Canyoning
Like spiderman in Jurassic World
Ötztal not only has high mountains, but also the ingenious flip side: deep alpine ravines and gorges. Pure wilderness! In Europe's center for whitewater sports & canyoning, you can explore a whole new world of rocks, mountain brooks, waterfalls and adrenaline. Wow, not for faint-hearted people but perfect for anyone who loves action!
Canyoning tours
From easy to extreme, Ötztal offers ravine exploration adventures for all the family. Our professionals know where to go.
The classic
It is one of Europe’s most spectacular canyoning tours, if not world-wide: scenic Auerbachklamm with jumps up to 16 meters high and many other extremes will make even steeled nerves flutter. Here you will fight your way through the wilderness for about five hours, overcoming high abseiling points, swimming along washed-out rock faces, sliding and jumping daringly into the depths. There is also the unique vegetation along the tour, which you will hopefully have an eye for.
- Upper Auerklamm: a little easier but awesome
Although the upper section seems a little more merciful, it still has its pitfalls. The tour leads through a narrow gorge, follows the impassable course of the mountain brook with large boulders and driftwood, includes abseils of 10 to 15 meters and jumps of up to 5 meters into the bubbling water spray. Through a labyrinth of washed-out rocks and typical Auerklamm water slides, you reach the end of the tour - ice-cold and extremely happy. Duration: 1,5 - 2 hours - Central Auerklamm: Wow moments for advanced
The middle section of Auerklamm ravine is beautiful, very narrow, up to 50 meters deep and has many deep pools that require a little courage to jump and slide. The access point can be reached via abseiling over a wooden bridge and the exit ends at a 40 meter high waterfall which you still have to abseil down. The water level should be checked beforehand as there are some bottlenecks and only few emergency exits in this section. Duration: 1,5 - 2 hours
- Lower Auerklamm: a true highlight for experts
All those who have already conquered many gorges can test their limits again here. Look forward to 8 meter long water slides and jumps from 3 to 16 meters, which end in the crystal clear pools of Nederbach brook. A little too high? Then you can let the guides abseil you down. Absolute wow moment: abseiling down the rock dome which has been formed and polished over millions of years. Duration: 2 - 2,5 hours
For everyone
This tour leads through the easier part of Nederbach brook and is also suitable for less experienced canyoning fans who dare jumps from 3 to 5 meters or an 18-meter abseiling point. Stages secured with steel ropes, passages through the brook bed and great abseiling spots show you right from the start how much fun the activity is. Even experienced ravine hikers love this tour as a somewhat quieter escape! Duration: 3 hours
For beginners
On this tour you can look forward to lots of water slides (up to 4 meters), jumps and abseiling spots from 3 or 5 meters. Just the right dimensions so that you can get a taste of canyoning sports - and probably get addicted to the adrenaline rush forever. Duration: 2 hours
Highest standards of quality and safety
Nowhere are you more exposed to the forces of nature than when canyoning. It's good that only experienced, state-certified guides accompany you on tours in Ötztal. They know every stone and watercourse in the area and are constantly trained. The equipment is also of uncompromisingly high quality and consistently checked. At the beginning of each tour, the guide explains correct behavior in the gorge during a detailed safety talk. And if the weather doesn't cooperate? Then also canyoning falls through. Better safe than sorry.
Canyoning in Ötztal: what else you should know
Depending on the provider, children aged 8 or 10 can try out a soft version of canyoning. Of course with an accompanying adult and the parents’ consent. This generally applies to all young people up to the age of 14. More difficult tours such as Auerbachklamm are aimed at adults aged 16 and over. The following applies to all tours: you must be able to swim, sure-footed, not afraid of heights, physically healthy and sober. For difficult tours you also need a basic level of athletic fitness and canyoning experience. In terms of weight, the upper limit is 130 kg.
You need to bring:
- Swimwear
- Towel
- Sun protection
Complete safety equipment is provided:
- Wetsuit & socks
- Canyoning shoes
- Spray jacket
- Helmet
- Seat harness
- All other materials such as ropes etc.
Frequently asked questions
Canyoning (also “canyoneering”) means conquering a ravine from top to bottom, by hiking in the river bed, abseiling, climbing, jumping, sliding, swimming and sometimes even diving. To do so, you absolutely need suitable sports equipment such as a wetsuit, helmet, seat belt & more as well as the courage to master a wide variety of challenges. Without in-depth knowledge of the local conditions and the weather characteristics, you shouldn't set off for canyoning on your own. Better join a guided tour, for example through the most splendid ravines of the Alps in Ötztal.
When hiking canyons, you are definitely dependent on robust, non-slip and stable boots. If you see your canyoning tour in Ötztal as a “once in a lifetime” experience, normal hiking, sports or gym shoes that can get wet are sufficient. In general, the rental equipment from the tour providers includes suitable shoes for your canyoning adventure. If you want to conquer gorges more often, it is of course recommendable to invest in your own special canyoning shoes.
Even if you can't get enough of the three-pack of action, adrenaline and adventure, you should never underestimate the risks of canyoning. Ignoring natural hazards and acting incorrectly as a result can lead to serious injury or even worse. That is why you will be accompanied only by real professionals when canyoning in Ötztal. The guides from the varied outdoor providers know the gorges just like their life jackets: they also check the functionality of the equipment, encourage cautious and slow down overzealous participants. You must follow their instructions at all times - for your own protection and for the safety of the entire group.
When is canyoning not the right thing for you? If you suffer from an allergy to neoprene and rubber, if you can swim very poorly, have recently had an operation, are sick, suffer from fear of heights or similar, get slightly dizzy or weigh more than approx. 130 kg: all these are reasons to do without this kind of action-packed experiences in the canyon. But you will definitely find many other enjoyable activities in Ötztal!
Canyoning in Ötztal challenges sportspeople in a variety of ways: hiking through the gorge requires abseiling, climbing, wading, jumping, sliding and swimming. Water and rock become your favorite element while team spirit provides you with incredible courage. The guides take great care not to take any risks despite all the action feeling. An example of what you can expect from advanced canyoning: At Auerklamm near Oetz you will conquer up to 18 meter long slides, 40 meter high abseiling sections and a jump from over 10 meters.
If you take part in a guided canyoning tour in Ötztal, you don't have to worry about your clothes: the organizing outdoor company usually provides helmet, wetsuit, neoprene socks, jacket, canyoning shoes and harness. The certified guides will help you to put on your equipment correctly. Additionally, they carry some important items with them to ensure the safety of the entire group (for example: several HMS carabiners, devices for rope climbing, first aid kit, emergency rope, mobile phone, etc.).
Call it trend sports, adventure sports or water sports, canyoning is a challenge of its own. It combines sporty elements, adrenaline rushes and an immediate nature experience. When hiking together through the ravine, the focus is on team spirit and mutual trust while the guides always keep an eye on the local weather and water conditions and thus ensure the safety of the whole group. Canyoning started its triumph as true adventure sport at the end of the 1990s in Spain and southern France, shortly afterwards it also conquered the gorges of the northern Alps. In the canyoning destination Ötztal in Tirol/Austria you can expect decades of knowhow and enthusiasm for this great outdoor sport.