Ötztal - Kayak update after the floods
Author: Marieke Vogt, Team Leader at SOURCE TO SEA
We are often asked what is going on in the Ötztal after the flood in august, whether the sections are drivable and what has changed. So here's an update for you, as far as we've been able to do so far. First of all: The valley was so affected by the flood that the repair work will continue over the winter. Bridges are still broken and therefore closed. The road below Längenfeld is passable again, but some sections of the cycle paths and footpaths along the river are still closed.
All kayak routes have changed. The Upper and Lower Venter Ache, Upper Ötz and Lower Ötz will be run again. Middle Ötz has also been paddled again, although the changes here are enormous and also parts of the road are still in the river.
The old entrance to the Köfels route is a construction site. The river has completely dug up its bed here, dismantling the left bank and half of the bridge. We don't know yet where the parts of this bridge are.
The lower Wellerbrücken track (i.e. the OETZ TROPHY race track) has already been paddled again, but the path on the shore is closed and the Wellerbrücke itself and the platform are not allowed to be entered. Please stick to it. Over the winter, the path will be repaired and we will be able to paddle Wellerbrücke again from next spring.
With the relatively high water levels at the moment, we cannot yet say where metal parts (iron girders, construction container parts, etc.) are located in the individual sections of the Venter and Ötztaler Ache and whether relevant siphons may become visible at lower levels.
Please be careful when kayaking. Also adhere to the closures and do not hinder the construction and clean-up work. Have fun paddling!
