The Ötztal Trek Highlights

Upon arrival in Ötztal before beginning the Ötztal Trek, you will reach the Ötztal-Bahnhof, the main transportation hub in the area. The village serves as a gateway to the Ötztal Alps, offering access to various hiking and trekking routes. The Ötztal region is known for its dramatic alpine landscapes, including glaciers, rugged peaks, and scenic valleys, setting the stage for the upcoming trek.

The hike starts from Ötztal-Bahnhof and first follows a trail climbing through the forest in switchbacks before reaching the small hamlet of Larchet. From here, the path winds toward the village of Grün, offering expansive views over the Inntal valley. After passing through meadows, the hike ascends to Lake Brandsee, also called Lake Ambergersee. Continuing from Lake Brandsee, you'll hike to the Sattele area and toward Marlstein. After crossing the Marail section, the trail takes the Kaiser-Franz-Josef path, which involves a final ascent of about 200 meters before reaching the Dortmunder Hütte.

Starting from Dortmunder Hütte, the trail begins relatively flat through scenic pasturelands before gradually climbing alongside the road to the Finstertaler Reservoir. You'll continue along its eastern shore. From here, the hike becomes steeper as it heads toward the Finstertaler Scharte at 2777 meters, offering impressive views of Wildspitze, North Tirol’s highest peak, and the Mieminger Kette range. After reaching the pass, the descent winds down through meadows, leading to the Schweinfurter Hütte, located at the confluence of Horlachtal and Zwieselbachtal valleys.

Leaving Schweinfurter Hütte, the route leads deeper into the Zwieselbachtal, passing by the Zwieselbacher Sennhütte and continuing through the lush, woodless valley. After the road ends, the path climbs gradually through rocky terrain, with scree slopes towering on both sides. As the ascent steepens, the trail crosses a scree slope near the Zwieselbach Glacier. Beyond the Zwieselbachjoch ridge, the descent into the Winnebachkar basin begins, and the trail becomes easier, eventually leveling out near Winnebachseehütte, with a scenic high-altitude lake nearby.

After leaving Winnebachseehütte, the trail descends via a series of switchbacks, offering views of a cascading waterfall feeding into the Winnebach brook. As you continue, the trail gradually eases, winding through a valley shaped by glaciers with unique stone formations. Upon reaching the forest, the descent becomes steeper, leading down to the village of Winnebach. From there, an asphalt road takes you to the mountain village of Gries im Sulztal, and the final stretch follows a scenic gravel road along the Fischbach stream, gently descending toward Längenfeld.

After completing the Ötztal Trek and arriving in Längenfeld, any necessary private transfer can be arranged from the village. Längenfeld, known for its thermal springs and alpine landscapes, is well connected, and transportation to Ötztal-Bahnhof or Innsbruck for onward travel can be coordinated smoothly.