Ötztal Trek Stage 01

Ötztal-Bahnhof (704 m) - Marlstein - Mareil - Dortmunder Hütte (1.949 m)

Hamlets, A Moor Lake and Desolate Trails

The first stage of the Ötztal Trek leads from Ötztal-Bahnhof to Dortmunder Hütte in Kühtai. Lake Brandsee – also known as Lake Ambergersee – is one of the highlights of the route which takes you along desolate trails and through picturesque hamlets. The trailhead is at the construction waste deposit site on the main road, just east of the town limits. Follow the signs to “Larchet, Mittelberg, Höpperg”. Soon you will get to a trail that climbs in switchbacks through the forest. Afterwards you follow the road to the hamlet of Larchet. Before you reach the chapel you make a right towards “Grün“. Continue to the tun-off to Höpperg – take a right and walk through meadows up to the houses of Grün from where you get great views of Inntal. In Grün follow the unseald road and continue on it until it starts descending. Pick up the trail to your left which climbs through the forest before joining the road to Lake Brandsee (approx. 1500m). The lake is an ideal place to enjoy a bite to eat and take a swim. Get back on the road and head towards “Sattele” where you pick up the path to Marlstein (approx. 45 min.). From Marlstein continue in the same direction down to Mareil. Take Kaiser-Franz-Josef- Weg left of the road (make a left at the road fork in the forest). From here it’s another 200 meter climb to Dortmunder Hütte.