After our adventures in the Dolomites, we decided to continue our mountain theme and set our sights on Olpererhütte in Austria. We had come across this incredibly beautiful hike, which leads to a picturesque suspension bridge with stunning views.
We found accommodation about 30 kilometers from Olpererhütte, and it’s definitely worth recommending. Pension Waldegg is a charming, small family-run hotel in a fantastic location. The host was very friendly, showing us two different room options and letting us choose which one we preferred. The rooms were exceptionally clean and comfortable, each with a terrace or balcony. The breakfast at the hotel was excellent, with a variety of options, including gluten-free bread. The breakfast area offered amazing mountain views through full-length windows. What better way to start the day than with breathtaking mountain vistas! The price for accommodation was 90 € per night.
From there, we headed towards Olpererhütte. The road connecting Schlegeis Stausee (the starting point of the hiking trail) and Mayrhofen is an alpine road called Schlegeis Alpenstrasse. This road has a toll, costing 7,50 € to drive on. However, the drive itself is already incredibly scenic, making the toll worth it, not to mention Olpererhütte, which is definitely worth a visit.
The parking lot for the hiking trail is located here, and there is ample parking available. The trail to Olpererhütte starts right from this parking lot, with several different route options to choose from. While we had read beforehand that the trail could be challenging, we would classify it as medium difficulty. It requires a decent level of fitness and some agility, as there is a section where you have to climb over large rocks. Otherwise, the trail is relatively well-maintained but rocky, so good footwear is essential. The trail has an elevation gain of 600 meters, with a total distance of about 7 km, taking approximately 1.5-2 hours each way, depending on your fitness level.
The entire route offers stunning views, occasionally following alongside a mountain stream with small waterfalls, providing a pleasant background soundtrack. There are also many sheep and goats in the area, some of which may block the trail, seemingly enjoying the views (or perhaps the panting hikers 😅).
At the top, you’ll find a fantastic mountain hut that offers both accommodation and dining in its restaurant. The restaurant boasts panoramic views over the valley to the opposite snow-capped peaks. We stopped here for coffee to warm up and admire the views after visiting the suspension bridge. There are also sheep and goats roaming around the property, which are accustomed to tourists and enjoy being petted.
Olpererhütte suspension bridge
The Olpererhütte suspension bridge is located a short distance from the mountain hut, about 150 meters away. While you can’t see it directly from the hut, the path to it is clear. The bridge itself is short, but the views are breathtaking, with a turquoise-colored lake at the bottom of the valley, surrounded by majestic snow-capped mountains. You can capture some truly stunning photos from here.
We visited in mid-September, when the signs of autumn were starting to show in the weather. Mountain weather can be very unpredictable, and on the day we set out, it was raining down below, and the sky was completely overcast. As we hiked upward, a few hikers coming down wished us luck with the weather, as apparently, the views hadn’t cleared for them. However, mountain weather can change quickly, and luckily for us, the cloud cover started to break, revealing the landscape in all its glory.
Olpererhütte sits at an elevation of 2389 meters in Tyrol. We recommend dressing warmly in layers and bringing rain gear, as temperatures and winds can be quite cold up there at this time of year.
This hike definitely belongs on your bucket list, as it’s possibly our favorite hike of all time!
