Verpeilhütte

The Verpeilhütte is a small mountain hut owned and operated by the Sektion Frankfurt am Main of the Deutscher Alpenverein (DAV), the German Alpine Club. It sits at 2,016 metres above sea level in the Verpeiltal, a high valley branching east from the Kaunertal in the Austrian federal state of Tyrol, west of the Kaunergrat ridge in the Ötztal Alps. The hut is classified as Category I by the DAV, the club's highest hut category, and is known for its scenic setting among Swiss stone pines and jagged rock peaks; the spot is affectionately called "Schönbödele" and is accompanied by a small mountain stream. The Verpeilhütte was built starting in 1903 and opened on 16 July 1906. It was expanded in 1959, 1965 and 1976, and underwent a full general renovation in 2017/18. As a DAV hut, it primarily serves mountaineers and hikers, offering accommodation and simple meals. It is a base for numerous tours in the surrounding Ötztal Alps, including the Verpeilspitze (3,425 m), Watzespitze (3,533 m), Rofelewand (3,354 m), Schwabenkopf (3,379 m), Gsallkopf (3,278 m) and the Madatschtürme. Hiking destinations include the Mooskopf (2,532 m) and Madatschkopf (2,783 m), and the Schweikertferner glacier. The hut is also a waypoint on connecting routes over the Verpeiljoch (also Neururer Joch) into the Pitztal and over the Madatschjoch to the Kaunergrathütte. Access is typically from the village centre of Feichten via a farm track or trail (about 2 hours), from the hamlet of Unterhäuser near the Jägerhof bus stop via trail (about 2 hours), or from the Verpeilalm at 1,835 m, reachable by forest road from Feichten, in about 30 minutes. The hut is marked on the Alpenvereinskarte 1:25,000, sheet 30/3, Ötztaler Alpen – Kaunergrat. According to the official website, the Verpeilhütte will close on 18 September 2026, with the last overnight stay available on 16 September 2026. Reservations during the season are accepted by telephone or WhatsApp. The hut's operations are tied to the DAV Frankfurt am Main section, and its website provides impressions and contact details.

The Verpeilhütte was built starting in 1903 and officially opened on 16 July 1906. It is a Schutzhütte (mountain hut) of Category I belonging to the Sektion Frankfurt am Main of the Deutscher Alpenverein (DAV). The hut is located in the Austrian federal state of Tyrol, in the Verpeiltal, a high valley branching east from the Kaunertal, west of the Kaunergrat ridge in the Ötztal Alps, at 2,016 m above sea level. The name "Verpeil" derives from Rhaeto-Romance and means "barred/locked." The hut lies northwest of the Verpeilspitze. The hut was expanded in 1959, 1965 and 1976, and underwent a full general renovation in 2017/18. Over its history it has served as a base for mountaineering and hiking in the surrounding Ötztal Alps. The official website notes that the hut will close on 18 September 2026, with the last overnight stay on 16 September 2026, indicating a forthcoming change in operations. Access to the hut is from the village centre of Feichten via farm track or trail (2 hours), from the hamlet of Unterhäuser (bus stop Gh. Jägerhof) via trail (2 hours), or from the Verpeilalm at 1,835 m, reachable by forest road from Feichten, in 30 minutes. Tour options from the hut include the Schweikert (2,881 m, 2.5 hours), Hochrinnegg (3,027 m and 3,067 m, 3.5 hours), Gsallkopf (3,278 m, 4 hours), Rofelewand (3,354 m, 4 hours), Totenkarköpfl (3,193 m, 4 hours), Sonnenkögel (3,163 m eastern, 3,130 m middle, 3,008 m western, 4 hours), Verpeilspitze (3,425 m), Schwabenkopf (3,379 m, 4 hours), Madatschtürme (2,829 m eastern, 2,837 m middle, 2,777 m western, traverse 4.5 hours), and Watzespitze (3,533 m main summit, 3,503 m south summit). Hikes include Mooskopf (2,532 m, 1.5 hours), Madatschkopf (2,783 m, 2 hours), and Schweikertferner. Connecting routes lead over the Verpeiljoch (also Neururer Joch) into the Pitztal and over the Madatschjoch to the Kaunergrathütte. The hut is shown on the Alpenvereinskarte 1:25,000, sheet 30/3, Ötztaler Alpen – Kaunergrat.

• 2026

  Hut scheduled to close on 18 September 2026; last overnight stay 16 September 2026.

• 2018

  General renovation completed.

• 2017

  General renovation begins (2017/18).

• 1976

  Third expansion of the hut.

• 1965

  Second expansion of the hut.

• 1959

  First expansion of the hut.

• 1906

  Verpeilhütte opens on 16 July 1906.

• 1903

  Construction of the Verpeilhütte begins.

A small, scenic Category I DAV mountain hut in the Ötztal Alps, serving hikers and mountaineers as a base for high-alpine tours.

• Overnight accommodation

  Mountain hut lodging at 2,016 m, with reservations by phone or WhatsApp during the season.

• Simple meals and drinks

  Hut catering for hikers and mountaineers.

• Mountaineering base

  Base for tours to Verpeilspitze, Watzespitze, Rofelewand, Schwabenkopf and other peaks.

1. 1Verpeilhütte official websiteverpeilhuette.at
2. 2Verpeilhütte – Wikipedia (German)de.wikipedia.org
3. 3Verpeilhütte – Wikidatawikidata.org