Ulmer Hütte
A historic mountain hut and alpine guesthouse at 2,288 m in the Arlberg ski area, founded in 1903 and operated by the Ulm section of the German Alpine Club.
Last updated September 27, 2026
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Overview
The Ulmer Hütte is a mountain hut and alpine guesthouse situated at 2,288 metres above sea level in the Lechtal Alps of Vorarlberg, Austria. It stands directly on the ski slopes between St. Anton, Lech and Zürs, in the heart of the Arlberg ski region, and is owned and operated by the Ulm section of the German Alpine Club (Deutscher Alpenverein). Founded in 1903, the hut has grown over more than a century from a modest shelter into a full-service mountain inn with three dining rooms, a sun terrace, an ice bar, and 46 beds offering half-board accommodation. The hut was built by the Sektion Ulm to mark its 25th anniversary, with construction costs of 16,000 Marks raised largely through donations. It was inaugurated on 5 September 1903. In its first business year it received 98 summer guests and 62 winter guests; by the winter of 1912/13 that number had reached 1,000, and the hut's fortunes became increasingly tied to alpine skiing. Over the decades it was repeatedly enlarged and modernised: a veranda and northward extension in 1914, an east wing with central heating and electric lighting in the late 1920s, a material cable car in 1938, and major renovations in 1972, 2003 and 2016. The opening of the Valluga cable car in 1954 transformed it from a simple refuge into today's mountain guesthouse. Today the Ulmer Hütte operates seasonally, with a summer season for hikers on the Lechtaler Höhenweg and tours around the Valluga, and a winter season for skiers, typically running from early December to mid-April. It offers two- and four-bed rooms, three Stuben (traditional parlours), honest regional cuisine, and a self-service ice bar right beside the piste. Its sun terrace and location on the Arlberg plateau make it a popular stop for skiers and a base for mountaineers.
History
The Ulmer Hütte was built by the Ulm section of the German Alpine Club (Deutscher Alpenverein) to mark its 25th anniversary. The section's first chairman and board believed a hut was essential to demonstrate the section's maturity. A site was chosen at the southern foot of the Valluga, easily reachable from the railway and in terrain well suited to mountain tours. The building plan was drawn up in the winter of 1901/1902, and the exact hut site was staked out on 2 August 1902. Construction cost 16,000 Marks, raised mainly through donations. After the site was free of snow early in spring 1903, the hut was built quickly and without accident; a department store from Schruns supplied the entire interior furnishings. The hut was inaugurated on 5 September 1903. A long procession of participants walked up through the Walfagehr to the decorated hut. The German and Austrian Alpine Club was represented by its first chairman, Carl Ipsen, and by the hut and path construction committee. A festive meal for around 400 participants was followed by an ascent of the Valluga, where the first summit book was deposited. Because the hut was intended for catering from the start, its operation was leased to the post innkeeper in Stuben. As years passed, the hut became too small. Heavy winter use required not only enlargement but also better protection of the rooms against the cold. The plan was to convert the terrace annex on the south side into a glazed veranda and to extend the hut along its longitudinal axis to the north. Plans were completed in the winter of 1913/14. In June 1914 building material was brought up by pack animals. The new building was just completed on 29 October 1914 when the First World War broke out. In spring 1919 negotiations resumed for the continuation of work. Apart from snow that had penetrated and left moisture, and missing dishes and other furniture, the hut had remained undamaged. By autumn 1919 the new building was almost finished, and the last work was done in summer 1920. The ceremonial reopening of the enlarged hut took place on 29 August 1920. Visits increased year by year, and another enlargement was considered. The section's building committee agreed with the architect on an east wing with significant changes to the old part of the hut as well. The plans included enlarged guest rooms, a spacious modern kitchen, a self-catering room with kitchen, a large drying room, a ski storage area and central heating. An electric lighting system had already been installed in summer 1926. The new building and alterations to the old hut were completed by the onset of winter 1927/28. The hut then had 40 beds and 70 mattress places. The inauguration and opening of the enlarged hut took place together with the section's 25th anniversary celebration on 29 July 1928. In summer 1937 sanitary facilities for men and women were installed for users of the mattress dormitories on the ground floor, and flush toilets were added. Heavy use, especially in winter, often made it difficult to transport food and the coal needed for central heating. The Ulm section therefore decided in summer 1938 to build a material cable car. During the Second World War the hut was briefly closed in the winter of 1944/45 but was looked after again by the previous hut keeper from November 1945. Like all other huts in Austria belonging to German sections of the Alpine Club, the Ulmer Hütte was confiscated after the war as German property abroad. The confiscation was lifted on 15 October 1948. The hut's 50th anniversary was celebrated on 22 August 1953. A war memorial was erected beside the hut and inaugurated on the same day. On 30 December 1954 the Valluga cable car opened, initiating the transformation of the Ulmer Hütte from a shelter into today's mountain guesthouse. The hut could no longer cope with the increased flow of visitors. The veranda was considerably enlarged in 1956. A comprehensive renovation of the building followed in 1972. In 1987 drainage facilities were modernised and the water supply improved. In 1995 a sewer connection to a large communal treatment plant in Stuben became necessary. Another major conversion took place in 2003: the lower gable sitting on the original core was raised, giving the rooms in the attic daylight and a view of the mountain panorama. In 2016 another major conversion and renovation was undertaken. Beginning with the south extension, the renovation started in June 2016. The oil heating, shingles, windows and pipes were renewed, and the parquet floor was replaced with a new floor covering. Today the hut lies in the middle of the ski area of St. Anton and St. Christoph am Arlberg, though still within the municipality of Klösterle in Vorarlberg; the state border with Tyrol runs 400 metres south-east of the hut. Nearby places include Stuben, Lech and Zürs. In summer it is a base on the Lechtaler Höhenweg and the Northern Alps long-distance trail; in winter it is directly on the piste. The official website describes it as standing since 1903 high above St. Anton, directly on the piste between St. Anton, Lech and Zürs, with three Stuben, a sun terrace, 46 beds and the first light of the Arlberg at the door. It operates seasonally, with the winter season from 2 December 2026 to 18 April 2027 and a summer season until 13 September 2026.
- 2016
Major conversion and renovation started in June 2016, renewing heating, shingles, windows, pipes and flooring.
- 2003
Major conversion; gable raised to give attic rooms daylight and mountain views.
- 1995
Sewer connection to communal treatment plant in Stuben built.
- 1987
Drainage facilities modernised and water supply improved.
- 1972
Comprehensive renovation of the building.
- 1956
Veranda considerably enlarged.
- 1954
Valluga cable car opened on 30 December 1954, beginning the hut's transformation into a mountain guesthouse.
- 1953
50th anniversary celebrated on 22 August 1953; war memorial inaugurated.
- 1948
Post-war confiscation as German property abroad lifted on 15 October 1948.
- 1945
Hut briefly closed in winter 1944/45; looked after again from November 1945.
Products and positioning
A historic, family-friendly mountain hut and alpine guesthouse in the heart of the Arlberg ski area, offering traditional hospitality, regional cuisine and direct piste access at 2,288 m.
Two- and four-bed rooms with half-board
Three traditional Stuben dining rooms
Sun terrace and self-service ice bar
Summer base on the Lechtaler Höhenweg
Winter ski-in/ski-out access
Sources4 sources
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