Two years ago I hiked the beautiful Zillertal Alps in Austria and witnessed it’s magnificent breathtaking views from this epic suspension bridge. This picture will forever be a favorite of mine (a full Austria itinerary to come)! When planning our trip to Austria, the Zillertal Alps suspension bridge was number one on our list. Keep reading for some helpful tips and general information you need to know!
Location and Duration
To reach this bridge it can take anywhere from 1.5 to 2 hours (depending on your pace) from the parking lot. There will be a sign for the Olpererhütte Trail which will lead you up to this bridge and the most beautiful view of Lake Schlegeis, located in Tyrol, Austria. I’m not an avid or experienced hiker by any means, but I would say this hike is easy to moderate.
Weather and Accommodation
Since the weather forecast was all over the place during our time in Austria, we purposely didn’t book hotels or Airbnbs so that we could plan our trip based on the weather. Now, the thought of not having every detail planned and every hotel booked might give anxiety to many of you, it certainly gave me my share (like A LOT LOL) but it actually worked out for us. Once we knew that we would be driving from Hallstatt, we booked an AirBnB the day of. Just to note, the starting point of this trail is in Dornauberg which is a 7 hour drive from Vienna (Austria’s capital) but only a 4 hour drive from Hallstatt, Austria. All you need is a place to crash so that you can wake up early the next morning. We stayed here and it was great!
The Day Of
The next morning we woke up around 5 am and the Olpererhütte Trail was a short 20 minute drive from our AirBNB. We visited at the end of September so I got by with a sweater, thermals, leggings and some sneakers (read more about these shoes here). Once you start seeing a lodge, the end is in sight! Once you reach the Olpererhütte lodge you are very close! The suspension bridge is less than half a mile away. Make sure to grab something to eat or drink at the Olpererhütte and if you are lucky, you will be able to capture some pictures with some mountain friends!
As always, the earlier you go, the less of a crowd there will be. We reached the bridge around 8 am and there were less than 5 people. A line will start forming at the bridge so make sure to get there early so that you can take as many pictures as you want!
*Spoiler Alert* The suspension bridge is actually very close to the stream that flows below it, the angles of the pictures you may have seen online give the illusion that this bridge is higher than it actually is! Regardless, the scenic trail, breathtaking view at the top and the pictures are worth the hike!
Here’s What You Need to Know:
Trail Name – Olpererhütte. There are few more hikes that are more difficult but we opted for the easier trail.
Trail Duration – 3 to 4 hours
Parking – Dornauberg 118, 6295 Dornauberg, Austria
Food – Olpererhütte
The hike up to Zillertal’s suspension bridge is one of my favorite hikes to date with epic views to match. Is Austria and this stunning bridge on your bucket list? Are there any other places in Austria you want to visit? Leave me a comment below! xo
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