Discover Obergurgl: Swiss stone pine forest, Hohe Mut and winter trails

Obergurgl combines high-alpine nature with trails, culture and special excursion destinations. The Swiss stone pine forest south of the village is a protected natural monument and is located in the “Gurgler Kamm” UNESCO Biosphere Reserve. Trees up to 400 years old make this landscape an impressive destination for anyone who does not want to focus their stay solely on sporting activities. When choosing your holiday apartment in Obergurgl, it is therefore worth considering in advance whether you primarily want to plan forest trails, cable-car excursions, winter experiences or cultural discoveries.

Swiss Stone Pine Forest and Trails in the Mountain Landscape

The Obergurgl Swiss Stone Pine Forest themed trail brings the “queen of the tree line” closer through information panels and interactive stations. A continuous Swiss stone pine forest near Obergurgl extends across 20 hectares on the northern slopes of Schönwieskopf, at an altitude of 1,950 to 2,100 metres. In addition, trees up to 300 years old line the themed trail through the Swiss stone pine forest. These differing figures refer to different areas described and make it clear that exploring the Swiss stone pine is spread across several nature experiences.

Anyone wishing to combine a historical perspective with physical activity will find nine waypoints on the GPS-guided Beilstein – Küppele Alm – Sohm archaeological circular trail. The trail thus combines a specific archaeological theme with a tour through the landscape. The Hohe Mut cable car is another important point of reference for planning: the 8-person gondola lift operates in two sections from the valley station in Obergurgl directly to Hohe Mut Alm at 2,670 metres above sea level. From Obergurgl, it provides access to numerous hiking opportunities at Hohe Mut Alm.

Winter Hiking, Cross-Country Skiing and the Ski Season

Obergurg Trail No. 3 leads to Obergurgl and onwards to Zirben Alm at the foot of the natural monument. In sections, it runs along both the right and left sides of the Gurgler Ache. This allows you to weigh up, when planning your day, whether to choose a nature trail connected to the Swiss stone pine forest or other activities in the village, without having to pack all your activities into a single excursion. You can access the cross-country skiing trails below the church on Schalfkoglweg.

The ski area’s season dates are also relevant for a classic winter sports stay: the Gurgl ski area is open from November to April. The season begins as early as mid-November, while conditions last until the end of April. The slopes of Obergurgl and Hochgurgl are connected by the Top-Express connecting lift. If you are looking for a holiday apartment for a longer winter stay, this period and the desired mix of skiing, winter hiking and cross-country skiing may influence your choice of location.

Culture and Activities for Varied Days

The parish church of Saint John Nepomuk is also part of the village’s history. It was dedicated to Saint John Nepomuk in 1737 and contains ceiling paintings by Rudolf Margreiter from 1930. This allows you to add a cultural stop to a stay in Obergurgl when a quieter programme item is welcome between nature and winter experiences.

The Hohe Mut Alm nature park information point covers the topics of glaciers, climate and high-alpine research. The Obergurgl ice rink covers 1,000 m²; ice skates and equipment can be hired on site. These offerings open up different ideas for the day: while the Swiss stone pine trails and Hohe Mut Alm place the natural environment at the centre, the church, information point and ice rink offer further opportunities for varied travel planning.

Obergurgl as the Starting Point for Planning Your Trip

The choice of suitable accommodation therefore depends primarily on your desired travel rhythm. If you want to spend most of the winter outdoors, the ski season, access to the cross-country skiing trails and the winter hiking trail may be important criteria when searching for a holiday apartment in Obergurgl. If nature observation and themed trails are your priority, the Swiss stone pine forest, Gurgler Ache and Hohe Mut Alm become the focus of your planning. Those interested in culture can also take the parish church and information point into account. Obergurgl therefore offers several clearly distinguishable reasons for a visit, without requiring you to commit to just one type of holiday.

For further local pages, you can also visit Mötz, Imst, Längenfeld, Silz, Arzl Im Pitztal, Sankt Leonhard Im Pitztal, Wenns and Imsterberg.

To the higher-level travel overview: Imst.