Hiking routes & tours
Go your own way
Backpack on the shoulders, perfectly warmed up legs, and a great mood. This is you discovering that hiking in Ötztal is even more beautiful than you thought. At the valley floor, on the top floor and everywhere in between. Climb the altitude in the classic way using your calves or combine a lift ride, a bike tour and GPS data to reach your personal tour destination.
Our hiking regions
From small adventures to the biggest mountain in North Tirol - our six hiking regions in Ötztal will get you going.
Classification of routes
Blue, red or black: you have probably already seen that hiking trails are divided into different levels of difficulty by the ÖAV and DAV - often recognizable in the form of colored dots on the yellow signposts. This classification provides information about the route or the most difficult part on the way to your hiking destination and about the requirements that you should meet for a safe ascent.
- Width, slope conditions and risk of falling
- Frequency of rope belaying devices
- Use of hands to maintain balance or locomotion
- Frequency and difficulty of climbing sections
- Difficulty of the route in relation to the level of coordination skills required
- Blue (easy) hiking trails
Blue routes are easier trails that can be narrow and steep. You don't need any mountain experience here, but you do need good footwear and clothing suitable for all weather.
- Red (moderately difficult) mountain trails
Red routes are predominantly narrow, often steep, and may have sections with a risk of falling and short, secured walking sections. Suitable for sure-footed and experienced mountain enthusiasts with good physical condition and mountain equipment.
- Black (difficult) mountain trails
Black routes are narrow, often steep with a high risk of falling. Secured walking passages and/or easy climbing sections are common. Only for sure-footed mountaineers with a good head for heights, enough high alpine experience, excellent stamina and complete mountain equipment. Only accessible in good weather conditions! - Alpine routes (black)
These routes are not mountain trails as described above. They lead into open alpine or high alpine terrain, may have exposed, unsecured walking and climbing passages with a risk of slipping and falling and are clearly for experts only.
Frequently asked questions
Unfortunately, there is no general rule for this question. On the one hand, of course, it depends on how fast you go and how steep the terrain is. Additionally, your physical condition and external influences play a major role. In heat, during winter hiking or in thin mountain air, your body has to work harder and accordingly needs more calories. You've definitely deserved a mouth-watering “Kaiserschmarrn” at one of the countless mountain huts and Alpine pastures in Ötztal, because hiking keeps you healthy and burns almost as many calories as jogging! A little clue: if John Public, who weighs around 70 kilos, hikes uphill for an hour on one of the varied hiking routes in Ötztal he burns around 500 kcal.
Where it is most beautiful in summer too: within the entire Ötztal between Haiming and Vent or Gurgl. More than 80 varied winter hikes with a total of 250 kilometers of signposted trails keep you on your toes. From easy walks along the Ötztaler Ache shores to pure winter idyll at lake Piburger See to more demanding winter hiking tours in Sölden’s silent part or in Gurgl, there are really many options. Partly with serviced huts along the route or even with toboggan rental for a speedy downhill adventure. Winter hiking in Ötztal is family-friendly, does not need a lot of equipment and inspires in almost all weathers. Adventure seekers can try out the snowshoe variant on guided tours to the fabulous Ötztal Nature Park.
First things first: sturdy footwear. Hiking boots that are adapted to your feet and the level of difficulty of the hike form the basis of a memorable day in the mountains. High Alpine tours require a higher leg to protect the ankles. You also need matching socks and ideally a pair of zip-off hiking pants to be flexibly equipped for different temperatures. Breathable, quick-drying clothing and a warm jacket or wind and rain protection are also part of the basic equipment, as the weather can change very quickly in the Ötztal mountains. Gloves and hats also do a good job, especially at the end of the day. For your head, you can choose from a hat, headband, peaked cap or trekking hat, depending on the weather and the intensity of your tour.
In addition to appropriate clothing, you need a backpack with a water bottle, enough to eat and drink, hiking map, first aid kit, sun protection (also for lips), sunglasses, mobile phone, headlamp and handkerchiefs. Of course, the packing list becomes significantly longer if you plan a multi-day hut tour in Ötztal instead of a half-day hike. Adjustable hiking poles complete the basic equipment, which you can have put together in the expert Ötztal sports shops.
Those in the know say: off you go to Ötztal in Tirol! With incredible 1600 km of hiking trails at all difficulty levels and 250 peaks higher than three thousand meters, Ötztal is a huge hiking paradise. Regardless of whether you are looking for family-friendly hut tours, theme and loop hikes or challenging Alpine tours and long-distance hikes lasting several days such as the Ötztaler Urweg. Twelve modern summer mountain lifts, guided hiking programs and certified mountain guides will help you to reach the top. Some 100 rustic mountain huts and Alpine pastures invite hikers to enjoy a refreshment stops. Some can also be easily reached by road or mountain lift, so that a joyful mountain exploration is accessible to everyone. Special hiking accommodations and quality-sealed hiking and mountaineering villages make Ötztal the first choice when it comes to hiking in Austria.
If you have brains then protect it! This saying also applies when hiking, because the head is particularly sensitive when it comes to cold or heat. Sturdy and weatherproof headgear is therefore an essential part of the basic hiking equipment. A trekking hat with a wide brim or a cap with a large peak can protect you from the high levels of sunlight in the mountains, which you hardly notice due to cooler temperatures or light winds. Ideally, the hat is also waterproof, wind-stable and can be rolled up and easily stowed in the backpack. Compared to a hood, the hat has the great advantage that you can turn your head better.
A popular alternative - provided it's not raining - are headbands, for example. They keep the ears warm and protect against too much sun, absorb sweat and are very comfortable. Next time you go on a hut hiking tour in Ötztal or climb one of the 250 three thousand meter high peaks: think of your head and protect it!