Weilheimer Hütte

The Weilheimer Hütte (also known as Krottenkopf-Hütte) is a mountain hut owned and operated by the Weilheim section of the German Alpine Club (Deutscher Alpenverein, DAV). It sits at 1,955 metres above sea level in the Estergebirge range of the Bavarian Prealps, directly below the Krottenkopf summit. The hut serves as a base for numerous hiking and mountaineering tours in both summer and winter, offering food, accommodation, and shelter to visitors. The hut's history dates back to 1883, when the Weilheim-Murnau section of the German and Austrian Alpine Club built a first shelter below the summit. That original structure opened on 8 July 1883 but was destroyed the following winter. A new hut was built at a more favourable location and opened on 5 July 1884; in the same year a path over the Pustertalalm to the hut was constructed. Over the decades the hut has been modernised: in 1970 a material cable car was installed for supplies; from 1990 the kitchen wing was renewed, a biological sewage treatment plant was built, the generator was converted to biodiesel, and solar panels with batteries and a wind turbine were installed for power. A new winter room next to the hut was completed in 2002, and in 2003 a solar thermal system for hot water was added. The hut is accessible via several marked trails, including from the Wank cable car summit station (1,780 m) via the Esterbergalm in about 3 hours, from Garmisch-Partenkirchen (700 m) also via the Esterbergalm in about 4 hours, from Oberau in about 3 hours, from Farchant over the Hoher Fricken in about 4 hours, from Krün (about 5 hours) or Klais, and from Wallgau over the Neulänger Alm and Kühalpe in about 5 hours. It is a central base for traverses of the Estergebirge, such as to the Wankhaus (1,780 m, about 3 hours). Nearby summits include the Krottenkopf (2,086 m, about 30 minutes), Oberer Rißkopf (2,049 m, about 15 minutes), Bischof (2,033 m, about 2.5 hours), and Hoher Fricken (1,940 m, about 1.5 hours). The Weilheimer Hütte is a classic example of an Alpine Club hut, providing essential services to hikers and climbers while promoting safe access to the mountains. It remains an active and well-maintained facility, reflecting the ongoing commitment of the DAV Weilheim section to alpine infrastructure.

The Weilheimer Hütte was first built in 1883 by the Weilheim-Murnau section of the German and Austrian Alpine Club (Deutscher und Österreichischer Alpenverein). This original hut, located below the Krottenkopf summit, opened on 8 July 1883 but was destroyed in the following winter. A new hut was erected at a more favourable site and opened on 5 July 1884. In the same year, a path over the Pustertalalm to the hut was constructed. In 1970, a material cable car was installed to supply the hut. From 1990 onwards, significant modernisations took place: the kitchen wing was renewed, a biological sewage treatment plant was built, the generator was converted to run on biodiesel, and solar panels with batteries and a wind turbine were installed for electricity generation. A new winter room adjacent to the hut was completed in 2002, and in 2003 a solar thermal system for hot water was added. The hut is maintained by the Weilheim section of the German Alpine Club (Deutscher Alpenverein, DAV) and continues to serve as a key base for hikers and climbers in the Estergebirge region.

• 2003

  Solar thermal system for hot water installed.

• 2002

  New winter room completed.

• 1990

  Modernisation begins: kitchen wing renewed, biological sewage plant, biodiesel generator, solar and wind power.

• 1970

  Material cable car installed for supplies.

• 1884

  New hut opened on 5 July; path over Pustertalalm built.

• 1883

  First hut built by Weilheim-Murnau section, opened on 8 July; destroyed the following winter.

A traditional Alpine Club hut providing essential shelter and services in the Bavarian Prealps.

• Mountain hut accommodation

• Food and beverage service

• Winter room

1. 1Weilheimer Hütte - Wikipedia (German)de.wikipedia.org
2. 2Weilheimer Hütte - Wikidatawikidata.org
3. 3Weilheimer Hütte - DAV Weilheimdav-weilheim.de