Ötztal Trek Route 1

Stage 1:

The journey starts at Ötztal-Bahnhof on the main road east of the town entrance near the construction waste depot towards "Larchet, Höpperg." Before the chapel, turn right towards "Grün" until we turn right again at the junction to Höpperg. Upon reaching the houses, stay on the unpaved road until it descends and then turn left onto the trail. Soon, the hidden highlight of this stage is reached, Brandsee – also known as Amberger See! Continue towards "Sattele," where we take the trail marked with 45 minutes east of the roads to Marlstein. From Marlstein, it is a gentle descent to Mareil, then follow the Kaiser-Franz-Josef path on the left of the road. Only 200 meters of ascent remain to the Dortmunder Hut. An option is of course an overnight stay in Marlstein or Mareil; walking time Ötztal Bahnhof – Marlstein: 4.75 hours, an additional 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 Finstertaler reservoir, the trail then leads uphill through meadows, always with the massive 149 m high stone dam in view. After a steep slope, we reach the dam crest of the reservoir, which has a capacity of 60 million cubic meters. Continue east of the lake until the trail at the southern shore climbs quite steeply into a hollow and then steeply up to the Finstertaler Scharte. From the pass at 2,777 m, there is a great view: to the south, the Wildspitze, Tirol’s highest mountain, can be seen. On the descent, the route leads through alpine pasture before descending in switchbacks and mostly alongside the creek to the Schweinfurter Hut. This hut stands at the place where the Horlach valley and Zwieselbach valley meet.

Stage 3:

We orient ourselves towards the "Winnebachseehütte" and hike along the forestry road up Zwieselbach valley, passing the Zwieselbacher Sennhütte and continuing gently uphill in the green Zwieselbach valley. At 2,150 m the forestry road ends, and we continue on a trail. Afterwards, we reach a large scree field, which we ascend on the right edge – stamina is required because the route is often pathless through the stones. The route leads ice- and snow-free in high summer to the Zwieselbachjoch – finally on the right beside the Zwieselbach glacier. West above the saddle, the Grießkogel with its glacier can be seen. Beyond the saddle, it goes quickly downhill and through the Winnebach cirque we eventually reach the Winnebachseehütte.

Stage 4:

From the Winnebachseehütte, the trail ascends in switchbacks past the Ernst-Riml peak. Just before the Bachfallen glacier, we must climb steeply and in small switchbacks over the moraine again. The view and crossing of the Bachfallen glacier is exciting, first very flat, then a bit steeper. To the Gaislehnscharte, the highest point, some scrambling is still required, but it is definitely worth it. Steep descent through the Schrankar into the rear Sulz valley and to the Amberger Hut.

Stage 5:

We first hike in the flat valley floor of the Sulze to the south and then up the slope on the right, where the trail soon splits and we take the right option. Along the western marginal moraine, it goes up south until the view opens to the Sulztal glacier. At the Sulztal glacier, rope up, then we ascend gently along the right glacier edge and pass the foot of the Wilde Leck. Finally, it goes a bit faster uphill to the Wütenkar saddle (beware of crevasses!). Beyond, we descend in brittle terrain to the Wütenkar glacier and pass a small lake. The glacier is crossed in a right curve and left on the western edge – here the path joins the approach route from Sölden to the Hochstubai Hut. The exceptional viewpoint is quickly reached and a trail on a wide ridge simply leads the last 100 meters of elevation to the shelter.