Variation 15

Erlanger Hütte (2541 m) – Vordere Tumpenalm (1831 m) – Armelenhütte (1747 m) – Piburger See (914 m) – Sautens (812 m) – Ötztal-Bahnhof (704 m)

Information:
Route:	steep path, footpath, (sealed) road
Requirements:	surefootedness, good head for heights, good physical condition; red mountain trail
Difficulties:	none; some sections are equipped with fixed cables and metal rungs
Equipment:	standard hiking equipment
Walking time:	approx. 9 hrs.; 2-day hike
Changes in elevation:	approx. 300 meters climbing, 2100 meters descending
Highest point:	2612 m
Distance:	approx. 20 km
Lodging, refreshment stops:	Erlanger Hütte, Vordere Tumpenalm, snack station at Lake Piburger See
Access/Exit points:	from Umhausen to Erlanger Hütte (approx. 4 ½ hrs. up and 3 ½ hrs. down; alternatively taxi from Umhausen to Vordere Leierstalalm from where it's 2 hrs. up to Erlanger Hütte and about 1½ hrs. down); Taxi Scharfetter: Tel: +43/(0)5255/5858; from Tumpen (Umhausen) to Armelenhütte (approx. 2 hrs. up and 1 ½ hrs. down)

A Hike In Two Stages

Only really strong hikers should attempt this hike as a one day trip, for all others Armelenhütte is a great place to spend the night. From Erlanger Hütte the trail looses some altitude and then traverses a slope before climbing a ridge. Past the ridge the trail drops steeply to Tumpen Tal and contours along the valley floor, crossing a river several times. Just above Vordere Tumpenalm the trail joins a road which you walk down past a mountain hut, to approx. 1700 meters above sea level. From here it’s a few minutes up to Armelenhütte (approx. 4 ½ hrs. from Erlanger Hütte; walking times in the info block refer to the entire stage). Armelenhütte is actually a dairy but offers accommodation for tired hikers (book ahead!). The next day you backtrack a few meters and then descend through a steep forest. The trail continues below Armelenwand and once more drops down steeply, but has fixed cables, rails and metal rungs to assist you. Follow a road to pristine Lake Piburgersee (Bademöglichkeit) and continue along its northern/northeastern shore down to Piburg and the valley floor, where you follow Ötztal Mountain Bike Trail (identifiable by the road markings) to Sautens and Brunau. Just after Brunau pick up the trail to your right and climb to the road which you cross and follow the signs to “Ötztal-Bahnhof” and/or “Haiming” (keep right at the cross). Continue through a forest to Ötztal-Bahnhof.

| More services

HIKING & WALKING

ÖTZTAL CARD

Ötztal Card. The experience card.
One valley, one card! The ultimate Ötztal Card offers a wide range of unlimited activities within the 67km-long holiday valley.

more information