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Treasure Hunt Obergurgl Stone Pine Forest
Ötztal Verified partner Explorers Choice
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Zirbenwald ObergurglPhoto: Johannes Brunner, Ötztal
This treasure tour takes you through the beautiful stone pine forest in Obergurgl. Here you will see many old trees and enjoy the view of streams, the via ferrata and the mountains. You might come across a squirrel or a pine cone along the way.
The themed trail takes you through the "Obergurgl Swiss stone pine forest". The stone pine forest in Obergurgl is a unique natural monument of remarkable beauty and ecological importance.
Stone pine trees well over 300 years old grow here. These trees can withstand extreme conditions and are adapted to the high altitudes and harsh climate of the Alps. Mosses, lichens and rare alpine flowers thrive among the stone pines, while birds such as alpine choughs and golden eagles roam the air.
Occasionally, chamois and marmots can also be seen on the steep slopes and rocks of the forest.
How does the treasure hunt work?
Following the marked route (Stone Pine Theme Trail) you will discover small caches (treasure boxes). Each cache contains a riddle. Solve it and write the letters into your treasure map. Everyone who has found all letters can compose a word. Knowing the word, you visit the Information Obergurgl-Hochgurgl. There you search for the item representing the word.
Author’s recommendation
There are other caches here - maybe you'd like to extend your hike.
Track types
Safety information
Good footwear is essential in the mountains
Tips and suggestions
This tour is not possible in winter as the caches are stuck in the snow.
Start
Destination
Turn-by-turn directions
You either start directly at the Gurgl information center and walk through the village to the "Zirben Alm" (or start there) and then enter the stone pine forest. There are several paths through the village to get to the Zirben Alm. As there is no cache hidden here, you can choose the path you prefer. Shortly before the Zirben Alm, cross a high bridge that leads over a valley.
Walk past the Zirben Alm on the right towards the cable car and via ferrata. After the path to the via ferrata, you will find the first cache hidden on the left.
Continue along the path and keep going uphill. At a crossroads, turn left onto the path towards Rotmooswasserfall and Schönwieshütte and continue uphill. Sometimes the trees block your view to the other side (right) but at some point you will see two streams on the other side, then you have to look for a cache again. As it is quite narrow here, watch out for oncoming traffic (hikers). Follow the narrow hiking trail upwards, go around a bend here and there and you'll pass a few signs again and it becomes somewhat flat. Here you head back towards Obergurgl and Zirben Alm. It is now an almost flat path. Here and there you will see small puddles and of course many stone pine trees (pines). You will soon reach your next cache, which is well guarded by a stone pine tree - here you have to leave the path a little to retrieve the cache.
Continue downhill along the path. In winter there is a ski slope here. You then have to walk towards the Zirben Alm to find the last cache just above it. Now there are stones and a few trees. Once you have found the cache, hike down to the Zirben Alm and from there on to the Gurgl information center. There you can look for the solution and collect your treasure.
Public transport
By bus to Gurgl - bus stop Obergurgl center
Directions
Take the B186 to Obergurgl
Parking
Parking garage village center Obergurgl, chargeable
Coordinates
Equipment
A treasure map/plan is helpful. Good shoes, something to drink, a camera or cell phone are an advantage.
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