Kühtai Saddle

Kühtai Saddle stands at 2,017 metres in the Austrian Alps, linking the Ötz river valley with Gries im Sellrain. The pass connects two valleys, one 16 kilometres long from Oetz and the other 17 kilometres from Gries im Sellrain, both with steep grades of up to 16 percent. Trucks are banned from the Oetz side, keeping the route clear for visitors. The name Kühtai comes from the Chutay alp farm first recorded in 1288. A road was built to Kühtai in 1628, turning the alp into a hunting lodge. By the 1830s holidaymakers began arriving, and in the late 19th century the lodge became a hotel. The village of Kühtai is small but lively in winter, with only 29 permanent residents year-round. Seasonal workers and tourists swell the numbers when snow arrives. The area was developed into a winter sports resort after the Second World War. Nearby pumped storage facilities in the Längental, Kühtai and Finstertal valleys provide hydroelectric power. The high setting gives views across alpine meadows and rugged peaks. Visitors find a compact resort with ski runs, lifts and a hotel that once served as a hunting castle. The surrounding slopes offer walking paths in summer and groomed pistes in winter. The pass itself is a quiet spot away from main roads, with clear air and wide views. Alpine farms still dot the lower slopes, linking the modern resort to its farming past. The contrast between the busy winter season and the quiet summer months shapes life here.