From idyllic alps up to mighty peaks

The Hochoetz walking country begins in the Ötz valley, stretches over into the idyllic Neder valley and then on to Kühtai and deep into the Stubai Alps and the neighbouring side valleys of the Ötz valley. In the middle of this magnificent walking area lies the top station of the Acherkogel cable car with its restaurant and sun terrace offering panoramic views. It is both a starting point and a destination for walks.Then directly you alight from the comfortable cable car with its all-round views, you are confronted by an unending network of the best marked footpaths offering simple walks to mountain huts and impressive hikes to mountain tops and over passes into the neighbouring valleys of the Ötztal and Stubaital Alps. Many easier walks for those who enjoy the mountains, no matter how old or fit you are - can be negotiated without difficulty (many forest trails are even suitable for push-chairs!); for the longer hikes we recommend that you should be fit, wear stout boots, take protection from sun and rain and be armed with a good walking map of the Ötztal and Stubaital Alps. For the real peaks, you will need appropriate experience of the mountains or the services of a guide.

If you now want to form a closer picture of the various walks and walking opportunities, and of the Hochoetz alpine region in the lower Ötz valley, then please download the Panoramic Walking Map now! We are now going to try and describe - as far as we can with words and pictures - some of the especially favourite walking itineraries up here in the Hochoetz alpine region. The numbering system corresponds with the numbers on the Panoramic Map of Hochoetz Walks!

To begin with, a tip for all those who enjoy walking: Bring us the card you can obtain from the ticket office of the valley station in Oetz, stamped with at least 5 of a total of 6 hut stamps, within five days, and we shall be pleased to give you a Hochoetz hiking badge (2.50 euros for contribution towards costs).

All walks start at the Hochoetz panoramic restaurant at 2,020 m. Our 8 seater Acherkogel cable car offers you fantastic views as you come up. Many walks end at the old halfway station, from there, a shuttle bus service will take you back to Oetz - please tell the staff at the Schönblick refreshment stop that you would like this service.

Walk 1

Panoramic restaurant [2] (2,020m) – Bielefeld Hut [5] (2,150m) – Acherberg Alp [6] (1,888m) - Schönblick refreshment stop (Jausenstation) [1] (1,400m).
Our 8-seater cable car will whisk you up to 2,020m above sea level, straight to the Hochoetz panoramic restaurant with its sun terrace and children’s playground. From there you can walk along gentle paths to the Bielefeld Hut 2,150 m. (every Tuesday is fun day at the hut with live music) and enjoy the view into the Inn valley. Then you descend via the Acherberg Alp, 1,888m (Friday is dumpling day). Continue downwards to reach the former halfway station and the Schönblick refreshment stop (1,400m) before you take the shuttle bus service back to Oetz.

Walking time: 2½ hours
Cable car ticket needed: Combination ticket

Walk 2

Panoramic restaurant [2] (2,020m – Acherberg Alp [6] (1,888m) – Habichen or Oetz.
From the Hochoetz panoramic restaurant you follow the forest trail down to the Acherberg Alp, 1,888m (Friday is dumpling day). It is worth having a break, because afterwards the way on foot goes back down through the forest to Oetz (820m) or, if you prefer, to Habichen.

Walking time: 3 hours.
Cable car ticket: ascent only.

Walk 3

Panoramic restaurant [2] (2.020 m) - Rotes Wandl – Kühtaile Alp [3] (1.988 m) – Balbach Alp [4] (1.957 m) - Bielefeld Hut [5] (2.150 m) – Acherberg Alp [6] (1.888 m) – Mountain restaurant [2] (2.2020 m) return or continue via the path Wasserleitungsweg to the Schönblick refreshment stop [1] (1.400 m) .
You will reach the “Rotes Wandl“ (viewing point) in a few minutes from the Hochoetz panoramic restaurant (2,020 m), and from there the path leads to the Kühtaile Alp 1,988 m. Passing ponies, sheep and “Jonathan” the donkey, you reach the Balbach Alp at 1,957 m. Going gently upwards, you will visit the Bielefeld Hut 2,150 m. before encountering the Acherberg Alp 1,888 m. Now you either continue on to the Schönblick refreshment stop 1,400 m. or return to the Hochoetz panoramic restaurant 2,020 m.

Walking time: 2½ hours
Cable car ticket needed: Return ticket or combination ticket

Walk 4

Panoramic restaurant [2] (2,020 m) – Kühtaile Alp [3] (1,988 m) - Rauher Kopf - Stufenreich - Schlatt - Klingenburg - Hexenplatte – Oetz.
You reach the Kühtaile Alp 1,988 m. via the Hochoetz panoramic restaurant 2,020 m. Then you continue in a north-westerly direction via the “Rauher Kopf” 1,785 m. to the hamlets of “Stufenreich” and “Schlatt” You continue via the tiny settlement of “Klingenburg” to the “Hexenplatte”; shortly after this you come to the parish church and you will soon arrive back in Oetz.

Walking time: 3½ hours.
Cable car ticket needed: ascent only

Walk 5

Panoramic restaurant [2] (2,020 m) - Bielefeld Hut [5] (2,150 m) - Rosskopf -Wetterkreuz - Old Bielefeld Hut (disused) – Acherberg Alp [6] (1,888 m) – Schönblick refreshment stop [1] (1,400 m).
From the Hochoetz panoramic restaurant 2,020 m., walk up to the Bielefeld Hut 2,150 m. From there, you climb first to the Rosskopf 2,388 m. and then to the Wetterkreuz 2,572 m. After you have taken ample time to enjoy the Stubai Alps, descend to the old Bielefeld Hut (disused) and continue to the Acherberg Alp 1,888 m. With the last descent to the Schönblick refreshment stop 1,400 m you will have enjoyed a strenuous hike, but one full of wonderful views.

Tip: The path from the new Bielefeld Hut to the old Bielefeld Hut. Follow the “meditation trail” where there are places for you to stop, reflect and enjoy peace of mind. This is a project created by the Oetz Secondary School!

Walking time: 4½ hours.
Cable car ticket needed: combination card

Walk 6

Panoramic restaurant [2] (2,020 m) – Kühtaile Alp [3] (1,988 m) - Wiesberg - Schönblick refreshment stop [1] (1,400 m).
You reach the Kühtaile Alp via the Hochoetz panoramic restaurant 2,020 m. before gently walking via the “Wiesberg” to the former halfway station. The shuttle bus service will take you back to Oetz from the Schönblick refreshment stop 1,400 m.

Walking time: 1½ hours.
Cable car ticket needed: ascent only

Walk 7

Panoramic restaurant [2] (2,020 m) - Rotes Wandl – Kühtaile Alp [3] (1,988 m) – Balbach Alp [4] (1,957 m) - Ochsengarten (1,507 m) – Post bus to Oetz (see timetable). Warning: limited bus service only in the off-season.
You take the path to the Kühtaile Alp 1,988 m. via the Hochoetz panormaic restaurant 2,020 m. and the “Rotes Wandl”. Then continue to the Balbach Alp 1,957 m. before walking down to Ochsengarten 1,507 m. From there, the post bus will take you back to Oetz. Please note bus times, as there is a limited service out of season.

Walking time: 2½ hours.
Cable car ticket needed: ascent only

Walk 8

Panoramic restaurant [2] (,.020 m) - Bielefeld Hut [5] (2,150 m) - Rosskopf - Wetterkreuz - Hohes Windegg (2,650 m) - Mittertal Gap - Manigse - Old Bielefeld Hut (disused) – Acherberg Alp [6] (1,888 m) - Schönblick refreshment stop [1] (1.400 m)
Warning: Only for experienced walkers! This is a high alpine mountain track!
From the Hochoetz panoramic restaurant 2,020 m., walk to the Bielefeld Hut 2,150 m. Then you climb to the Rosskopf 2,388 m. and continue to the Wetterkreuz 2,572 m. The mountain track takes you on to the Hoher Windegg 2,650 m. before you reach the Mitteltal Gap (Scharte). Then there is a descent (about 15 min) with the Manigsee (Manig Lake) as your reward. Though this is only a small mountain lake, we have included a break here. Refreshed, you continue further downwards – pass the old Bielefeld Hut (disused) to the Acherberg Alp 1,888 m. The path to the former halfway station and the Schönblick refreshment stop 1,400 m .forms the last part of the walk. From there you can take the shuttle bus service back to Oetz.

Walking time: 5 hours.
Cable car ticket needed: combination card