5,300 years ago, a man met his end — brutally. If not for the glacier that devoured him, his story would have vanished into the void. Instead, he lingers — mummified, dissected, and endlessly fascinating. Now, at Iceman Ötzi Peak, you can overlook where he fell, imagine his final moments, and lose yourself in views as mind-bending as his tale.
What do we know about Ötzi the Iceman? Only what the ice gave back. For more than five millennia, it held him — his tools, his clothes, his body — frozen in the jaws of the Ötztal Alps. From these fragments, a story emerges. A story of survival, of violence, of a man who walked the mountains not for pleasure but for purpose. His tattoos tell us he knew pain. His copper-bladed axe tells us he knew power. And his death tells us he knew fear.
How did he die? Not well. An arrowhead, lodged deep in his back, tells the tale. It struck with such force it shattered bone, spilling his life onto the mountain in minutes. Was it a hunter’s mistake or the cruel crescendo of a life lived on the edge?
⇒ Plan Your Escape to the Alps: Get our South Tyrol + Dolomites Travel Guide
That’s a part of his story we do not know. Cannot know. The ice does not tell. But when you stand at Iceman Ötzi Peak, you can’t help but picture him moving through the desolation, the wind clawing at his back, the snow swirling, and the shadow of death already closing in.
And yet, amid the desolation, there was beauty — a beauty he must have known, even as he fought to survive. Today, from the Iceman Ötzi Peak observation platform, that same beauty surrounds you. A breathtaking panorama of jagged peaks and endless skies. The silence of the mountains speaks, just as it did then, and for a fleeting moment, the divide between Ötzi’s world and ours dissolves.
CONTENTS OVERVIEW
The Discovery of Ötzi
Iceman Ötzi Peak would just be another summit if not for a particularly warm summer in 1991. In September of that year, two hikers crossing the Tisenjoch Pass in the Ötztal Alps stumbled upon a body curled in a gully beneath Similaun Mountain. They believed it was the remains of a lost mountaineer. But what they actually found was a wide-open window into the Copper Age.
The discovery sparked global intrigue. Scientists descended on the site, carefully extracting “the Similaun Man” and his belongings from the ice. Today, a stone pyramid marks the exact spot where he was found, standing at 10,350 feet (3,210 m) as a solemn reminder of his story.
Ötzi’s body now resides in the South Tyrolean Museum of Archaeology in Bolzano, preserved in a temperature-controlled chamber that mimics the glacier’s conditions. We consider it a must-visit when in South Tyrol. Here, you can come face-to-face with a man who walked the mountains thousands of years ago and explore his world through exhibits featuring his clothing, weapons, and even his last meal, which was some kind of Neolithic charcuterie plate — Ibex meat, grains, and wild herbs.
⇒ YOU MIGHT ALSO LIKE: Discover the 10 Best Hikes in the Dolomites
Ascending the Glacier
The journey to Iceman Ötzi Peak begins in the tiny village of Maso Corto (Kurzras), tucked away in the Val Senales (Schnalstal), a serene side valley in South Tyrol’s Val Venosta (Vinschgau) region, northwest of Merano. From this alpine hideaway, you can board one of the most magnificent cable cars in the Alps.
In just six exhilarating minutes, the Schnalstal Glacier Cable Car sweeps you from the valley floor to the sprawling tundra of the Hochjochferner Glacier — also known as the Val Senales Glacier. This awe-inspiring natural wonder, with its 185 hectares of glistening ice and ancient rock, straddles the border of Italy and Austria. Its frozen reaches seem to defy time, bridging the distant past and the living present.
At the top, sits the Grawand mountain station, which is connected to the Glacier Hotel Grawand. Perched at 10,538 feet (3,212 m) on the ridge of the glacier, it is the highest hotel in Europe and is home to the Alpin Arena Senales glacier skiing area.
At this height, the first thing that strikes you — beyond the staggering views — is the air itself. It’s noticeably thin, a sharp reminder that you’re standing over 10,000 feet (3,000 m) above sea level. Move too quickly, and light-headedness might creep in, urging you to slow down and let your body adjust to the rapid elevation change.
If you feel the need to acclimate, the Grawand restaurant or bar provides the perfect setting to pause, relax, and take in the eye-popping scenery before setting out for Iceman Ötzi Peak. We enjoyed a hearty South Tyrolean dish here before continuing our adventure.
⇒ YOU MIGHT ALSO LIKE: How to Visit Val di Funes in the Dolomites
Visiting Iceman Ötzi Peak
From the Grawand mountain station, numerous trails spiderweb through the Ötztal Alps, but one path calls louder than the rest: the trail to the Iceman Ötzi Peak. The circular observation platform, crowned by a towering summit cross, commands your immediate attention. Seemingly hovering above the Hochjochferner Glacier, it beckons at an elevation of 10,666 feet (3,251 m) on a bouldered summit known as Grawandspitze — or Croda delle Cornacchie, if you prefer its Italian name.
A short hike brings you to a set of steel stairs that lead to the Iceman Ötzi Peak. As you ascend, 126 peaks scraping nearly 10,000 feet rise around you, a thunderous congregation of stone and ice that evokes pure awe. You can also spot the occasional alpine lake adding a vivid burst of blue against the stark terrain.
Along the way, viewpoints invite you to pause and soak in the snow-capped drama stretching in every direction. If you can tear your gaze away from the vistas, informational panels in English, German, and Italian dot the route, offering a chance to dive deeper into Ötzi’s discovery and the life he once lived.
At the summit, the observation platform feels like a bridge to the heavens. Before you unfolds a panorama so vast and awe-inspiring it feels as though every peak in the world is within your field of vision. We could not believe the sheer scale of sights.
From this vantage point, you can easily admire the Ortler, South Tyrol’s highest peak. To the west, the Planeil Peaks soar above Lago di Resia and its iconic sunken bell tower, while to the north, the Austrian Alps tempt your wanderlust. Even the saw-toothed silhouette of the Dolomites graces the horizon, completing a scene that captures the soul of the Alps.
Yet, beyond this sprawling alpine grandeur, the platform connects you to a deeper, timeless story. Cantilevered out into the stony wilderness is a geometric funnel. It focuses your eyes on one singular, haunting point: the place where Ötzi was found on Similaun Mountain.
A glass railing at the end of the viewing funnel seems to vanish against the mountain, leaving you suspended between sky and earth. It’s here that you feel the full weight of the place — the vast sweep of history, the immensity of the Alps, and the fleeting nature of a single life.
On a clear day, the view stretches so far you can glimpse the shimmering blue of the Adriatic Sea. A sight Ötzi himself may have paused to ponder.
Alas, we did not have such luck. Bouts of snowfall, appropriately, accompanied much of our visit, shrouding the distant horizon in a veil of grey. Yet, through the swirling flakes, it was not hard to imagine the ghostly outline of Ötzi’s final steps — his frantic scramble over ice and scree.
⇒ YOU MIGHT ALSO LIKE: How to Hike the Tre Cime di Lavaredo Loop
When to Visit Iceman Ötzi Peak
The best time to visit Iceman Ötzi Peak largely depends on the kind of experience you seek. Summer months, from June through September, are ideal for those wanting a better shot at ice-free trails and a vibrant alpine landscape beautified by wildflowers. The panoramic views tend to also be the most crystal-clear during this timeframe.
Winter, from December through March, transforms the enitre area into a pristine wonderland of snow and ice. This is the season for skiing enthusiasts who wish to combine their trip with the slopes of the Alpin Arena Senales glacier skiing area mentioned earlier. However, keep in mind that hiking trails may be limited, and harsher weather conditions demand proper preparation and packing.
For those looking to avoid crowds, consider visiting in late spring or early fall. April, May, September and October offer quieter trails with a mix of lingering snow and emerging greenery or the first hints of autumn. But be aware that during these months, the weather can be more unpredictable, so you will need to pack accordingly. We first visited in October and dealt with rain, snow, and sun all within a matter of hours.
Good to Know: If visiting in September, don’t miss the chance to also witness Almabtrieb, an ancient tradition now recognized as part of UNESCO’s Intangible Cultural Heritage. In Maso Corto and the nearby village of Vernago (Vernagt), shepherds lead thousands of sheep and goats back to the valley, creating a spectacular cultural event that echoes 600 years of history.
⇒ YOU MIGHT ALSO LIKE: The Ultimate Guide to Hiking Seceda
From Maso Corto to Iceman Ötzi Peak
Whether you’re driving in Italy or using public transport, Maso Corto is surprisingly easy to reach despite its remote location. The journey is a feast for the eyes, with jaw-dropping scenery that includes age-old mountain farms and the beaming Lago di Vernago, a hidden gem that rivals the beauty of Lago di Braies and Lago di Carezza.
Maso Corto lies just 27 miles (43 km) from Merano and approximately 42 miles (68 km) from Bolzano, making it an ideal day trip or starting point for an adventure in Val Venosta. Ample parking is available at the Schnalstal Glacier Cable Car station.
A word of caution for drivers: goats have the right of way here. We were lucky enough to encounter a herd casually shuffling down the road, seemingly on their own mission to find fresh grazing ground — a charming reminder that life moves at its own pace in these mountains.
