Tyrol, Hike: from the Schlegeis reservoir to the Olperer hut

This reservoir is probably one of the most famous in the whole of Tyrol, if not the whole of Austria. Even if you don't know anything about the reservoir, you're sure to recognise the photos with View of the reservoir from the Olpererhütte or the still better known suspension bridge be made.

We also want to visit the reservoir and start from Mayrhofen. The route leads over a toll road, for which you have to pay a whopping €14. Incidentally, you also have to expect to wait at the toll booth if there is oncoming traffic coming from the other direction. Most of the carriageway is a single lane. We have to wait 8 minutes before we are allowed through. We finally arrive at the car park opposite the Zamsereck at around 9:00 am. The "Schlegeis Stausee car park" is very easy to find on Google Maps. In the morning, the car park is mostly empty if you arrive early enough.

The hike to the Olpererhütte starts right at this sign. Incidentally, we have our one-year-old son with us with the Kraxen on his back. The path first leads uphill through a forest via hairpin bends. As it has rained repeatedly over the last few days, the path is wet, with small waterfalls and streams crossing the path in places. However, you can still easily avoid them or jump over them.

As you climb higher, you have a wonderful view of the reservoir again and again. From the forest, the route continues on a stony path. Sure-footedness is required and hiking boots are highly recommended! (we keep seeing Instagram posers with sandals and ankle-high trainers along the way)

Although it is never dangerous or exposed, the hairpin bends are nevertheless strenuous. This is how the path actually runs all the way up to the Olpererhütte. After about 1 hour 45 minutes, we arrive at the hut quite sweaty - after all, we still had the little one to carry. What's more, after the forest section you are permanently exposed to the sun. A cap can definitely help in summer. 

The famous bridge is a little further on, about 3 minutes up the mountain behind the hut. There are only a few people here when we arrive, but we still have to queue for a photo. Nevertheless, we get into position and there is even time for a short drone flight. However, as the next one is already waiting, we have to hurry. Nothing is relaxed here.

But I'm not really satisfied with the results and so I want to go back to the bridge to take a few more nice photos. However, I have to abandon my plan after a few metres. Even from a distance I can see that at least 15 people are already waiting at the bridge to get into position... 

I turn round and make do with what we have. Not the very best photo, but a very nice memory. 

We start the descent, which is not much shorter than the ascent. The reason for this is the heavy traffic. More and more people are coming up the path, so we have to get out of the way to let them pass. We can't even imagine what it must look like by the bridge. We have heard from others that there are 40-50 people queuing at peak times. On the way down, at least the sun comes out again.

Exhausted, we arrive back at the car park at around 14:00. 
Further information about the reservoir and other beautiful reservoirs in the Zillertal you can find here