Kellerjochhütte

The Kellerjochhütte is a mountain hut owned and operated by the Sektion Schwaz of the Österreichischer Alpenverein (ÖAV), located at 2,237 metres above sea level in the Tux Alps of Tyrol, Austria. It sits directly on the ridge below the summit of the Kellerjoch, at the point where the ridge branches south towards the Kuhmesser, and three municipal boundaries — Schwaz, Pill and Fügenberg — meet at the hut. The current building was erected in 1908 by the then Sektion Schwaz of the Deutscher und Österreichischer Alpenverein (DuOeAV), replacing the Alte Kellerjochhütte, which had opened in 1897 at 1,846 m on the Proxenalm below and was one of the earliest mountaineer huts in the region. The hut is a classic Alpine Club refuge: it offers simple overnight accommodation with 26 beds in room dormitories, sanitary facilities, a guest room, kitchen and storage areas, plus an emergency room accessible outside the managed season. A large outdoor terrace provides views over the surrounding mountains. Because of its exposed, waterless position on the ridge, the hut has been supplied with water by a hydraulic ram since its early days — a system still in use today, which requires careful water conservation. Electricity comes from a photovoltaic system with battery storage and a diesel generator. Since 1995 wastewater has been discharged into the public sewer network. Food and goods are transported up by a material cable car from the end of a forest road above the Proxenalm, near the site of the old hut. The hut underwent extensive renovation and partial renewal in 2016, yet it remains a very original Alpine Club hut in an extraordinary location. It is a popular destination for day visitors and overnight guests in summer, and in winter it is frequently the goal of ski tourers, who climb roughly 1,000 metres of elevation from the Pirchnerast car park. The hut is also part of the DAV initiative 'So schmecken die Berge' (This is how the mountains taste). Access routes include about one hour from the top station of the Kellerjochbahn below the Arbeserkogel, about two hours from the top station of the Spieljochbahn near Hochfügen, about one and a half hours from the Loassattel south of the Kellerjoch, and about four hours directly from Schwaz. From the hut, the Kreuzjoch with its summit chapel can be reached in about 20 minutes via a partly cable-secured path; the ridge crossing to the Kuhmesser takes about an hour, and the transition to the Rastkogelhütte takes four and a half to six hours. The hut is run by Christine and her team, and overnight places can be booked via an online reservation system. The 2026 season is scheduled to run from 6 June to approximately 18 October, with the last overnight stay possible on 11 October 2026.

The history of the Kellerjochhütte begins in the late 19th century, when alpinism was gaining popularity and the German and Austrian Alpine Club (DuOeAV) began building shelters in the Eastern Alps. In 1897, the Sektion Schwaz opened the 'Alte Kellerjochhütte' at 1,846 m on the Proxenalm below the Kellerjoch ridge. It was one of the first mountaineer huts in the region, built of stone masonry, and consisted of a single room with a stove and a sleeping area. As visitor numbers grew, the old hut became inadequate, and in 1908 the Sektion Schwaz of the DuOeAV built a new, larger hut higher up at 2,237 m, directly on the ridge below the summit of the Kellerjoch in the Tux Alps. This new hut — the present Kellerjochhütte — was equipped from the start with a hydraulic ram to pump water from springs below the hut, since the ridge location has no natural water source. That system remains in use today, making water conservation a constant concern. Over the decades the hut changed hands with the political upheavals of the 20th century: after World War I and the dissolution of the DuOeAV, the hut passed to the Sektion Schwaz of the Österreichischer Alpenverein (ÖAV), which continues to own and operate it. In 1995 the hut was connected to the public sewer network for wastewater disposal, replacing older methods. In 2016, the hut underwent extensive renovation and partial renewal to bring it up to modern standards while preserving its original character. It has also been part of the DAV initiative 'So schmecken die Berge', which promotes regional food in Alpine huts. Today the Kellerjochhütte remains a very original Alpine Club hut, welcoming day visitors and overnight guests in summer and serving as a base for ski tourers in winter. It is run by Christine and her team, with online booking available for overnight stays.

• 2016

  Extensive renovation and partial renewal of the hut.

• 1995

  The hut is connected to the public sewer network for wastewater disposal.

• 1908

  The Sektion Schwaz of the DuOeAV builds the new Kellerjochhütte at 2,237 m on the ridge below the Kellerjoch summit.

• 1897

  The 'Alte Kellerjochhütte' opens at 1,846 m on the Proxenalm, one of the first mountaineer huts in the region.

A traditional, remote Alpine Club hut offering simple accommodation and food in a spectacular high-mountain setting, popular with hikers and ski tourers.

• Overnight accommodation

  26 beds in room dormitories, with sanitary facilities and an emergency room accessible outside the managed season.

• Food and beverage service

  Guest room and large outdoor terrace serving hikers and ski tourers.

• Material cable car

  Transports food and goods from the end of a forest road above the Proxenalm.

1. 1Servus auf der Kellerjochhütte - Kellerjochhütte 2.237mkellerjoch.at
2. 2Kellerjochhütte - Wikidatawikidata.org
3. 3Kellerjochhütte - Wikipedia (German)de.wikipedia.org