Alpine Association huts Niederelbehütte

Description

Alpine refuge with plenty of culinary highlights
German Alpine Club, Hamburg und Niederelbe Division

Constructed in 1930/31, the Niederelbehütte is a mountain hut perched on a rocky outcrop above the village of Kappl towards the end of the Seßladtal Valley, a small side valley branching off the Paznauntal Valley. Just outside the front door is the charming Seß-See lake and a number of other small lakes as well as the rushing Seßbach stream on its way down into the valley. High above are the many peaks of the Verwall Mountains, including the Fatlarspitze, the Madaunspitze and the Kreuzjochspitze. These peaks draw hikers and mountaineers in summer as well as ski touring enthusiasts in winter. Many people hiking the Paznaun HIgh Trail stop off here. Last but certainly not least, the hut is also popular with foodies thanks to its excellent cuisine. It has featured several times on the "Culinary Way of Saint James", a food-based hiking trail organised by star chef Eckart Witzigmann which sees cooks from around the world present some of their finest dishes in the mountains. The hut sleeps 56 guests; electricity and hot water are supplied by the hut's own mini hydroelectric power station. There is good mobile phone reception.

How to get to the Niederelbehütte

From Kappl via Alpengasthof Dias 2-3 hours; from Ulmich through the Fatlartal Valley 3 hours; via Sinsen and Sessladalm 3 hours; from the top of the Diasbahn lift 2 hours.

Walks and hikes in the area (walking time to summit)

Kappler Kopf (2,404 metres), 30 minutes, intermediate; details on route
Seßladspitze (2,906 metres), 2.5 hours, intermediate
Fatlarspitze (2,986 metres), 3 hours, difficult
Kreuzjochspitze (2,919 metres), 2.5 hours, difficult
Saumspitze (3,039 metres), 4.5 hours, difficult

Further huts in the area, long-distance walking trails

Kieler Wetterhütte, 2 hours
Darmstätter Hütte, 5 hours
Edmund-Graf-Hütte, 4,5 hours
Vordere Malfonalpe, 6 hours

The Niederelbehütte is located on the Paznaun High Trail and the Verwall Hike.