Accommodations for:
- Winter
- Activities
- Winter Hiking
- Winter Hiking
Snowshoe hiking & winter walking
Step by step towards a holistic experience
The hiking paradise of Sölden also has a marvelous winter season: 49.5 km of cleared, signposted winter hiking trails take walkers straight through snow-covered forests, white meadows and along Ötztaler Ache mountain brook. Adventure-seeking vacationers grab their snowshoes and listen to the crunching snow under their feet while lively Sölden disappears in the background. Trudging through the untouched white either on your own or accompanied by a local guide you will take new insights on the way to rustic mountain huts.
Finstertaler Schartenkopf

Ötztal Tourismus
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/Photo: Ötztal Tourismus
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/Photo: Ötztal Tourismus
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/Photo: Ötztal Tourismus
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/ Finstertaler Schartenkopf SkitourPhoto: Ötztal Tourismus
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/ Finstertaler Schartenkopf SkitourPhoto: Ötztal Tourismus
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/ Finstertaler Schartenkopf SkitourPhoto: Ötztal Tourismus
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/ Finstertaler Schartenkopf SkitourPhoto: Ötztal Tourismus
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/ Finstertaler Schartenkopf SkitourPhoto: Ötztal Tourismus
Firntourklassiker im Bereich der Schweinfurterhütte
Rest Stop
Groß-Horlach-AlmJausenstation Larstighof
Safety information
Avalanche Hazard Scale1 (LOW)
Triggering is generally possible but only from high additional load in isolated areas of extremely steep terrain. Only small-sized sluffs and natural avalanches are expected. Snow layers are generally stable.
2 (MODERATE)
Avalanches may be triggered in case of truly heavy loads, especially on a few explicitly indicated, steep slopes. Large spontaneous avalanches are not expected. In general, the snowpack is well bonded except on some very steep slopes. Choose your route carefully, avoid the indicated slopes and exposed sections.
3 (CONSIDERABLE)
Triggering is very probable even from low additional loads, particularly on the indicated steep slopes. On some steeper slopes, medium or even fairly large spontaneous avalanches may occur. On most steepslopes the snow layer is only moderately or weakly stable. Expertavalanche knowledge is required. You must avoid the indicated steepslopes and highly exposed sections.
4 (HIGH)
Avalanches are likely to be triggered on many of the indicated steepslopes even if only light loads are applied. In some places, numerous medium-sized and also large-sized natural avalanches are expected.The snowpack is poorly bonded on most steep slopes. Choose your route according to these criteria, select only moderately steep terrain by avoiding the avalanche runout zones. Very expert avalanche knowledge is required.
5 (EXTREMELY HIGH)
Numerous huge or very large-sized natural avalanches are expected also in moderately steep terrain. Safe skiing is not possible anymore, not even in the marked ski area. The snowpack is poorly bonded and largely unstable. Don‘t go ski mountaineering at all!
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Equipment
Recommended Ski Mountaineering EquipmentThe „standard ski mountaineering equipment“ is: touring skis with touring bindings, telescopic poles, climbing skins, ski crampons, digital avalanche transceiver, avalanche shovel, avalanche probe, firstaid kit and mobile phone. A „complete glacier equipment set“ contains: sit harness, two prusik loops of different lengths and ascenders, two HMS biners, icepick, climbing irons and rope. Pack your rucksack carefully and don‘t forget extra clothes for the descent, sun protection/cream, cold protection, enough food and drink. If you stay overnight at a mountain hut take toiletry articles and a hut sleeping bag with you!
LEVELS OF DIFFICULTY
- Easy: Short or moderately long tours, always easy, with ascents not steeper than 25° or slightly steeper only on short sections.
- Intermediate: Moderately long or long tours of intermediate difficulty with ascents up to 35° or slightly steeper only on short sections.
- Difficult: Very challenging and long or very long tours with ascents that can exceed 40°, comprising also climbing sections up to difficulty grade II (UIAA).
Tips, hints and links
Ascending aid: noMax. Slope: 35-40 °
Glacier: no
Tour type: High Alpine tour
Ski technique: medium
Climbing technique: 1st degree
Maps: AV card Stubai Alps - Sellrain 1:25 000
Best season: Mar, Apr
Ski Mountaineering Rules
- If you enjoy activities amid nature always respect the local guidelines when you set out on a ski tour (for example: wildlife preserves, hunting enclosures, reforestation areas, information boards, etc.).
- Don‘t enter protected wildlife zones or feeding areas amid naturelandscapes, and avoid noise.
- Cross forest areas in winter only on sign posted trails or marked routes as wild animals can panic if they hear loud voices or noise.
- Learn more about the habitat of wild animals in the mountains, avoid getting too close to them. Watch them only from a safe distance. Please put your dog on a lead, it is absolutely irresponsible to take dogs into the forest without leashing them because wild animals suffer from food deficiency and weakness in winter.
- Excellent planning and time management: start your tour early enough and return before darkness. In spring you should be back on the hut or in the valley at 12 noon (avalanche hazard!) at the latest.
- Never cross forestation zones and areas with young plants and trees.
Ötztal Tourismus doesn‘t take any responsibility for the suggested tours. It is strongly recommended to enlist a certified local mountainguide. Glacier crossings are allowed only in a group by using a rope.
Before you set out on a tour you should inform someone down in the valley about the tour‘s destination and when you plan to be back. Anavalanche transceiver is an absolute must for Alpine ski mountaineering tours.
More details about ski mountaineering tours in Ötztal: https://www.oetztal.com/skitouren
Start
Destination
Turn-by-turn directions
Für alle Tourenziele im Einzugsgebiet der Schweinfurterhütte 2028m gilt, dass diese auch als Tagestour direkt von Niederthai 1548m aus machbar sind, sofern einem der ca. 5.5km lange und in etwa 1Std und 45min dauernde Zustieg von Niederthai 1548m über fast 500 Höhenmeter bis zur Schweinfurterhütte 2028m nicht zu viel an Kondition raubt. Wer dabei eine Firntour sucht, wählt am besten den Finstertaler Schartenkopf 2855m als Ziel aus. Die fast ausschließlich in südlicher Richtung exponierten Hänge sind dabei schon recht früh gut umgesetzt und lassen im Einzugsgebiet der Schweinfurterhütte 2028m im Frühjahr am ehesten auf gute Firnbedingungen hoffen. Erfolgt der Aufstieg direkt vom Tal und liegt noch genügend Schnee so ist der kürzeste Anstieg hinauf ins Weite Kar über den stellenweise 35° bis 40° steilen Südhänge oberhalb der Großhorlachalm zu suchen. Hier hält man sich zu Beginn für kurze Zeit an den Sommerweg, der gegen Westen weiter zur Finstertaler Sennhütte führt. Aber schon bald geht es nun nur noch in zahlreichen Spitzkehren bis hinauf in eine Seehöhe von 2200m. Bei sicheren Firnverhältnissen und guter Spitzkehrentechnik stellt dieser Hang kaum ein Problem dar. Nun legt sich das Gelände deutlich zurück und der weitere Aufstieg im schönen und übersichtlichen Gelände des Weiten Kars führt uns unproblematisch an den Fuß der Finstertaler Scharte 2777m, beziehungsweise des Finstertaler Schartenkopfes 2855m. Wer auf der Schweinfurterhütte 2028m die Tour startet, oder im Südhang oberhalb der Großhorlachalm zu wenig Schnee vorfinden sollte, wählt als Aufstieg hinauf ins Weite Kar den Sommerweg, der von der Hütte zur Finstertalerscharte 2777m führt. Der Schlussanstieg zum Gipfel führt neben der direkten Südflanke am Finstertaler Schartenkopf 2855m zunächst über stellenweise 30° bis 35° geneigtes Gelände in Richtung Scharte und weiter über den Südostrücken zum Tourenziel. Bei einer Tour mit stabilen Firnverhältnissen stellt der Schlussanstieg, sofern man einer sicheren Spitzkehrentechnik mächtig ist, keine Probleme dar. Bei derart idealen Verhältnissen kann bei der Abfahrt, wem es mit 35° bis 40° nicht zu steil ist, auch die direkte Linie über die Südflanke gewählt werden.
Public transport
Enjoy a both comfortable and relaxing train ride to the train station in Ötztal Bahnhof. You get off the train in ÖTZTAL Bahnhof where you change to a public bus or local taxi. The current bus schedule can be found at: http://fahrplan.vvt.at
Getting there
Niederthai is located in the western part of Austria in the state TYROL, in a southern side valley of the Inn valley - the ÖTZTAL. For your arrival by car, you can plan the best route from your home town with the route planner online at https://www.google.at/maps
Parking
The following parking facilities are available in Niederthai:- Parking Sennhof, payable from 07:00 to 18:30
- Ortsweiler Lehen (football pitch), free
- Ortsweiler plate floor, free of charge
Statistics
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