Ötschergräben

Ötschergraben

Useful Information

Location:	Erlauftboden. (47.8765906, 15.2696612)
Open:	No restrictions. MAY to OCT weather depending. [2026]
Fee:	free. [2026]
Classification:	Gorge
Light:	n/a
Dimension:	L=10 km
Guided tours:	self guided
Photography:	allowed
Accessibility:	no
Bibliography:
Address:	Ötschergräben Lassingfallstubn, Wienerbruck, Tel: +43-699-12806183. Jausenstation Ötscherhias, Cell: +43-664-2759888. Schutzhaus Vorderötscher, Cell: +43-664-73679019, Cell: +43-3882-2307.
As far as we know this information was accurate when it was published (see years in brackets), but may have changed since then. Please check rates and details directly with the companies in question if you need more recent info.

History

1937	Ötscherhias opened by Johann Mitteregger.
1939	cellar constructed for Ötscherhias.
1997	Ötscherhias managed by Andrea Teubenbacher and Gabi Salzmann.

Description

The Ötschergräben are not a Klamm (slot canyon) like most of the others we have listed on this website. But it is not a normal valley either, and although the singular form Ötschergraben is sometimes used, the plural form is entirely justified. In fact, it is an impressive system of narrow gorges that is so large and diverse that it is often referred to as the Grand Canyon of Austria. The gorge is part of the Ötscher-Tormäuer Nature Park, or rather, it is the centre of this park. It was formed by several rivers, the rather small Ötscherbach, the Erlauf and the Lassingbach. These have carved an impressive 10-kilometre-long valley into the Wetterstein limestone of the Northern Limestone Alps. The result is a gorge with an abundance of white rocks, rapids, potholes and waterfalls.

The lower end of the gorge is located in Erlauftboden, which is also the most important starting point for the hike. From here, follow the Erlauf upstream. After about 3.5 km, you reach the Stierwaschboden with a small dam. This is followed by the Wienerbruck hydroelectric power station, which is quite strange when you think about it. It doesn't make sense to build the power station above the dam! The solution to the puzzle is simple: the water comes from a side valley, from another dam in the village of Wienerbruck, 1 km to the east and 180 m higher. To build the power station and the water pipes, a funicular railway was built into the Ötschergräben, which is no longer in operation, but whose ramp is still there. The side valley formed by the Lassigbach stream down from Wienerbruck is the second popular access point to the Ötschergräben. It is also much more spectacular than the access point from Erlauftboden, because the gorge has many rapids and waterfalls, as well as a height difference of 180 m. The most impressive waterfall is the 90 m high Lassingfall.

Only 350 m upstream from the power station, the Erlauf emerges from a left-hand side valley. It flows out of the Erlaufsee, another reservoir, and down a side valley. However, there is no hiking trail in this valley. If you continue to follow the Ötschergraben along the Ötscherbach uphill, you will reach the Ötscherhias after about 1.5 km.

The restaurant Ötscherhias was named in 1937 by Johann Mitteregger, its first landlord. Hias is short for Mathias, but in the local dialect, "he is a Hias" means "he is stupid". That’s what people said about Johann Mitteregger because he had started selling refreshments to people hiking through this remote area. They argued that he would never make any money in such a remote location. Today, the Ötscherhias has 40,000 visitors between May and October. The Austrians call this a Jausenstation, which means that there is a limited menu, you can get something to drink and eat, but probably only a few different hot meals. Highlight of the menu is the Palatschinken (pancakes) with Schwammerlsauce (mushroom sauce). It is a nice place to take a break before continuing on to the upper part of the gorge. There is another side valley here that provides access from the Hagengut forest lodge.

The upper part of the gorge is called Hintere Ötschergräben and is even more impressive than the lower part. The limestone cliffs are steeper and there are numerous rapids. The highlight is the Mirafall, a waterfall formed by a tributary.

In 2011, the hike through the Ötschergräben was voted the most beautiful hike in Austria by the Österreichischer Alpenverein (ÖAV, Austrian Alpine Club). There are no roads in this gorge, but there are hiking trails through many side valleys, making it possible to hike through this gorge on numerous routes. A list of popular routes can be found on the nature park’s website. We recommend the rather easy hike from the lower to the upper end. You can either leave a car at the upper end or use a pre-booked taxi for the return journey. A nice means of transport is the Mariazellerbahn, a historic railway with stops along the gorge.