Stubaier Höhenweg: Austria's most beautiful hut-to-hut tour

The Stubai High Trail starts in Neustift in Stubaital, Tyrol, and passes through almost all the famous Stubai mountain huts. The Stubai High Trail is known for its diversity. From lovely, almost flat alpine meadows, the 7-day tour also leads past sharp peaks with steep paths. With a total of 8670 meters of altitude, it is a challenging hike. A [hut tour with the kids](https://bookatrekking.com/en/blog/hut-to-hut-hiking-kids/)? Fortunately, you can also tackle only some sections of the hike. This makes it suitable for families. However, according to Michael Gstrein from the Stubai Tirol Tourism Association, it should not be underestimated: "Children should already have some experience in the mountains, such as surefootedness and good condition - sometimes the stages are several kilometers long with some meters of altitude and can also take several hours - and, of course, bring good equipment. Especially shoes are important, even for the little ones." Further down in this blog post, you'll find some more insights and tips from Michael.

The hike is not technically difficult, but one should not have a fear of heights. There are steep paths accompanied by steel ropes. In terms of scenery, you encounter glaciers and steep peaks along the way. The trail is often only open from mid-June onwards, as there may still be snow on the path before that. The huts are almost always full, so it is a must to reserve in advance, especially if you are not traveling alone.

The huts along the Stubaier Höhenweg are owned by subsections of the Alpine Club and are maintained by them. For example, the Bremer Hütte is the section hut of the Alpine Club in Bremen, Germany, just like the Innsbrucker Hütte is for the Innsbruck section. If you want to hike the Stubaier Höhenweg, you need to make reservations at the various huts you plan to reach. You book accommodation and can also reserve meals.

Half-board, where a meal awaits you in the evening and you have breakfast in the morning, is the most popular option. It can be challenging to book all the huts yourself, but if you keep reading, we can simplify this process. Also, become a member of the Alpine Club. This will significantly reduce the cost of your Stubaier Höhenweg. Here you can see all offers, including half-board.

There are various ways to tackle the Stubaier Höhenweg. You can complete the entire Stubaier Höhenweg, which results in approximately 8000 meters of elevation gain over 8 days, or you can choose to do, for example, only two, three, or four of the stages. This depends on your experience and fitness level. Here's an overview of all stages of the Stubaier Höhenweg, starting both from the Starkenburger Hütte and the Innsbrucker Hütte in reverse direction, as you can traverse the entire route in both directions.

Stubaier Höhenweg Stages - Starting Point Starkenburger Hütte

- Ascent to Starkenburger Hütte from Neustift.

Stage 1) Starkenburger Hütte – Franz-Senn-Hütte

Stage 2) Franz-Senn-Hütte – Neue Regensburger Hütte

Stage 3) Neue Regensburger Hütte – Dresdner Hütte

Stage 4) Dresdner Hütte – Sulzenau Hütte

Stage 5) Sulzenau Hütte – Nürnberger Hütte

Stage 6) Nürnberger Hütte – Bremer Hütte

Stage 7) Bremer Hütte – Innsbrucker Hütte

- Descent to Neustift

Stubaier Höhenweg Stages - Starting Point Innsbrucker Hütte

- Ascent to Innsbrucker Hütte from Neustift.

Stage 1) Innsbrucker Hütte - Bremer Hütte

Stage 2) Bremer Hütte - Nürnberger Hütte

Stage 3) Nürnberger Hütte - Sulzenau Hütte

Stage 4) Sulzenau Hütte – Dresdner Hütte

Stage 5) Dresdner Hütte - Neue Regensburger Hütte

Stage 6) Neue Regensburger Hütte - Franz-Senn-Hütte

Stage 7) Franz-Senn-Hütte - Starkenburger Hütte

- Descent to Neustift

The season for the Stubaier Höhenweg is short but rewarding. If you miss the main season, be aware that there are also plenty of winter sports opportunities in the pre-season and winter season. The huts usually open in June, and it becomes possible to complete the entire trail from early July. In June, you might still encounter some snow on certain stages. The optimal months for the Stubaier Höhenweg are July, August, and September.

The mountain weather can be unpredictable, and at times, it might be too hazardous to continue the trail. This could necessitate an extra night at the hut where you are staying, prioritizing your safety. A phone call to the next hut ensures you can resume your journey in clear weather.

If you cover only half of the Stubaier Höhenweg, you can experience the Stubaital without too much sweat. Eight days of hiking, with such elevation, would be quite challenging even for a family. However, if you visit only a few huts, you can create a program suitable for both young and old. If you aim to complete the Stubaier Höhenweg in four days or less, keep in mind that each hut is accessible from the valley.

From Neustift, the starting point for all adventures in the Stubaital, you can easily take a bus down to the valley and hop off at the starting point of your respective hut. For example, if you want to start at the Dresdner Hütte and cover half of the Stubaier Höhenweg, you can take the Gamsgartenbahn, which takes you up to 1750 meters in altitude. From here, it's a short hike to the Dresdner Hütte. Note: Only the Bremer Hütte is not accessible from the valley.

The Stubaier Höhenweg is one of the most beautiful high-altitude hiking trails in the Alps, but it also places corresponding demands on mountaineers. The route exclusively traverses alpine terrain and is partially secured with steel cables. These, although short climbing sections, are akin to simple via ferratas and should only be tackled by sure-footed mountaineers with several years of mountain hiking experience and equipment suitable for the demands of the route.

Especially in bad weather, the difficulty of the high-altitude trail increases significantly. Glaciers need neither be entered nor crossed throughout the route, but particularly at the beginning of the season, steep old snow fields can be expected. Crampons and an ice axe can be very helpful on these old snow fields. Meanwhile, most of the exposed sections are equipped with steel cables. A three- or four-day Stubaier Höhenweg can be managed by families, but if you want to complete the entire circuit, it's best to be fully prepared. Only attempt this if you have previously undertaken a shorter hut tour.

Earlier in this blog post, Michael Gstrein from the Stubai Tirol Tourism Association already shared some tips for hiking the Stubaier Höhenweg with children. Of course, Michael has much more to say, so we gave him the microphone.

Michael, what is your favorite hut on the Stubaier Höhenweg?

"The huts on the Stubaier Höhenweg are all so beautifully situated and unique that it's really hard for me to choose one as a 'favorite hut.' They are all special, and each hut has its own charm and appeal."

Your favorite food during multi-day hiking?

"Typical for the huts on the Stubaier Höhenweg, as well as in the Stubai region in general, is that they offer hearty, savory, and sweet dishes that provide energy for the next hike. Highly recommended are the various dumpling variations, such as bacon, cheese, or spinach dumplings, which are served with either soup or salad. And, of course, what should never be missing from any meal is a warm, sweet-smelling Kaiserschmarrn with applesauce or plum compote."

And do you get a beer at every hut on the trail?

"On every hut on the Stubaier Höhenweg, there is, of course, a cold beer to drink."

How many times have you been on the Stubaier Höhenweg?

"Every summer, my wife and I hike one stage of the Stubaier Höhenweg. In the summer of 2020, we tackled our last stage and went through the entire trail for the first time."

Do you prefer the Stubai Valley in winter or summer?

"The Stubai Valley has something to offer all year round. It's an active pleasure destination that has something for every type and age. With its four ski and hiking areas (Stubaier Glacier, Schlick 2000, Serlesbahnen Mieders, Elferbahnen Neustift) and the many attractions in the valley, it's easy to engage in nature and the mountains every day."

Which of the Seven Summits have you already climbed?

"I still need to climb Zuckerhütl, the highest peak of the Seven Summits. Otherwise, I have been to all the others at least once."

When talking about the Seven Summits, one immediately thinks of Kilimanjaro, Elbrus, or Mount Everest. Hold on! Stubaital also has its own Seven Summits. Unlike the real Seven Summits, the Seven Summits in Stubai are meant for most people who want an introduction to climbing high peaks in the Alps. Although you can only reach Hohe Burgstall directly from the Stubaier Höhenweg, it will be worthwhile to spend more time in Stubaital and climb some peaks.

Zuckerhütl (3,507 m)

Wilde Freiger (3,418 m)

Habicht (3,277 m)

die Rinnenspitze (3,003 m)

Serles (2,717 m)

Hohe Burgstall (2,611 m)

der Elfer (2,505 m)

For those who manage to see all the peaks, there are some interesting souvenirs. The office in Stubai can issue you a passport for the Seven Summits. When you successfully summit a peak, you can mark it in your passport.

The huts along the Stubaier Höhenweg are well-equipped and can accommodate the entire family. The huts have either double rooms, rooms for four or more people. These come with their own standard beds, in some cases, a double bed.

The most budget-friendly option is staying in the mattress or bunk beds dormitory. This gives you a real mountain hut experience, where you share a larger space with more people. The above picture was taken at the Innsbrucker Hütte.

Since all the huts are accessible directly from the valley, you can expect a certain level of comfort in the huts. Meals are readily available, and you can get most drinks that are also available in the valley. So, if you thought you could have a Wiener Schnitzel and a wheat beer at 2,500 meters, you're right. It's possible. The most convenient option for you and the hut keeper is to book your accommodation with half-board. This way, the host can calculate how much food needs to be carried up to the hut, and you have the opportunity to get fresh food during the hike. The food in the huts along the Stubaier Höhenweg consists of typical Austrian and Tyrolean cuisine, is nutritious, and caters to vegetarians and vegans as well.

Coffee, tea, and other drinks can be purchased, and they may also be included in half-board. Most huts have a fully equipped kitchen, meaning you don't have to have the same meal every day. Meals can be prepared in various ways, and as you can see in the above picture from the Neue Regensburger Hütte, you can even enjoy a fresh piece of cake for dessert. Here is the menu of the Dresdner Hütte for an idea.