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Hiking Routes & Tours

Long Distance Hiking recommended route

Ötztal trek route 3

Long Distance Hiking · Ötztal closed
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  • Obergurgl
    Obergurgl
    Photo: Katharina Nösig, Ötztal
Stage 10 - 12

 

Obergurgl (1.930 m) - Langtalereck hut (2.430 m) - Ramolhaus (3.005 m) - Martin-Busch-Hut (2.501 m) - Similaun hut (3.017 m)

closed
moderate
Distance 31.7 km
15:30 h
2,933 m
1,820 m
3,187 m
1,891 m
ÖTZTAL LOOP TOUR

Stage 10 – 12

Obergurgl (1930 m) – Langtalereckhütte (2430 m)  – Hochwildehaus (2866 m) – Ramolhaus (3005 m) – Martin-Busch Hütte (2501 m) – Similiaunhütte (3017 m)

Changes in elevation: ascent 2800 meters / descent 1700 meters<br>Distance in kilometers: 32 km

This scenic route takes hikers to Obergurgl in the rear Ötztal Valley. You follow the tracks of stratosphere expert Auguste Piccard and Ötzi - The Iceman. From Obergurgl you also explore the glacier world high above Vent. Glacier trekking at its finest!

 

STAGE 10:

OBERGURGL (1900 m) –> LANGTALERECKHÜTTE (2430 m) –> HOCHWILDEHAUS (2866 m) –> RAMOLHAUS (3005 m)

Route: road, cart road, steep path, path

Requirements: surefootedness, good head for heights, good physical condition and stamina; red mountain trail

Difficulties: on this route you have to cross the remains of a glacier snout on Gurgler Ferner (flat and no crevasses)

Walking time: approx. 7 hrs

Changes in elevation: ascent approx. 1600 meters / descent 500 meters

Highest point: 3005 m

Distance in kilometers: approx. 16 km

Lodging, refreshment stops: David‘s Hütte (no overnight), Schönwieshütte (no overnight), Hochwildehaus, Ramolhaus

Access/exit points: from Obergurgl along Ramolweg Trail to Ramolhaus (ascent approx. 4 hrs / descent 3 hrs)

Diversity at its Best

From the center of Obergurgl you walk into the valley to David’s Hütte. There you continue on the themed Stone Pine Trail through the dense forest until you reach the road to Schönwieshütte. The road leads past the hut, winding slightly to the left, and – after a short downhill section – climbs gently through the slopes above Gurgler Tal to Langtalereckhütte. From the mountain hut the path drops down to Langtal, crosses the valley and climbs steeply to the moraine of Gurgler Glacier. Follow the moraine parallel to the glacier to Hochwildehaus. After a rest stop retrace your steps down to approx. 2700 meters above sea level where you descend to the remains of the Gurgler Glacier snout on the left. Cross the glacier at its lowest and flattest point (no trail signs). Once you have crossed the glacier fields there is a steep ledge with metal rungs to help you along. The trail then travels slightly uphill before climbing up to Ramolhaus. Continue to Ramolhaus. The last section of the trail also has steep switchbacks all the way to the top.

 

STAGE 11:

RAMOLHAUS (3005 m) –> RAMOLJOCH (3189 m) –> MARTIN-BUSCH-HÜTTE (2501 m)

Route: steep path, footpath, road, cart road

Requirements: surefootedness, good head for heights, good physical condition; black mountain trail

Difficulties: the trail is equipped with fixed cables and metal rungs all the way to Ramoljoch

Equipment: standard hiking equipment

Walking time: approx. 6 hrs

Changes in elevation: approx. 700 meters climbing, 1,200 meters descending

Highest point: 3189 m

Distance in kilometers: approx. 11.5 km

Lodging, refreshment stops: Ramolhaus, Martin-Busch-Hütte

Access/exit points: from Obergurgl along Ramolweg to Ramolhaus (ascent approx. 4 hrs / descent 3 hrs); from Vent through Niedertal to Martin-Busch-Hütte (ascent approx. 2.5 hrs / descent 2 hrs)

Across Ramoljoch To Niedertal

From Ramolhaus we climb up to the dead ice of Ramolferner Glacier. Continue on the very section up to Ramoljoch by using fixed cables and metal rungs to assist your ascent through boulders, slabs and rubble areas. From here the trail switchbacks down quickly, then runs along the lateral moraine of Spiegelferner Glacier. Continue until you get to a trail junction at approx. 2800 meters above sea level. There turn left towards Martin-Busch-Hütte following Diemweg Trail. The trail then climbs moderately to a saddle and continues through gentle pasturelands and the slopes above Niedertal to Diembach Brook and down to the valley. Hike into the valley for a few meters, cross Niedertalbach Brook and follow the moderately ascending cart road to Martin-Busch-Hütte.

 

STAGE 12:

MARTIN-BUSCH-HÜTTE (2501 m) –> SIMILAUNHÜTTE (3017 m)

Route: steep path

Requirements: surefootedness; red mountain trail

Difficulties: none

Equipment: standard hiking equipment

Walking time: approx. 2 hrs

Changes in elevation: ascent approx. 500 meters

Highest point: 3017 m

Distance in kilometers: approx. 4.5 km

Lodging, refreshment stops: Martin-Busch-Hütte, Similaunhütte

Access/exit points: from Vent through Niedertal to Martin-Busch-Hütte (ascent approx. 2.5 hrs / descent 2 hrs)

A Side-Trip to South Tyrol

Similaunhütte, a privately-owned refuge, is located at 3017 meters above sea level on the South Tyrolean side of Niederjoch, a mountain pass between Tirol’s Ötztal and South Tyrol’s Schnalstal. Similaunhütte and Similaun owe their fame to Ötzi The Iceman who was discovered at nearby Tisenjoch Saddle (about 1.25 hrs walk). This scenic tour to Similaunhütte leads into Niedertal Valley along Niederjochbach Brook. The trail then climbs gently through glacier moraines. From Seibach Brook you stay on the moraine ridge all the way to Bild area. Afterwards the route continues without much elevation change to the glacier. Usually hikers had to cross Niederjochferner, but since 2008 there is a new trail circumventing it. The last section of this trail is rather steep. This blazed trail leads west of Niederjochferner to Similaunhütte.

DAY TOUR SPECIAL

Similaunhütte (3017 m) –> Similaun (3599 m)

Similaun Peak from Similaunhütte: glacier tour requiring surefootedness, good head for heights, high Alpine experience; rope is a must on the glacier (crevasses!) and along the ridge; usually icepick and crampons required; black mountain trail; mountain guide strongly recommended! Difficulty level: intermediate hike, Walking time: ascent approx. 2.5 hrs, descent approx. 1.5 hrs, Changes in elevation: 580 altitude meters

Profile picture of Roland Grüner
Author
Roland Grüner 
Update: March 16, 2024
Difficulty
moderate
Stamina
Experience
Landscape
Highest point
3,187 m
Lowest point
1,891 m
Best time of year
Jan
Feb
Mar
Apr
May
Jun
Jul
Aug
Sep
Oct
Nov
Dec

Track types

Asphalt 2.38%Dirt road 0.95%Forested/wild trail 32.18%Path 64.46%
Asphalt
0.8 km
Dirt road
0.3 km
Forested/wild trail
10.2 km
Path
20.4 km
Show elevation profile

Safety information

For experienced mountaineers that are free from vertigo & surefooted, very good physical condition, mountain experience & mountain equipment (see notice equipment) necessary, such as alpine security material, good weather conditions recommended. Please pay attention to the current weather report: https://www.oetztal.com/summer.html

Tips and hints

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

Start

Obergurgl
Coordinates:
DD
46.870168, 11.026556
DMS
46°52'12.6"N 11°01'35.6"E
UTM
32T 654440 5192730
w3w 
///blunter.niceness.nasality

Destination

Similaunhut

Turn-by-turn directions

Stage 10:

 

In the centre of Obergurgl, we head into the valley and from the Zirben Alm follow the alpine adventure trail through the stone pine forest. The route joins the road to the Schönwieshütte, which curves to the left and leads uphill above the Gurgler Tal to the Langtalereckhütte. We then follow the signs towards the Piccard suspension bridge. At approx. 2,600 m, you descend over glacial grinding slabs to the suspension bridge, which leads over the remains of the glacier tongue of the Gurgler Ferner. Continue along the trail up to the Ramolhaus on the Köpfle. In the last section, the trail leads upwards in steep terrain.

 

Stage 11:

We hike from the Ramolhaus over the dead ice of the Ramolferner. This is followed by the passage in steep terrain to the Ramoljoch. Fixed ropes and steel stirrups facilitate the ascent over boulders, slabs and scree. Beyond, descend in serpentines and then - initially next to the Spiegelferner - mostly relatively flat downhill. On the side moraine of the Spiegelferner, at a little more than 2,800 m, you branch off to the left to the Martin-Busch-Hütte, where the Diemweg begins. A slight ascent follows, where we enter the alpine pasture terrain. We then cross the slopes above the Niedertal valley without any significant change in altitude. We cross the Diembach, then the trail often leads in serpentines towards the valley floor down to the Martin-Busch-Hütte.

 

 

Stage 12:

The Similaun Hut, stands at 3,017 m on the South Tyrolean side on the Niederjoch, a passage between the North Tyrolean Ötztal and the South Tyrolean Schnalstal. Inseparably linked to the refuge is the famous Similaun and the site where the iceman Ötzi was found at Tisenjoch, about 1.25 h away. Our tour to the Similaun Hut runs inwards through the Niedertal valley. We follow the Niederjochbach stream. We then hike comfortably up moraine slopes. From the Seibach we walk directly on the moraine ridge until we reach the so-called "Bild". Afterwards, the path is flat. Until the summer of 2008, the Niederjochferner could be accessed, but since 2008 the glacier can now be avoided. To the west above the Niederjochferner, a marked route leads to the Similaunhütte.

Translated with www.DeepL.com/Translator (free version)

Public transport

Enjoy a both comfortable and relaxing train ride to the train station in Ötztal Bahnhof. You get off the train in ÖTZTAL Bahnhof where you change to a public bus or local taxi. The current bus schedule can be found at: 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 was: https://www.google.at/maps.

Parking

The following parking facilities are available in Gurgl: 
  • Parking garage (center of Obergurgl), chargeable | € 2,00/hour
  • Parking garage - bottom station Festkogl, chargeable | € 2,00/hour
  • Parking Hochgurglbahn valley station, free of charge - no parking at night
  • Parking Top Mountain Crosspoint, free of charge
  • Parking Hochgurgl, free of charge (very small parking) 

Coordinates

DD
46.870168, 11.026556
DMS
46°52'12.6"N 11°01'35.6"E
UTM
32T 654440 5192730
w3w 
///blunter.niceness.nasality
Get there by train, car, bike, or on foot!

Equipment

Appropriate equipment such as breathable suitable outdoor clothes for the weather, ankle-high walking boots, wind-, rain- & sun protection, hat, possibly gloves, 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

  • Ötztaler Urweg V6 Obergurgl - Zwieselstein
  • European E5 long-distance hiking trail – King's Segment – Obergurgl to Moos in Passeier (alternative route)
  • Ötztaler Urweg E6 Obergurgl - Vent
  • Ötztal Trek Stage 10
  • Ötztal Trek Stage 11
 These suggestions were generated by our system
Status
closed
Difficulty
moderate
Distance
31.7 km
Duration
15:30 h
Ascent
2,933 m
Descent
1,820 m
Highest point
3,187 m
Lowest point
1,891 m
Multi-stage route Scenic Refreshment stops available Geological highlights

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