Müllerhütte

The Müllerhütte (Italian: Rifugio Cima Libera) is a historic mountain shelter (Schutzhütte) located in the South Tyrolean part of the Stubai Alps, near the Austrian border. It sits at an elevation of 3,145 metres above sea level, close to the Pfaffennieder saddle (3,136 m), the lowest pass between the Wildem Pfaff and Wildem Freiger peaks. The hut lies above the Übeltalferner glacier and is one of only five huts in the Eastern Alps that can be reached exclusively via glacier routes. All supplies must be transported on foot or by helicopter. Founded in 1891 by Carl Müller from Teplitz, the original structure was a pioneering design: a wooden frame clad in boards and covered with impregnated cloth, with no attic and innovative foldable bunk beds that doubled as benches. The hut was expanded as early as 1892 due to heavy visitation. In 1894, the Teplitz section of the German and Austrian Alpine Club (DuÖAV) took over the Müllerhütte. In July 1909, the section opened the Erzherzog-Karl-Franz-Josef-Schutzhaus at the current hut location, which was already catered and accommodated 50 people, while the old hut continued in use. In 1917 it was renamed Kaiser-Karl-Schutzhaus. In 1923 the hut was expropriated and transferred to the Bozen section of the Club Alpino Italiano (CAI); the old hut fell into disrepair. Along with 24 other state-expropriated shelters, the Müllerhütte passed into the ownership of the Autonomous Province of Bozen – South Tyrol in 1999. The CAI's concession to manage it expired at the end of 2010. Since 2015, the province has been assisted in administering the hut (leasing to tenants, monitoring operations, renovation measures) by a parity commission that includes the AVS and CAI alongside public authorities. Today the Müllerhütte remains an active alpine refuge, open seasonally (the official website lists opening dates of 17 June to 13 September 2026). It serves as a base for summit tours to peaks such as the Zuckerhütl (3,507 m), Wilder Freiger (3,418 m), Sonklarspitze (3,444 m), Wilder Pfaff (3,458 m), and Botzer (3,251 m), as well as transitions to neighbouring huts including the Becherhaus, Teplitzer Hütte, Sulzenauhütte, Grohmannhütte, Nürnberger Hütte, Hildesheimer Hütte, Siegerlandhütte, Schneeberghütte, and Magdeburger Hütte. From 2016, the hut hosted the annual "Ice Parade" ice-climbing competition in August, in which participants ascended a newly built via ferrata through the large glacier crevasse behind the hut.

The Müllerhütte was founded in 1891 by Carl Müller from Teplitz, who financed the entire construction himself. The original building was completely novel in concept: a framework of wooden beams clad with boards and covered with impregnated cloth, with no attic. The interior was also innovative, featuring special foldable bunk beds that also served as benches. As early as 1892, the hut had to be expanded due to strong visitation. In 1892 there was still considerable uncertainty about the exact altitude of the Müllerhütte. In 1894, the Teplitz section of the German and Austrian Alpine Club (DuÖAV) took over the Müllerhütte. In July 1909, the section opened the Erzherzog-Karl-Franz-Josef-Schutzhaus at the current hut location. This hut was already catered and offered space for 50 people, while the old hut continued to be used. In 1917 it was renamed Kaiser-Karl-Schutzhaus. In 1923 the hut was expropriated and handed over to the Bozen section of the Club Alpino Italiano (CAI). The old hut fell into disrepair. Together with 24 other state-expropriated shelters, the Müllerhütte passed into the ownership of the Autonomous Province of Bozen – South Tyrol in 1999; the CAI's concession to manage it expired at the end of 2010. Since 2015, the province of South Tyrol has been assisted in the administration of the hut (leasing to tenants, monitoring of management, renovation measures) by a parity commission in which, alongside public authorities, the AVS and the CAI are represented. Until 2016, the so-called "Ice Parade" ice-climbing competition was held in August, in which the large glacier crevasse behind the Müllerhütte had to be traversed via a newly constructed via ferrata each time.

• 2016

  The annual "Ice Parade" ice-climbing competition is held for the last time (until 2016).

• 2015

  A parity commission including the AVS and CAI begins assisting the province in hut administration.

• 2010

  The CAI's concession to manage the hut expires at the end of the year.

• 1999

  Along with 24 other state-expropriated shelters, the Müllerhütte becomes property of the Autonomous Province of Bozen – South Tyrol.

• 1923

  The hut is expropriated and transferred to the Bozen section of the Club Alpino Italiano (CAI); the old hut falls into disrepair.

• 1917

  The hut is renamed Kaiser-Karl-Schutzhaus.

• 1909

  In July, the Erzherzog-Karl-Franz-Josef-Schutzhaus opens at the current hut location, catering to 50 people.

• 1894

  The Teplitz section of the German and Austrian Alpine Club (DuÖAV) takes over the Müllerhütte.

• 1892

  The hut is expanded due to strong visitation.

• 1891

  Carl Müller from Teplitz builds the first Müllerhütte above the current site, entirely self-financed.

A historic, glacier-access-only high-alpine refuge in the Stubai Alps, owned by the Autonomous Province of Bozen – South Tyrol and operated under a public concession.

• Müllerhütte mountain shelter

  A high-alpine hut at 3,145 m, one of five Eastern Alps huts reachable only via glacier.

• Summit tours

  Guided or independent routes to Zuckerhütl, Wilder Freiger, Sonklarspitze, Wilder Pfaff, and Botzer.

• Hut transitions

  Connections to Becherhaus, Teplitzer Hütte, Sulzenauhütte, Grohmannhütte, Nürnberger Hütte, Hildesheimer Hütte, Siegerlandhütte, Schneeberghütte, and Magdeburger Hütte.

1. 1Home | muellerhuettemuellerhuette.eu
2. 2Müllerhütte – Wikipediade.wikipedia.org
3. 3Müllerhütte – Wikidatawikidata.org