Olpererhütte: Take a Trip to the Iconic Suspension Bridge

Tyrol

Olpererhütte: Take a trip to the iconic suspension bridge, where you’ll have breathtaking views of the Schlegeis glacier reservoir.

Trip to Olpererhütte

The hike to Olpererhütte is one of the most beautiful day trips in Tyrol. The route is easily accessible from Mayrhofen, where we recommend staying. You’ll experience unforgettable views of the Schlegeis reservoir and a suspension bridge that offers one of the most iconic views in the Zillertal Alps.

Regarding difficulty, most tourists with better fitness who don’t mind climbing over 500 meters in elevation can manage this trip.

Olpererhütte Bridge

Olpererhütte - Austrian Lakes

Where to Stay in Mayrhofen?

Our base for the trip to Olpererhütte is the Tyrolean town of Mayrhofen in Zillertal. You can take a bus from here to the Schlegeis reservoir, and it’s also an ideal place for trips along the high alpine road by car.

>> Find accommodation in Mayrhofen according to your criteria

Elisabeth Hotel Premium Private Retreat (Adults Only)

Der Siegeler B&B – Hotel Garni

Resort Schrofenblick

Accommodation in Mayrhofen

How to get from Mayrhofen to the Schlegeis Reservoir (Schlegeisspeicher)?

As we mentioned earlier, from Mayrhofen you have two options for getting to the starting point of today’s trip to Olpererhütte. Our personal recommendation is to use bus transport during the main holiday season. In June and September, we prefer the panoramic route by car on the paid high alpine road:

  • By bus:

    • Ask at the hotel reception for directions to the bus.

    • Take bus line no. 4102 towards “Schlegeis Stausee”.

    • The ride takes about 1 hour and costs around €10.

    • Buses run roughly from 7:30 AM to 6:00 PM, every 1-2 hours. Times may vary outside the main holiday season.

  • By car:

    • Take the “Schlegeis Alpenstraße” road (about 13 km long).

    • There’s a toll of €15 (attention! must be paid in cash at the barriers).

    • Parking at the reservoir is free

    • The road is only open during the season, from June to September. In May and October, entry is only allowed in good weather, depending on current conditions.

Route Description to Olpererhütte

Starting Point of the Route

We start the hike at the Dominikushütte chalet (1,805 m), located near the mentioned high alpine Schlegeis reservoir. It’s about a 15-minute walk from the bus stop. The path from the reservoir to Olpererhütte is marked as trail no. 502.

Hiking the Trail

The trail starts climbing right from the beginning to get us warmed up. Those who dressed in several layers of clothing in the morning look forward to the first refreshment stop to take off a few pieces. The first 20 minutes lead through the forest, where it’s still quite cool. After that, however, breathtaking views of the reservoir open up to us.

The path is quite rocky, steep in places, but is more or less safe and well-marked. Along the way, you’ll cross the Riepenbach mountain stream several times. After about 2 hours (with a short refreshment break for photos), we arrive through meadows at the Olpererhütte chalet (2,388 m). During the hike, turn around occasionally to enjoy the view that opens up below you.

Trail to Olpererhütte - Schlegels Stausee

Suspension Bridge Olpererhütte

Since it’s still early for lunch and not many other tourists were with us, we take advantage of this and head first to the iconic suspension bridge, which is what this place is mainly known for. From the mountain hut, walk about 10 minutes along the beaten path.

Here you’ll find the famous Olpererhütte Bridge, which is an iconic spot for taking photos with the Schlegeis reservoir in the background. The bridge spans a small stream, but due to the angle of view, it looks as if it’s hanging high above the reservoir. It’s up to you what kind of photo you’ll bring back from here. Entry to the bridge is at your own risk, and we recommend being careful.

We recommend not thinking too much. After a moment of contemplation, a group of tourists rushed in and the peace was gone.

Olpererhütte - Austrian Lakes

Olpererhütte

Now we’ll enjoy a traditional lunch at the Olpererhütte mountain hut. We recommend the Tyrolean platter, which contains local cheeses, Tyrolean bacon, and pickled vegetables, which is an ideal gluten-free option for us. However, the hut also offers hot meals, homemade cakes, beer, and of course non-alcoholic drinks. You can now pay by card as well as cash.

Enjoy a well-deserved rest on the Olpererhütte terrace.

Olpererhütte - Austrian Lakes

Return to Schlegeis Stausee

You can descend the same way you came up. I believe the descent will take you less time. Count on about 1.5 hours. Of course, be careful with every step on the rocky trail. We recommend starting down no later than 2:00 PM so you can catch the bus back to Mayrhofen.

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Tips for a Trip to Olpererhütte

  • The best time for the hike is from June to September

  • We recommend starting early in the morning, ideally with the first bus. The bridge and Olpererhütte tend to be full of tourists after 10 AM.

  • If you plan to take some photos on the bridge and you’re here too early, wait for a moment when the fog in the background clears. However, don’t wait too long; once most tourists arrive, it will be difficult to take a photo without tourists.

  • The hut is usually open from June to the end of September, depending on current weather. Overnight stays are possible with advance reservation – we haven’t tried it personally yet, but we plan to.

Warning: This is a high alpine trek, so be equipped with quality hiking boots and bring several layers of clothing including a waterproof jacket. Weather in the mountains changes quickly, so don’t be caught off guard. Mountain insurance, plenty of fluids, snacks, and a charged mobile phone should be a given.

 

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