. From Marlstein, we descend gently to Mareil and then follow the Kaiser-Franz-Josef trail left of the road. Just 200 meters ascent left to the Dortmunder Hütte. An option is, of course, an overnight stay in Marlstein or Mareil; Walking time Ötztal Bahnhof - Marlstein: 4.75 hours, another 30 minutes to Mareil.

     

    Stage 2:

     

    At the beginning of Kühtai, we orient ourselves towards the "Finstertaler Scharte" or "Schweinfurter Hütte". East of the road to the Finstertal reservoir, the trail leads through meadows upwards, always with the imposing, 149-meter-high debris dam in sight. After a steep slope, we reach the crest of the dam of the reservoir, which has a capacity of 60 million cubic meters. We continue east of the lake until the trail leads steeply up to the south shore of the lake, into a basin and then steeply up to the Finstertaler Scharte. On the pass, at 2,777 meters, there is a great view: to the south, the Wildspitze, Tyrol's highest mountain, is visible. On the descent, the route leads through alpine terrain before descending in switchbacks, mostly alongside the stream, to the Schweinfurter Hütte. This hut is located where the Horlachtal and Zwieselbachtal valleys meet.

     

    Stage 3:

     

    We orient ourselves towards the "Winnebachseehütte" and hike on the forest road into the Zwieselbachtal, passing the Zwieselbacher Sennhütte and continuing gently upwards in the green Zwieselbachtal. At 2,150 meters, the forest road ends and we continue on a trail. We then reach a large scree field, which we traverse ascending on the right side - endurance is required as the path often disappears among the stones. In midsummer, the route is free of ice and snow and leads to the Zwieselbachjoch - finally to the right of the Zwieselbachferner. To the west above the saddle, the Grießkogel with its glacier is visible. Beyond the saddle, we descend quickly and through the Winnebachkar we finally reach the Winnebachseehütte.

     

    Stage 4:

     

    From the Winnebachseehütte, the trail ascends in switchbacks, passing the Ernst-Riml-Spitze. Shortly before the Bachfallenferner, we have to climb steeply again, in small switchbacks over the moraine. The view and the crossing of the Bachfallenferner are exciting, first very flat, later a bit steeper. Climbing is still required to reach the Gaislehnscharte, the highest point, but it is definitely worth it. Steep descent through the Schrankar into the Hintere Sulztal and to the Amberger Hütte.

     

    Stage 5:

     

    We start by walking in the flat valley floor of the Sulze to the south and then up the slope to the right, where soon the trail splits, and we take the right variant. We ascend to the south over the western edge moraine until the view opens up to the Sulztalferner. At the Sulztalferner, we need to rope up, then we ascend gradually on the right glacier edge and pass the foot of the Wilde Leck. Finally, we ascend more quickly to the Wütenkarsattel (Attention crevasses!). On the other side, we descend in rocky terrain to the Wütenkarferner and pass by a small lake. The glacier is crossed in a right curve, and we leave it at the western edge - here the path joins the access route from Sölden to the Hochstubaihütte. The outstanding observation point is quickly reached, and a trail leads simply up the final 100 meters in altitude to the refuge.

    Public transport

    Travel safe and comfortable with the train to the Ötztal Bahnhof train station. Last stop and exit point is the train station Ötztal Bahnhof. Afterwards you can travel smoothly and quick with the public transport or our local taxi companies through the valley to your desired destination. Please find the current bus timetable here: http://fahrplan.vvt.at

     

    Directions

    The car drive to the Ötztal valley. Situated in Tirol, the Ötztal valley set off in southerly direction and is the longest side valley in the Eastern Alps. The journey with the car leads you through the Inntal valley to the entrance of the valley and further on through the valley. Among the toll motorways you can also use the country roads. A route planner will show you the easiest and most convenient way: https://www.google.at/maps

    Parking

    The following parking facilities are available:

    - Infopoint Ambach | chargeable | Tickets are available at the Oetz information office or at the Ambach information point

    Coordinates

    DD
    47.238215, 10.859505
    DMS
    47°14'17.6"N 10°51'34.2"E
    UTM
    32T 640738 5233313
    w3w 
    ///fans.secret.remedies
    Get there by train, car, bike, or on foot!

    Author’s map recommendations

    Kompass Hiking Map (available at the Ötztal Tourism information offices)

    Equipment

    Appropriate equipment such as breathable suitable outdoor clothes for the weather, is for all hikes and tours necessary. Please bring a first-aid box, a mobile phone, a walking map and if there is no hut on the way a snack and enough to drink.

    Similar routes nearby

    • Ötztal Trek Stage 1
    • Ötztal Trek
    • Ötztaler Urweg E1 Ötztal Bhf - Oetz
    • Ötztaler Urweg
    • Ötztaler Urweg E12 Sautens - Haiming - Ötztal Bhf
     These suggestions were generated by our system
    Difficulty
    moderate
    Overall difficulty
    moderate

    Derived from the technical difficulty and the stamina requirements.

    Distance
    55.4 km
    Duration
    22:00 h
    Ascent
    5,141 m
    Descent
    2,670 m
    Highest point
    3,163 m
    Lowest point
    688 m
    Multi-stage route

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