A very special hut

What would a mountain hike be without stopping off at an alpine hut where you can satisfy your appetite with delicious, homemade specialities? Eveline Wandl, hostess at the BIO Hotel Leutascherhof, reveals where to find the best Kaiserschmarrn and the biggest Brettljause. ‘I have coordinated my culinary tips with our mountain hiking guide Mario, who visits the alpine pastures every day and knows exactly which delicacies currently taste best where,’ reports Eveline, who can name seven gourmet addresses around Leutasch.

Hochfeldernalm in the Gaistal valley

Open daily from 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. | Walking time from the Salzbach car park: 3.5 hours

This extensive alpine pasture can be reached via a beautiful and easy hiking trail that leads through the romantic Gaistal valley. Along the Leutascher Ache and Gaistalbach streams, you hike past the Gaistalalm and Tillfussalm towards Ehrwald. After a short ascent with three hairpin bends, you reach the Hochfeldernalm with its sun terrace, from which you can enjoy views of the Mieminger chain and the Wetterstein mountains. Eveline's culinary recommendation: ‘The Kaiserschmarrn at the Hochfeldernalm is fantastic!’

Wettersteinhütte

Open daily from mid-May to early November | Walking time from Leutasch: 1.5 hours

The brick hut with a sun terrace at 1,717 metres, which resembles a mountain inn, is Eveline's declared favourite hut with a dream view. The easy hike to the Wettersteinhütte is an experience in every season: ‘My culinary tip is the Kasnockerl, which are served either in soup or with salad.’ If you're thinking of Kaspressknödel, think again – the Wettersteinhütte dumplings are made according to a recipe all of their own. In addition to this delicacy, you should definitely try the homemade sausage!

Almschenke Boden Alm

Open daily from mid-June to early October | Walking time from the Dun car park: 30 minutes

This alpine hut, which is also easily accessible with a pushchair, is not only a popular hiking destination but also the starting point for numerous mountain tours. While children are busy in the on-site playground with swings, trampoline, slide and sandpit, parents can enjoy the homemade delicacies, especially the wonderful alpine cheese. Eveline Wandl: ‘The grey cheese made from the milk of the cows on the Boden Alm is served spicy with onions. Accompanied by fresh brown bread – it doesn't get any better than this!’

Brunnsteinhütte above Mittenwald

Open daily from mid-June to early October | Walking time from Mittenwald 2 hours, from the car park on the B2 (1 km after the state border) approx. 1.5 hours

The varied, moderately difficult ascent is also great for children – the views of the Arnspitzen and the Wetterstein mountains are breathtakingly beautiful. Starting in Mittenwald, the route first takes you to the suspension bridge at the Sulzeklamm gorge and then winds its way through the high forest to the hut. The playground with numerous animals is a popular destination for families, and Eveline Wandl naturally knows the house specialities: ‘The homemade venison sausage is divine, and you should definitely try the ham noodles with salad.’

Ederkanzel mountain inn with a view of three valleys

Open daily from January to the end of September, April, May and October Closed on Wednesdays | Walking time from Leutasch through the Geisterklamm gorge approx. 30 minutes

The easiest way to reach the Ederkanzel from Leutasch is via the gorge path that leads through the Geisterklamm gorge, but there are also other options for ‘repeat offenders’, for example from Mittenwald. The trail through the spectacular gorge is a real family highlight that is guaranteed to delight even those who are not keen on hiking. And finally, there is a playground with swings, seesaws and toys waiting at the destination. In the rustic mountain inn and on the sun terrace with its beautiful view of the Leutasch, Ferchenbach and Isar valleys, a homemade speciality tastes particularly good: ‘The special pancakes, which are filled with bacon or apple sauce at the Ederkanzel, will immediately make your mouth water,’ says Eveline Wandl enthusiastically.

Historic Dammkarhütte in the Karwendel

Open daily from mid-May | Several routes with walking times between 1.5 and 3 hours

The stones for the squat building were transported to their destination by mule in the 1930s. Hardly any other hut in the Karwendel is as closely associated with the development of mountain sports as the Dammkarhütte, which is now run by the fourth generation of the Hornsteiner family. Alpine climbers in particular appreciate the hut as a base for challenging tours. Those who exert themselves on the mountain are also entitled to a hearty meal! Eveline Wandl: ‘For a stop at the Dammkarhütte, I definitely recommend the fried potatoes with egg.’

Oberbrunnalm at the foot of the Zäunlkopf

Open daily from June to September | Walking time from Gießenbach through the Gießenbach Valley approx. 2.5 hours

The well-maintained forest hiking trail, which is suitable for pushchairs, leads from the village of Gießenbach up to the rustic, weather-beaten alpine hut, where time seems to have stood still. At the Oberbrunnalm, guests gain a deep insight into alpine work ‘from back then’, which is still carried out today using the simplest of means. A very authentic place in the beautiful Karwendel mountains with a culinary highlight, as Eveline Wandl explains: ‘You have to try the Brettljause at the Oberbrunnalm at least once! But be warned, you'll never manage it on your own!’

Eveline Wandl and mountain guide Andreas will give you even more hiking and refreshment tips during your holiday at the BIO Hotel Leutascherhof: Have fun hiking and bon appétit!