Around the Piburger See Lake

The most well-known winter walk at the start of the Ötztal Valley leads from the village of Oetz up to the Piburger See lake and back down the other side. This easy walk almost seven kilometres in length takes you along well-maintained trails and offers plenty of natural highlights such as the rushing Ötztaler Ache river, the Achstürze rock falls, the Habicher Wand and Armelenwand rock faces and, of course, the idyllic Piburger See lake itself. During the winter months the lake often freezes over, giving walkers the option of heading out onto the ice for a unique experience.
This winter walk begins at the bottom of the Acherkogelbahn cable car. Turn right at the main road and walk towards the centre of Oetz. Shortly after passing the fire station, turn left and walk along the eastern bank of the Ötztaler Ache river heading south towards Habichen. Soon you will reach a wooden bridge. Cross the river and then head into the forest on a steep trail. At a fork in the path take trail number 100 towards the lake shore ("Seeufer") and Piburg. You will pass a house next to the lake before continuing on the south-western side of the lake to Piburg. At the northern end of the village there is a twisty road leading down to Oetz. Don's miss out on the chance to visit the pretty centre of the village before heading back to the starting point.