5 Crags in Imst and the Ötztal valley

Imst Outdoor Region: Tarrenz / Walchenbach

The Tarrenz / Walchenbach crag is perfect for beginners and families: there are plenty of easy routes with short distances between bolts. Thanks to its south-facing aspect, the wall dries out very quickly after rain.

At a glance:

• 31 routes, distances ranging from 6 to 15 m
• Difficulty grades 3 to 8
• Family friendly, route guide board, many routes signposted at the start
• a beautifully laid-out picnic area

Ötztal: Oetz

The Oetz Crag is a great spot for both beginners and advanced climbers. The left-hand section offers plenty of easy routes – perfect for your first few metres of rock climbing or your first lead climbs. The ‘Zwillingsriss’ on the right-hand side of the wall is a favourite amongst advanced climbers.

At a glance:

• 39 routes, distances of 5 to 35 m
• Difficulty grades 3 to 7
• Family friendly

Oetzerau: the hidden gem for the strong

If you drive a short distance from Oetz towards Kühtai, you’ll find the excellent Oetzerau Crag tucked away in the woods. As the rock face isn’t visible from the road, it took a while before the first routes were bolted. Long an insider’s tip amongst the Ötztal climbing community, it is now known far beyond the valley.

There is one downside, however: anyone who isn’t comfortable with at least a grade 7 – or better still, a grade 8 – on the French scale won’t find any routes here. An example of the difficulty level is ‘Bausparen’ (7b+). Information and topography can be found in the Ötztal climbing guide.

Tumpen and Oberried: the crowd favourites

The Tumpen | Engelswand and Längenfeld | Oberried crags are arguably the most popular in the whole of the Ötztal valley – and rightly so: there’s virtually no access, a flat meadow at the start, and routes covering all Levels of Difficulty. Added to this is the perfect combination: Tumpen faces west, whilst Oberried faces east. So, depending on the temperature, the season and how you feel, you can choose between sun or shade.

At a glance:

• Tumpen | Engelswand: 73 routes, 6 to 40 m long, difficulty 3 to 8
• Längenfeld | Oberried: 143 routes, 6 to 30 m long, difficulty 3 to 8, family friendly

Tips for your day off

Even on days when you’re not climbing, there’s no chance of getting bored in the Ötztal:

• Relax: at the Aquadome thermal spa.
• Action: at Area 47 at the entrance to the valley – from wakeboarding and water slides to a high ropes course.
• Natural spectacle: from the Starting Point in Umhausen, it’s a leisurely half-hour hike to the Stuibenfall, Tirol’s highest waterfall. If you fancy it, you can continue hiking along the Panoramaweg trail past the waterfall. Before that, it’s worth making a detour to the village of Ötzidorf.
• Swimming: The idyllically situated Piburger See is one of the warmest swimming lakes in Tirol.

Getting there and accommodation

• By car: via the A12 Inntal motorway, take the Ötztal exit.
• Public transport: Most crags are also accessible by public transport – take the train to Ötztal station, then continue by bus into the valley.
• Accommodation: There’s something to suit every budget in the Ötztal. Information on getting there and accommodation is available from Ötztal Tourism.