Similaun Hut – View of Vernagt Reservoir loop from Martin-Busch-Hütte

Hiking trails & Routes

Similaun Hut – View of Vernagt Reservoir loop from Martin-Busch-Hütte

Hard

4.9

(229)

1,890

hikers

Similaun Hut – View of Vernagt Reservoir loop from Martin-Busch-Hütte

08:48

16.7km

1,400m

Hiking

Hard hike. Very good fitness required. Sure-footedness, sturdy shoes and alpine experience required.

Last updated: August 15, 2026

Tips

Includes segments that may be dangerous

Parts of this route comprise highly technical, difficult, or hazardous terrain. Specialist equipment and prior experience is required.

After 4.68 km for 725 m

After 11.3 km for 725 m

Waypoints

Start point

Alpine Hut

Get Directions

1.82 km

Niedertal

Highlight • Trail

During our ascent in July there were still a lot of snow fields that we hiked through.

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4.22 km

Similaun Glacier

Highlight • Natural Monument

Without words... how beautiful is that!

That makes my heart soar!

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4.62 km

The Similaun Hut is located at an elevation of 3,019 meters on the Niederjoch Pass, directly on the border between Austria and Italy. The hut is surrounded by the breathtaking glaciers of the Ötztal Alps, and if you haven't yet experienced a sunrise in the mountains, this is the place to do it.

More information and reservations at similaunhuette.com.

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4.65 km

Descent to Vernagt with view of Vernagt Reservoir

Highlight (Segment) • Trail

An alpine path and exciting descent that is easy to master even for not completely dizzy hikers.

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5.46 km

View of Vernagt Reservoir

Highlight • Viewpoint

I can't really describe it, I'm still at a loss for words!

A dream!

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8.21 km

View of Schnalstal Valley

Highlight • Viewpoint

10.3 km

View of Vernagt Reservoir

Highlight • Viewpoint

When descending from the Similaun hut, the reservoir is always in view

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11.5 km

Rock Formation with Summit Cross

Highlight • Summit

Very unusual rock formation with summit crosses.

This is a great adventure.

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16.7 km

End point

Alpine Hut

Way Types & Surfaces

Way Types

16.7 km

< 100 m

Surfaces

14.9 km

1.78 km

< 100 m

Elevation

Nothing selected – click and drag below to see the stats for a specific part of the route.

Highest point (3,000 m)

Lowest point (2,100 m)

Weather

Tuesday 6 October

8°C

-3°C

22 %

Additional weather tips

Max wind speed: 7.0 km/h

to get more detailed weather forecasts along your route

Comments

September 4, 2025,Wandern auf dem E5 von Oberstdorf nach Meran

The descent from the Similaun Hut to Vernagt was one of the most demanding and beautiful sections of this tour

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July 19, 2024,E5 Oberstdorf - Meran, Tag 6: über die Similaun-Hütte zum Stausee Vernagt

Net time 3:30h
The Martin Busch Hut was the starting point for the ascent to the Similaun Hut. First you walk over meadows crossed by watercourses, then it becomes rocky and finally you go through the snow again. In clear weather it is an absolute dream route with great views.
After the hut it goes downhill. It starts with narrow …

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June 27, 2024,27.06.24 -> 6. Etappe in Italien angekommen

Today we had to climb almost 500 meters over snow. At the top, at 3000 meters, we reached the border between Austria and Italy. On the way down to Italy, there was another traffic jam caused by a school class... which cost us a full 60 minutes of waiting. Once we reached the valley, the tour was over. Everyone had …

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July 8, 2022,E5 #6 Martin Busch Hütte - Smilaun Hütte - Stausee Vernagt

Day 6 the last day on the E5.

From the Martin Busch hut, climb up to the Similaun hut in the fog.
We ignore the turnoff to where Ötzi was found and walk steadily uphill in strong winds and freezing cold to the highest point of the tour. Similaun Hut 3019M. AMAZING💪

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July 7, 2023,E5-Etappe 6 | Martin-Busch-Hütte - Similaun-Hütte - GC4K464 - Vernagt

2023-07-07 - Stage 6 | Martin Busch Hut - Similaun Hut - GC4K464 - Vernagt - Meran

... we still had a lot planned, on the last official E5 day and stage 6. So the five of us were ready to go at 6:45 a.m., arriving at the Similaun hut 1 ¾ hour later. On this rather short stretch we …

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September 14, 2021,E5 - Etappe 6 - Von Martin-Busch-Hütte nach Vernagt

We start our last section of our E5 crossing of the Alps at quarter past seven. Again with wonderful weather, the sun gradually rises at this time and we have to master another 500 meters to the Similauenhütte, which is at 3019 meters and marks the highest point of our entire Alpine crossing.
Then it goes downhill to Vernagt. The …

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September 10, 2022,🇱🇻🇨🇮 - 🥾🥾 E5 - Martin-Busch-Hütte bis Meran

🥾🥾 Martin Busch Hut to Meran

From the Martin-Busch-Hütte it's about a 2-hour climb, sometimes steadily. At the top of the Similsun Pass is the Itsli border.

The Similaunhütte (3,013 m) is therefore already on Italian territory!

The descent to the Vernagt reservoir follows. From there we took the taxi bus to Meran.

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June 14, 2025,E5: Oberstdorf - Südtirol, 6. Etappe: Martin-Busch-Hütte - Vernagt

6th and final leg of our Alpine crossing.

What can I say? We made it through very well and were incredibly lucky with the weather. My head is clear and my body was physically challenged. But I don't have any aches and pains, not even a blister. On the tour, we met some friendly people with whom we then completed …

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