In the green valley of the Horlachbach stream - Ötzal - Tyrol

The car park (paid) at the start of the hike is located at the end of the L238 road, which starts in Umhausen. To reach it, follow the signs for Niederthai and Tourismusbüro.

(S/E) Leave the car park and go to the crossroads just before the bridge over the Horlachbach. Turn right and take the track reserved for farmers.

(1) Ignore the path on the right (return) and continue slightly uphill along the left bank until you reach a bridge over a stream that flows into the Horlachbach on the left.

(2) Cross and continue along the track until you reach the junction with a track coming from the right.

(3) Leave this track (this is the return route) and continue straight ahead. After about 600 m, pass the Larstighof Restaurant and the bridge opposite.

(4) Continue on the main track. The climb becomes steeper and heads north-east. Reach a left-hand bend just before the bridge to cross the Horlachbach stream. Note a fork on the right where a shortcut to Schweinfurter Hütte begins.

(5) Leave the track and take the small path on the right that crosses the cattle pastures, heading north-east-east, and arrive at a bridge over the Horlachbach stream.

(6) Cross the bridge and continue in the same direction to rejoin the track about 600 metres further on. Turn right for about 20 metres, cross a small bridge, and immediately after, you will come to a junction with a path leading off to the left.

(7) Look for signs for Finstertaler Scharte and Kuhtai. Leave the path on the left, stay on the track and head towards the picnic table next to the Schweinfurter Restaurant.

(8) To gain altitude, retrace your steps along the track to the fork marked by signs for Finstertaler Scharte and Kuhtai, at an altitude of 2,034 metres.

(7) Climb to the right along this steep path, above an antenna, and follow a pretty stream and its waterfalls to the highest point of this trail.

(9) Those who are fitter can continue to the Finstertaler Scharte pass (not shown on the map).
Retrace your steps back to the track.

(7) Descend by turning right. After the bridge, leave the path you took on the way up on your left and continue westwards. After about 500 m, ignore a track on the right, then another on the left. Further on, pass to the left of the Kleinhorlachalm Restaurant and approach the right bank of the Horlachbach. Follow it to the junction before the bridge, which takes you back to the left bank.

(5) After the bridge, turn right and follow the route you took on the way up in reverse. Pass the Larstighof restaurant and the bridge opposite again.

(4) Continue to the trail junction you encountered on the way there.

(3) Turn left onto this shaded track, pass between barns and in front of a chapel, ignore the tracks that branch off to the left or right and continue along the main track until you reach a hairpin bend to the left.

(10) Take the small steep path visible below the hairpin bend and rejoin the outward route.

(1) Turn left and return to the car park where you started (S/E).

There are two restaurants.

The track to the Schweinfurter Hütte restaurant is passable by vehicle but prohibited to private individuals. It is used by many cyclists in summer and skiers in winter.

From point (3) to the finish (S/E), the track is shaded and rarely used by farmers' vehicles.

To avoid part of the main track and the farmers' vehicles, there is a track on the right bank of the stream that is less used by pick-up trucks. It can be accessed from the car park at the start (S/E) by crossing the bridge and leads to the Larstighof restaurant at point (4).

Between Umhausen and Niederthai, visit the Stuibenfall waterfall.