Always follow the ski slope

You don't have to dive headfirst into the backcountry to prove your endurance. The piste ski tour route from Ochsengarten to Hochoetz takes you up close to the slopes, allowing you to get used to the equipment and movement at your own pace. Once you reach the top, a refreshment stop will make up for the calories you have already burned and provide new energy for the downhill adventure on the ski slope.

First piste ski tour route in Ötztal

The blue, beginner-friendly route starts at the base station of Ochsengarten mountain gondola and leads over 5 km and 520 altitude meters up to Acherkogel top station. Always following the signs, the 2-hour ascent is mostly on groomed forest and woodland paths, occasionally crossing the ski run or ascending on the edge of the piste. Downhill you return on the groomed ski slope.

Facts:

  • Blue route
  • Route name: Route 1 Ochsengarten-Hochoetz
  • Route length: 5 km
  • Altitude start: 1,500 m
  • Finish point: 2,020 m
  • Altitude difference: 520 alt.m
  • Average ascent time: 2 h
Ski Touring recommended route

Ski tour on the slope Ochsengarten - Hochoetz (04)

Ski Touring · Oetz closed
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  • Winterwandern in Hochoetz
    Winterwandern in Hochoetz
    Photo: Ötztal
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Selected alternatives for you
    From the cable car station of Ochsengarten you follow the slope and beautifull paths through the forest up to Hochoetz.
    closed
    easy
    Distance 5 km
    2:00 h
    520 m
    0 m
    2,010 m
    1,501 m
    Directly at the Ochsengarten cable car station follow the signs to the prepared forest path west of the ski slope 09. In a pleasant climb, you will reach the ski slope after about 20 minutes. Always ascending on the right side of the piste, you reach a junction from the ski slope to the signposted forest path for another 20 minutes. Away from the hustle and bustle of the slopes, you can climb up comfortably next to each other. At first flat, then slightly uphill you reach the ski slope 05 in about half an hour. This is crossed in a clear position to continue climbing over the forest path. After a few hundred meters and a first serpentine you reach the edge of the slopes, but here you continue following the forest path and only in the top third of the ascent route you get back to the ski slope. From here in a few meters altitude and about 20-30 minutes walk to the finish at the reservoir Hochoetz and mountain station.

    Author’s recommendation

    Very nice ascent in a great winter landscape and impressive panorama. Most of the route takes place on signposted forest paths.
    Profile picture of Ötztal Tourismus Büro Oetz
    Author
    Ötztal Tourismus Büro Oetz
    Update: September 27, 2024
    Difficulty
    easy
    Overall difficulty
    easy

    Derived from the technical difficulty and the stamina requirements.

    Experience
    Landscape
    Highest point
    2,010 m
    Lowest point
    1,501 m
    Best time of year
    Jan
    Feb
    Mar
    Apr
    May
    Jun
    Jul
    Aug
    Sep
    Oct
    Nov
    Dec

    Track types

    Show elevation profile

    Rest stops

    Panoramarestaurant Hochoetz
    Chrystal bar Hochoetz

    Safety information

    Please pay attention to the current weather- & avalanche report: https://www.oetztal.com/de/winter.html &  https://avalanche-report/albina-web/bulletin/2019-01-07?lang=de

    Tips and suggestions

    www.oetz.com

    Start

    Ochsengarten cable car station
    Coordinates:
    DD
    47.227089, 10.932137
    DMS
    47°13'37.5"N 10°55'55.7"E
    UTM
    32T 646266 5232210
    w3w 
    ///tussled.underarms.dignity

    Destination

    Panoramic restaurant Hochoetz

    Turn-by-turn directions

    Directly at the Ochsengarten cable car station follow the signs to the prepared forest path west of the ski slope 09. In a pleasant climb, you will reach the ski slope after about 20 minutes. Always ascending on the right side of the piste, you reach a junction from the ski slope to the signposted forest path for another 20 minutes. Away from the hustle and bustle of the slopes, you can climb up comfortably next to each other. At first flat, then slightly uphill you reach the ski slope 05 in about half an hour. This is crossed in a clear position to continue climbing over the forest path. After a few hundred meters and a first serpentine you reach the edge of the slopes, but here you continue following the forest path and only in the top third of the ascent route you get back to the ski slope. From here in a few meters altitude and about 20-30 minutes walk to the finish at the reservoir Hochoetz and mountain station.

    Public transport

    Travel comfortably and safely by train to Ötztal Bahnhof. At the train station you will find regular public transport or local taxi services, which will happily take you to your desired destination! The current bus timetable are available at: http://fahrplan.vvt.at

    Directions

    The Ötztal valley is located in southerly direction and is the longest side valley in the Eastern Alps. The journey by car leads you through the Inntal valley until you reach the start of Ötztal. Beside the toll motorways you can also use the country roads. To plan your journey we recommend using a route planner like: https://www.google.at/maps

    Parking

    The following parking facilities are available in Ochsengarten:
    • Ochsengarten Large public parking - opposite, or next to the valley station Ochsengartenbahn

    Coordinates

    DD
    47.227089, 10.932137
    DMS
    47°13'37.5"N 10°55'55.7"E
    UTM
    32T 646266 5232210
    w3w 
    ///tussled.underarms.dignity
    Get there by train, car, bike, or on foot!

    Author’s map recommendations

    Kompass #043 | Ötztaler Alpen Ötztal, Pitztal | 1:50.000

    Equipment

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

    Similar routes nearby

    • Faltegartenköpfl (01)
    • Pirchkogel (02)
    • Wetterkreuz (03)
    • Zwieselbacher Rosskogel 3.081 - Umhausen-Niederthai
    • Finstertaler Schartenkopf 2855m - Umhausen-Niederthai
     These suggestions were generated by our system
    Status
    closed
    Difficulty
    easy
    Overall difficulty
    easy

    Derived from the technical difficulty and the stamina requirements.

    Distance
    5 km
    Duration
    2:00 h
    Ascent
    520 m
    Highest point
    2,010 m
    Lowest point
    1,501 m
    Forest roads Forest On-piste ski touring

    Statistics

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     km Distance
    : h Duration
     m Ascent
     m Descent
     m Highest point
     m Lowest point

    Slope ski touring rules

    According to the recommendations of the Austrian Council for Alpine Safety.

    1. Respect warnings and local regulations
    2. Comply with slope closures: slopes may be closed due to danger to life caused by winch preparation or avalanche blasting
    3. Only ascend at the edge of the slope and one after the other
    4. Only cross the slope at clear points and with sufficient distance between them
    5. Only ski on the edges of freshly prepared slopes: Tracks that have frozen overnight impair the quality of the slope
    6. Leave the slopes in the evening at the time specified by the ski lift company
    7. Make yourself visible: Use a lamp and reflective clothing in the dark
    8. Only use the ascent tracks / pistes that are specially dedicated for piste tours
    9. Do not take dogs on the slopes
    10. Use designated parking spaces: Pay any parking fees