Have you already gathered quite a bit of experience with via ferratas and are looking for a challenge? The Panorama Klettersteig in Kühtai in Austria’s Tyrol province will put your nerves to the test. The outcome of this demanding scramble is a beautiful summit view from Pockkogel, at 2807 meters.
Total round-trip distance
7.6 kilometres / 4.7 miles
Elevation gain
490 meters / 1610 feet
Difficulty
Advanced (D/E)
Time required
4.5-5 hours
Overview of the Panorama Klettersteig in Kühtai
The Panorama Klettersteig is located in Kühtai in the Stubai Alps in Austria’s Tyrol province. The route leads to the summit of Pockkogel (2807 m). At 2020 meters, at its lowest point, Kühtai is one of the highest ski resorts in Austria. In the summer, the village is much quieter and transforms into a hiking hub.
The panorama via ferrata is the only iron path in Kühtai, and it is certainly not suitable for beginners. The iron path consists of two separate sections. While most of the scrambling along this route is of moderate difficulty, there are a couple of sections rated D or E. That means level hard. One section in particular really put my skills to the test. It involved a small overhang secured with ladders and a cable. This was the first via ferrata I have ever done that required an express sling to secure myself so I could rest my arms before continuing.
With everything said above, I hope I didn’t scare you. If you have enough experience and don’t suffer from vertigo, you will have no trouble tackling the Panorama Klettersteig. The cables and ladders are thoughtfully placed along the entire route and help tremendously with scrambling. However, if you decide after tackling the first section that the route is too difficult, you can use the early exit route, which I will cover later in the article.
The map & elevation profile of the Panorama via ferrata
- Brown – The Panorama Klettersteig
- Blue – The early exit route, after the first section of the via ferrata
Important info about the Panorama Klettersteig
Because of the North-West exposition, the Panorama Klettersteig is usually accessible later in the season. Snow and Ice melt much more slowly on the northern mountain slopes. You also need to take the chairlift to reach the trailhead, which limits the time window for accessing this via ferrata. This is certainly not a must, but I recommend it. It will save you a few hundred meters of elevation gain and spare your strength for this challenging scramble.
When to go: Third week of June until the third week of September
Exposition: North-West
Map required: Kompass Imst, Telfs, Kühtai, Mieminger Kette
Trail numbers: 146, 3
Highest point: 2807 meters / 9209 feet
Parking: Bottom of the Dreiseenbahn chairlift
Trailhead: Top of the Dreiseenbahn chairlift
Nearest towns/cities: Oetz, Innsbruck
Getting to Kühtai
Kühtai is a mountain pass connecting Sellrain Valley and Nedertal Valley. It can be reached from either side by car or bus. Having lived in Austria for a few years, I am always impressed by its public transport network. It seems like there is no place that cannot be reached by train or bus, and Kühtai is no exception.
By bus
The nearest bus stop to the Dreiseenbahn chairlift is called Kühtai Jagdschloss. Bus no. 420 runs between Innsbruck and Kühtai, stopping in all villages along the way. The journey takes ca. 1 hour. There are no direct buses from Oetz to Kühtai. You can find connections and buy tickets in the VVT (Verkehrsverbund Tirol) app.
By car
It takes 45 minutes to reach Kühtai from Innsbruck via the Sellrain Valley, or 25 minutes from Oetz via the Nedertal Valley. You can park your car in the parking lot at the bottom of the Dreiseenbahn chairlift. Follow the link for the GPS directions.
Stages of the Panorama via ferrata in Kühtai
Approach:
- Distance: 1.1 kilometres
- Elevation gain: 140 meters
- Time required: 30 minutes
From Kühtai, take the Dreiseenbahn chairlift first. It takes approximately 30 minutes to reach the cables from the top of the chairlift. The trail is well signed and easy to follow as long as you pay attention to the signs and the red paint marks pointing in the right direction.
Via Ferrata:
- Distance: 2.1 kilometres
- Elevation gain: 330 meters
- Time required: 2-2.5 hours
The Panorama klettersteig consist of two separate sections. The short overhang, the hardest part of the entire route, is in the first one. It is only a couple of meters long and equipped with metal ladder steps permanently bolted to the rock wall. To be honest, tackling it was easier than I thought and took only a few seconds, even though I had to use my express sling first to rest my arms and prepare mentally.
The first via ferrata section stretches for ca. 1 kilometre. 2 kilometres into the route, there is an early exit for those who find the scrambling too difficult (I marked it on the map). However, if you can manage the first section of the Panorama Klettersteig, you should have no problem with the second part.
Once you reach the summit, you will be able to admire the Panorama of Stubai, Ötztal and Lechtal Alps. Don’t forget to sign your name in the logbook, which you will find in the metal box on the summit cross.
Descent:
- Distance: 4.3 kilometres
- Elevation loss: 930 meters
- Time required: 2-2.5 hours
To get back, you need to descend on the Western side of the mountain towards the Finstertal water reservoir, which is visible from the summit. There are still a few cables on the descent route, so keep your via ferrata gear on. Once you reach the lake, you can take it off. After you pass the reservoir, you will follow a gravel road which intersects with a hiking path until Kühtai.
Overnight stay & dining possibilities
There are no huts along the Panorama Klettersteig route. Make sure to pack enough food and water to last you for the entire excursion.
If you want to experience the alpine hut culture, you can stop for a meal or stay overnight in the Dortmunder hut directly at the Kühtai pass and 500 meters from the Dreiseenbahn chairlift. The hut is a part of the expansive Alpine Hut Network in the Austrian Alps. However, since the hut is right next to the road, it is not exactly the same experience as staying in alpine areas only accessible on foot.
Where to stay nearby
Kühtai is a hotel village which was developed purely for tourism. There are plenty of accommodation options directly on the pass. However, by staying here, you might be limiting yourself to just one area. I recommend booking your stay in Oetz or nearby towns, which offer plenty of outdoor activities in the Oetztal Valley. Below are a few of my hotel suggestions.
TIP: If you book any accommodation through the links below, I receive a small commission, which helps me create these free guides for you.
Best Value
Explorer Hotel (Umhausen)
Explorer is a small chain of hotels that offers great value for money. The one in Umhausen in the Oetz Valley is only a 30-minute drive from Kühtai and the Panorama Klettersteig.
Top Rated
Aparthotel Tante Trude (Oetz)
This is a new hotel built in a great location in Oetz, close to the centre. The apartments are spacious, and the hotel has fantastic sauna facilities for a relaxing evening after a day exploring the mountains.
Other activities nearby
Hikes
- Wetterkreuzkogel
- Pirchkogel
- 4-Lakes Route Ötztal
- 3-Lakes Route Kühtai
- Schweinfurter Hut
- Pforzheimer Hut
- Potsdamer Hut
- Axamer Kogele
Via ferrata
- Geierwand
- Lehner Waterfall
- Stuiben Waterfall
- Steinwand
- Innsbrucker Klettersteig
- Hanauer Klettersteig
- Imster Klettersteig
