Olpererhütte

The Olpererhütte is a mountain hut of the Deutscher Alpenverein (German Alpine Club), Sektion Neumarkt/Oberpfalz, located at 2,388 metres above sea level in the Zillertal Alps in the Austrian state of Tyrol. It sits on the Tuxer Kamm, west above the Schlegeisspeicher reservoir, and is reachable only on foot; the ascent from the reservoir takes about 90 minutes. The hut serves as a station on three long-distance alpine trails: the Zentralalpenweg 02, the Berliner Höhenweg and the Tiroler Höhenweg. It is a base for mountaineers and hikers, offering overnight accommodation, local cuisine and a starting point for summits such as the Olperer (3,476 m), Fußstein (3,380 m), Schrammacher (3,411 m) and Gefrorene-Wand-Spitzen (3,288 m). The original hut was built in 1881 by the Sektion Prag of the Deutsch und Österreichischer Alpenverein, making it one of the early shelter huts of the Eastern Alps. After changing hands to the Sektion Berlin in 1900, it was expanded in 1933 and renovated in 1976. In the late 1990s the Berlin section decided to sell due to financial and environmental regulatory pressures, and in 2004 the hut was sold to the Sektion Neumarkt/Oberpfalz. Because the building fabric was critically deteriorated, the old hut was demolished in 2006 and replaced by a new building designed by architect Hermann Kaufmann, which opened in late June 2008. The hut is currently operated by the Neumarkt/Oberpfalz section and remains a popular destination in the Zillertal Alps. In summer 2026, renovation work is planned to expand and improve staff accommodation, which may cause temporary disruptions such as construction noise and helicopter flights.

The Olpererhütte was built in 1881 by the Sektion Prag of the Deutsch und Österreichischer Alpenverein (DuOeAV), making it one of the early shelter huts of the Eastern Alps. Its purpose was to provide climbers with a more convenient approach to the Olperer and to facilitate tours to the Fußstein, the Gefrorene Wandspitzen and the Schrammacher. The original structure was a single-room hut with eight mattress berths and eight hay berths in the attic; on the ground floor there was a cooking stove whose flue gases were led outside through a stovepipe in the gable wall. Climbers had to bring their own fuel and food. On 1 April 1900, the hut was sold together with the Rifflerhütte (destroyed by an avalanche in 1945) for 11,000 Mark to the Sektion Berlin of the DuOeAV. In 1901, 67 people visited the hut, including 64 men and 3 women; that summer saw 36 ascents of the Olperer and one ascent of the Gefrorene Wandspitze. In 1902, a toilet was installed in a small vestibule at the entrance door. It soon became apparent that the hut's capacity was no longer sufficient due to increasing visitor numbers. However, it was not until 1933 that a fundamental expansion took place with a mountain-side annex containing a separate kitchen and additional overnight places on the upper floor. Since then the hut has been operated commercially. A further renovation in 1976 brought more modern sanitary facilities and an additional dining room, but conditions remained cramped, especially for the tenants of the now-operated hut. On the evening of 31 July 1998, the fully occupied hut narrowly escaped a catastrophe when, due to prolonged severe weather at high temperatures, an ice and debris avalanche broke loose at the glacier gate of the Großen Riepenkees at 2,800 metres above the hut; it only grazed one corner of the building. The long-time tenant Olga Platzer from Ginzling (died 2014), known as the "Olpererhexe", gained a certain supra-regional fame for her originality in dealing with guests in the often overcrowded hut. In the late 1990s, the members' meeting of the Sektion Berlin of the DAV decided to sell the hut for financial reasons, because upcoming investments due to official environmental requirements, especially in energy supply and wastewater treatment, could no longer be met. In 2004, the Olpererhütte was sold to the Sektion Neumarkt/Oberpfalz with the aim of a fundamental renovation. However, it soon became clear that a complete new building would be more economical due to the critical building fabric from various epochs. Thus it was decided to completely demolish the old Olpererhütte and replace it with a new building. The demolition was completed on 28 August 2006. The redesign was undertaken by the architectural office of Diplom-Ingenieur Hermann Kaufmann, which developed a simple building form: the new hut was to face the valley with its narrow gable side to allow good integration into the environment. In summer 2007 the topping-out ceremony was celebrated, and at the end of June 2008 the Sektion Neumarkt/Oberpfalz opened the completed new Olpererhütte. The hut is a station on three alpine high trails: the Zentralalpenweg 02 of the Österreichischer Alpenverein (ÖAV), the Berliner Höhenweg and the Tiroler Höhenweg. It is only reachable on foot; the walking time for the ascent from the Schlegeisspeicher is about 90 minutes. The hut offers transitions to neighbouring huts and routes to many peaks of the Zillertal main ridge. Neighbouring huts include the Neue Dominikushütte to the east, the Pfitscher-Joch-Haus to the southwest, the Geraer Hütte to the west and the Friesenberghaus to the north. In summer 2026, renovation work is planned to expand and improve staff accommodation, which may cause temporary disruptions such as construction noise and helicopter flights.

• 2026

  Renovation work planned for summer to expand and improve staff accommodation.

• 2008

  New Olpererhütte opened at the end of June by the Sektion Neumarkt/Oberpfalz.

• 2007

  Topping-out ceremony celebrated in summer.

• 2006

  Demolition of the old hut completed on 28 August.

• 2004

  Sold to the Sektion Neumarkt/Oberpfalz with the aim of a fundamental renovation.

• 1998

  On 31 July, an ice and debris avalanche from the Großen Riepenkees narrowly missed the fully occupied hut, grazing one corner.

• 1976

  Renovation bringing modern sanitary facilities and an additional dining room.

• 1933

  Fundamental expansion with a mountain-side annex containing a separate kitchen and additional overnight places.

• 1902

  A toilet was installed in a small vestibule at the entrance door.

• 1901

  67 visitors (64 men, 3 women); 36 ascents of the Olperer and one of the Gefrorene Wandspitze.

• 1900

  Sold together with the Rifflerhütte for 11,000 Mark to the Sektion Berlin of the DuOeAV.

• 1881

  Built by the Sektion Prag of the Deutsch und Österreichischer Alpenverein (DuOeAV).

A historic, high-alpine mountain hut offering simple accommodation and local food, positioned as a base for mountaineering and long-distance hiking in the Zillertal Alps.

• Overnight accommodation

  Mattress and hay berths historically; modern rooms after 2008 rebuild.

• Local cuisine

  Excellent local cuisine served at 2,388 m.

• Alpine hut services

  Base for mountaineers and hikers, with transitions to neighbouring huts and routes to peaks.

1. 1Olperer Hütte – Official Websiteolpererhuette.de
2. 2Geschichte – Olpererhütteolpererhuette.de
3. 3Olpererhütte – Wikipedia (German)de.wikipedia.org
4. 4Olpererhütte – Wikidatawikidata.org