Long Distance Hiking recommended route

Ötztal trek route 3

Long Distance Hiking · Ötztal
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  • Obergurgl
    Obergurgl
    Photo: Katharina Nösig, Ötztal
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    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)

    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: September 16, 2024
    Difficulty
    moderate
    Overall difficulty
    moderate

    Derived from the technical difficulty and the stamina requirements.

    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

    Rest stops

    *** Appartement Restaurant Wildspitz´
    Gasthof Weißkugel
    **** Natur- und Alpinhotel Post
    See You Obergurgl
    Pub "Prostkastl"
    Nederhütte
    SPAR supermarket Josef Grüner

    Safety information

    For high alpine experienced mountaineers that are free from vertigo & surefooted. Excellent physical condition, extensive mountain experience, alpine climbing gear, safety- and orientation guide, good weather conditions recommended. Please pay attention to the current weather report

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    Tips and suggestions

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

    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

    Travel safe and comfortable with the train to the Ötztal Bahnhof train station. Last stop and exit point is the train station Ötztal Bahnhof. Afterwards you can travel smoothly and quick with the public transport or our local taxi companies through the valley to your desired destination. Please find the current bus timetable here: 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 way: https://www.google.at/maps

    Parking

    The following parking facilities are available in Gurgl: 

    - Parking garage (center of Obergurgl), chargeable | no parking at night

    - Parking garage - bottom station Festkogl, chargeable | no parking at night

    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!

    Author’s map recommendations

    Kompass Hiking Map (available at the Ötztal Tourism information offices)

    Equipment

    Appropriate equipment such as breathable suitable outdoor clothes for the weather, 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
    Difficulty
    moderate
    Overall difficulty
    moderate

    Derived from the technical difficulty and the stamina requirements.

    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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