High above the Zillertal Valley, the Olpererhutte hike is one of the most scenic alpine routes near Mayrhofen, Austria. Most visitors know Olpererhutte for its famous suspension bridge above Schlegeis Reservoir, but this route becomes far more rewarding when you link it with Friesenberghaus first, creating a wild and challenging mountain loop through some of the best scenery in the Zillertal Alps.
Starting from Schlegeis Reservoir, the trail climbs steadily towards Friesenberghaus, leaving the busy bridge crowds behind and heading into a quieter high-alpine landscape of granite peaks, turquoise water, rugged ridgelines and glacier-backed views. From Friesenberghaus, the route traverses across dramatic mountain terrain towards the iconic Olpererhutte suspension bridge viewpoint and descends back towards the reservoir.
While many hikers simply walk up to get the famous Suspension Bridge photo and return the same way, adding Friesenberghaus transforms the day into a much more complete alpine adventure. The landscapes feel wilder, the trail is quieter, and the route gives a far better sense of what Mayrhofen hiking can offer beyond the most photographed viewpoints.
Whether you are planning a summer hiking trip in Mayrhofen, chasing the classic suspension bridge view, or looking for a more challenging loop from Schlegeis Reservoir, this guide covers the full route, key stats, difficulty, gear, transport and planning tips for one of the best day hikes in the Austrian Alps.
Planning & Tips
Getting There
- Base town: Mayrhofen, Tyrol
- Trailhead: Schlegeis Stausee (Schlegeis Alpine Road – toll road)
- Access: Drive from Mayrhofen (~1 hour) or Bus services run in summer, but check schedules carefully as return times are limited
Route Overview
Olpererhutte & Friesenberghaus Loop
Key route details for the epic hiking loop from Schlegeis Reservoir to Friesenberghaus, across to Olpererhutte, and back down to the reservoir.
| Stat | Detail |
|---|---|
| Route Name | Schlegeis Reservoir — Friesenberghaus — Olpererhutte Loop |
| Total Distance | ~12–16 km round trip, depending on route choices and the Petersköpfl addition |
| Elevation Gain | ~1,000–1,250 m |
| Estimated Time | 5–7 hours total |
| Difficulty | Moderate to challenging — sustained climbs, rocky trails and exposed alpine terrain |
| Highest Point | ~2,400 m, or around 2,700 m if adding Petersköpfl |
| Route Type | Loop / high-alpine circuit |
| Start / End Point | Schlegeis Reservoir |
| Direction | Start from Schlegeis Reservoir, climb to Friesenberghaus, traverse to Olpererhutte, then descend back to the reservoir |
| Best For | Experienced hikers wanting the Olpererhutte suspension bridge plus a quieter, wilder Friesenberghaus alpine loop |
Best Time to Go
- Late June to September is ideal because in early June, when we hiked, there was snow on the trails higher up, where microspikes and poles would be useful. As expected, July and August give the best weather and are therefore the busiest.
What to Pack
- For a Day Hike, I would use good-quality hiking footwear, a backpack and additional layers as the altitude increases. Whilst I used a simplified version of my usual hiking gear due to this being part of an inter-city hostelling trip, I ensured we both had appropriate hiking shoes and plenty of water. Check out this Hiking Gear List Packing Guide to see the essentials to take.
Olpererhutte Hiking Essentials
Safety Tips
- Check the weather forecast before you go—storms roll in quickly, and the Alps are unpredictable.
- Stay on marked trails; fog can reduce visibility, and the lack of hikers towards Frisenberghaus means having downloaded maps or navigation is vital (Here is the AllTrails link we used).
- Be mindful of exposure on narrow sections or on snowy traverses.
- Turn back if conditions deteriorate—this is high-alpine terrain
Crowd-Beating Advice
Continue beyond the bridge—crowds thin dramatically after the bridge, with my favourite viewpoint literally a few minutes from the crowds. It’s best to get an early bus to start from the Reservoir before many people arrive, ideally before 8 am. And visiting mid-week will make the hike even quieter.
The Olpererhütte – Friesenberghaus Hike
As featured in The Best Mountain Hikes, this hike has exploded in popularity and was one of the primary reasons I wanted to visit Mayrhofen. However, I wanted more of a challenge than the 2-hour hike from the bus straight to the Bridge. Instead, we planned to go on the path less trodden over to Friesenberghaus first and then traverse along using this AllTrails. First, we packed our bags and caught a local bus over to Schlegeis Stausee, where the trails began. Mayrhofen is 25 km away from Schlegeisspeicher (Schlegeis Reservoir) and takes around an hour on the 4102 bus.
Friesenberghaus
The day was looking promising with some clouds and spells of sun, which created a moody atmosphere. We saw no other hikers for the first few hours up to Frisenberghaus, but it was early June, which is before the season properly opens. The trail wound up in a wooded area, slowly gaining altitude as we approached a small cabin to refill water and look back over the broad decks. The far peaks and parallel valleys seemed never-ending, with snow and clouds encompassing them. We climbed up the valley along a stream and over snow patches before reaching Frisenberghaus at 2,477m.
Petersköpfl
After a short break and photos back along to the reservoir, we continued onto a short scramble up to Petersköpfl. This stands at 2679m and is a jagged rocky summit covered with Cairns or “Steinmänner”. The views across Großer Möseler, Hochfeiler and Hochferner peaks bordering Italy are outstanding! It’s a fun extension from Frisenberghaus, with some minor scrambling to reach the top. At almost 2700m, the altitude was noticeable, but that didn’t stop us from continuing over towards the bridge and hut.
Olpererhütte
We descended to the Frisenberghaus from the summit and began a short, gruelling climb over rocks and snow. As seen from the images above, in early June, there was lots of deep snow on the trails, and crampons would have been beneficial. Luckily, I felt confident in this alpine terrain and helped my friend Shaun safely navigate the many snow banks. This traverse between Frisenbergahus towards Olpererhutte is high altitude and stunning. With epic views down to the Schelgeis Reservoir, mountain peaks as far as the eye can see, it’s truly worth doing these extensions. At 2700m elevation, the thinner air is noticeable, so we took precautions as we hiked towards the best Schlegeisspeicher viewpoint
In my opinion, this viewpoint is much nicer as you get a wider view of the reservoir and avoid the crowds a few minutes around the corner. We picked this as the idyllic lunch and photography spot while it was quiet. After hours of peaceful hiking, seeing 5 people in total, we didn’t anticipate how busy the suspension bridge would be and had to wait to cross. We had enjoyed our 13 km hike across technical terrain already and felt rewarded despite the large crowds. It’s worth walking around and up the stream to avoid people directly in your photograph. If you want the classic image of you standing on the bridge, then be patient, as there’s a literal queue.
Schelgeis Reservoir
The crowds were too much in the end. Instead, we started a very fast descent with some trail running down to the Reservoir. This was a steep 3km trail on narrow paths, and I enforced the hiking etiquette of hikers descending should get priority over ascending hikers (who would appreciate the break). We flew down and bombed past other hikers in the hope of catching the next bus. However, we still had 30 mins to wait for a bus due to the irregular departures, yet there are worse places to be waiting. Overall, it’s the best Austrian Alpine hike I have done and would highly recommend Mayrhofen and the Zillertal region for hiking!
Summary
This Olpererhutte hike is much more than a quick walk to a famous Instagram bridge. By starting at Schlegeis Reservoir, climbing first to Friesenberghaus, and traversing across to the suspension bridge, the route becomes a proper alpine loop with variety, challenge and a real sense of achievement.
For me, the best part of this hike was how the character changed throughout the day. The climb to Friesenberghaus felt quieter and more rugged, with fewer people and huge views over the surrounding peaks. The traverse towards Olpererhutte added that classic high-mountain atmosphere, while the final section around the suspension bridge delivered the iconic view that most hikers come for.
If you are visiting Mayrhofen and want more than a simple out-and-back hike, this loop is a brilliant option. It combines everything that makes Mayrhofen hiking so good: turquoise reservoirs, dramatic alpine terrain, mountain huts, glacier views, steep climbs and rewarding descents.
The iconic suspension bridge is definitely worth seeing, but the full Friesenberghaus loop gives the day much more depth. You still get the famous photo spot, but you also experience quieter trails, better mountain immersion and a more satisfying route overall.
If you have the fitness, stable weather and enough time, this is one of the best hiking loops near Mayrhofen and one of the most memorable routes in the Zillertal Alps. For hikers who want the classic bridge view with a bigger alpine adventure, the Schlegeis Reservoir to Friesenberghaus and Olpererhutte loop is the route I would recommend.
FAQs
How long is the Frisenberghaus loop hike?
The Olpererhutte hike can vary depending on the route. A direct hike to Olpererhütte from Schlegeis Reservoir is shorter, but linking Friesenberghaus, Petersköpfl and Olpererhütte creates a more demanding day of around 12–16km with roughly 1,000–1,250m of ascent.
Where does the Olpererhütte hike start?
The hike usually starts at Schlegeis Reservoir, also known as Schlegeis Stausee, above Mayrhofen in the Zillertal Alps. You can reach the trailhead by driving the Schlegeis Alpine Road or using summer bus services from Mayrhofen.
Is the Olpererhutte suspension bridge worth it?
Yes, the suspension bridge is worth visiting for the classic photo above Schlegeis Reservoir, but it can be very busy. For a quieter and more rewarding hike, continue beyond the bridge or link with Friesenberghaus to experience wilder alpine scenery and fewer crowds.
When is the best time to hike to Olpererhütte?
The best time to hike is usually from late June to September. Early June can still have snow on higher sections, while July and August usually bring the best weather but also the biggest crowds around the suspension bridge.
