Themed Hike
WildeWasserWeg Stubai

The WildeWasserWeg trail in the Stubai Valley invites hikers to discover water in all its forms, from turquoise mountain lakes to glistening glaciers, babbling sources, thundering waterfalls and marshy wetlands. Hikers who wish to take on all three stages as far as the Sulzenauferner glacier – where the hike ends – should have the fitness required for 1250 vertical metres of uphill and a total of 22 kilometres of hiking. The first two stages of this intermediate hike are also well worth exploring. The first stage ends at the 85-metre-wide Grawa-Wasserfall, the widest waterfall in the Eastern Alps.

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Starting point

WildeWasserArena at the quarry in Ranalt

Hike to

Sulzenauferner glacier

Finishing point

WildeWasserArena at the quarry in Ranalt

Mountain chain

Stubai Alps

Length

22 km

Total hiking time

9 h 30 min

Features

Wheelchair-accessible Hiking Route
Circular hike

Difficulty rating

intermediate (red mountain trails)

Altitude

2,520m 1,320m

Elevation uphill 1,250m
Vertical metres downhill 1,250m

Fitness level

Technique

Best time of year

Jan

Feb

Mar

Apr

May

Jun

Jul

Aug

Sep

Oct

Nov

Dec

* These are approximate values and recommendations. Please take your personal fitness level, technical ability and the current weather conditions into account. Tirol Werbung cannot guarantee that the information provided is correct and accepts no liability.

Public transport

Accessible using public transport

Bus route 590a, get off at stop Neustift i. St. Ranalt

Parking

Car park on the main road (follow the signs for "WildeWasserWeg")

Huts serving food

Tschangelair Alm
Grawa Alm (Assumption Day until early October)
Sulzenau Alm (mid-May until late October)
Sulzenauhütte (mid-June until mid-September)

Downloads

GPS data: WildeWasserWeg (gpx)

Trail description

The trail starts in the WildeWasserArena at the quarry in Ranalt. The first segment follows the Ruetz river through the spectacular Ruetz cataract to the Tschangelair Alm hut and ends at mighty Grawafall waterfall.

From the waterfall, the second section of the walk begins a steady elevation gain as it switchbacks up along an old alpine footpath. This section requires stamina, sure footing and above all appropriate footwear. The path consists of wet areas in places, so sturdy shoes or boots will help keep your feet happy and dry on this hike. After one hour of walking uphill you will reach Sulzenegg (1800m), from where the trail levels out to Sulzenaualm hut. The scenery is gorgeous as you wind your way along the basin, enjoy glimpses of the glacier and approach the three dazzling waterfalls. The hut enjoys an idyllic setting. From there, the trail leads to the misty base of the tallest and most stunning of the three waterfalls: the Sulzenau Fall. This natural masterpiece invites you to sit and stare. A series of moderate switchbacks takes you up to Sulzenauhütte hut, which is jutting out at the base of a precipitous cliff. This dramatic and jaw-slacking location is quite a spectacle in its own right.

The third part of the walk leads from Sulzenauhütte hut to the base of Sulzenauferner glacier. The trail continues along the gently ascending valley bottom, where nature has carved a truly magnificent place - an Alpine paradise of granite worn smooth by glaciers and a crystal blue glacier-fed lake strung together by a glacial torrent that tumbles and thunders between them. At the end of the WildeWasserWeg, at the foot of the Sulzenauferner glacier, catch your breath not from climbing but from admiring the glistening white glaciers, jagged peaks and a picturesque series of cascades that flow like a magical staircase into azure pools. If that’s not enough to impress you, simply raise your eyes to the skies to enjoy the views of the snowcapped Zuckerhütl, the highest mountain of the Stubai Alps.

Return along the same route.