Zittauer Hütte: A Spectacular Hiking Trail Overlooking A Glacier

Q: By Public Transportation

There is no public transportation until the Finkau Restaurant in Wildgerlostal. By public transportation, it is only possible to travel by bus until Königsleiten. From there, you have to walk, hitchhike, or take a taxi to the Finkau Restaurant which is 6,5 kilometers far from the Königsleiten.

When I first saw the scenery leading up to the Zittauer Hütte, I was convinced I found the most beautiful day hike in the Austrian Alps. The hiking trail leads through a gorge, then a valley with dozens of waterfalls, followed by a steep mountain area and a secluded mountain lake. And the best part? All of this while overlooking a glacier.

This post is a hiking guide to the Zittauer Hütte from Wildgerlostal in Austria.

The Unterer Gerlossee next to the Zittauer Hütte
Overlooking the glacier along the Zittuer Hütte Trail

In this Zittauer Hütte hiking guide, I included everything you need to know before your hiking adventure. How to get there, a detailed hiking trail description including a map, the lunch options at the Zittauer Hütte, what to bring to the hike, and where to stay in the area, as well as a FAQ section.

Don`t miss this hike in Austria! (We loved the area so much that we ended up staying in Wildgerlostal for a week.)

Zittauer Hütte Hike Summary

Difficulty: Moderate
Starting Point: Finkau Familienhotel in Wildgerlostal, Austria
Parking: at the Finkau Familienhotel for 5 EUR / day
Hike Duration: Ascent 3 hours, Descent 2,5 hours
Length: 15 KM
Minimum-Maximum Elevation: 1419m-2328m
Elevation Gain: 909m
Places to Eat & Drink: Familienhotel Finkau, Trisslalm, Zittauer Hütte
When to Hike: late June – end of September
Suitable for Kids/Dogs: Yes (no dangerous sections)

Map of the Zittauer Hütte Hike

This Hiking Map shows the Zittauer Hütte hike’s starting and endpoints, including the parking lot, the food places, and viewpoints along the way.

How to get there

Wildgerlostal is located in Southwest Austria, close to the Italian border from the South. The Wildgerlostal belongs to the Hohe Tauern National Park in Salzburg County. The area of the Zittauer Hütte hiking trail is located right on the border between Tirol and Salzburg County.

The starting point of the hike is at the Finkau Family Restaurant in Wildgerlostal. The Finkau Restaurant is located in a valley. There is only one road leading to the valley of Wildgerlostal and it starts from Königsleiten.

The nearest bigger cities are Innsbruck, Munich, Salzburg, and Bolzano.

Driving distance from the nearby cities:
– Innsbruck, Austria: 1 hour 30 minutes
– Salzburg, Austria: 2 hours 30 minutes
– Munich, Germany: 2 hours 30 minutes
– Bolzano, Italy: 3 hours

To reach the starting point, add the Familienhotel Finkau to your navigation. Directly at the hotel, there is a huge parking lot. You can park your car for 5 EUR / day.

There is no public transportation until the Finkau Restaurant in Wildgerlostal.
By public transportation, it is only possible to travel by bus until Königsleiten. From there, you have to walk, hitchhike, or take a taxi to the Finkau Restaurant which is 6,5 kilometers far from the Königsleiten.

Make sure you travel to Finkau through Königsleiten. This is the only road to enter the Wildgerlostal valley.

Finkau Hotel – Hiking Trail Start

The Zittauer Hütte hike starts at the Familienhotel Finkau in Wildgerlostal. You will see the yellow hiking trail signs next to the restaurant.

By the way, there are several activities you and your family can enjoy around the Finkau Hotel. There is a picturesque lake with cows roaming right next to the hotel. Moreover, they have a big playground, and an animal farm including goats, rabbits, pigs, and geese.

Arriving at the Finkau Hotel in Oberkrimml
The first hiking trail sign is right at the Finkau Hotel

The Zittauer Hütte Hike

From the Finkau Restaurant until the Zittauer Hütte, we follow trail no. 540.
To best describe and show you what to expect on the trail, I break the hike into 3 sections, including pictures from each part.

1st Part – Leitenkammer Gorge (0:00 h-0:30 h)

Leaving the Finkau Restaurant and the lake next to it, after 500 meters we reach cross-road. Both roads lead to the Zittauer Hütte without any length or hike duration difference:
– Left Road: follows a wider route which is also a bike road
– Right Road: leads you through a forest along the streams and with beautiful viewpoints (Wildgerlostal Aussichtskanzel).

I advise you to choose the road to the right, as it leads you along the beautiful Leitenkammer Gorge – formed by the power of water pouring from the glacier. There are 2 viewpoints (shown as “Aussichtskanzel” on the yellow signs) for a closer look of the gorge.

After 30 minutes, you reach the Trisslalm. This is the first place to grab something to eat or drink. I tried their fresh milk and the Kasspressknödelsuppe (soup with cheese balls) – both were delicious.

Then, you continue walking along the trail, passing by countless waterfalls while the view of the valley and the glacier improves with every step you take.

Lake next to the Finkau Restaurant
The Leitenkammer Gorge

2nd Part – Wildgerlos Valley: 00:30 h-2:00 h

As the forest path ends, the hiking route continues on a wider road (it`s also a bike trail) with cows roaming around. This section is long but relatively easy.

This part of the hike is the most beautiful. On clear days, you will see the 3500m high peaks and the glacier in front of you all along, the road leads through a water stream and waterfalls from all directions. Look out for animal encounters: I was fortunate to see a marmot.

Good to know: There is no shade along this part of the trail. Wear sunscreen and a hat.

The valley with dozens of waterfalls…
…and the glacier in front of us

3rd Part – Steep Rocky Hill: 2:00 h-3:00 h

After 2 hours of hiking, we reach the end of the wide road. Those who come by bike can leave their bicycles at the cable car dedicated to the material transportation to the Zittauer Hütte.

The hiking trail continues on our left, along a rocky path and thousands of wildflowers. The yellow signs show that there is one hour left until the Zittauer Hütte.

Take your time to experience this part of the trail and watch out for treasures – at this section, we found a mountain crystal!

As you ascend further, there will be a ladder helping your way up. At the last part, you will solely hike up on solid rocks.

Hiking Trail and the Glacier
A ladder on the trail

The hiking trail is without a doubt exciting
Getting a glimpse of the Zittauer Hütte

Reaching the Zittauer Hütte

After 3 and a half hours of hiking (including breaks and photo stops), we finally reached the Zittauer Hütte. Even though the Hütte is at a 2328m altitude, it was surprisingly warm and most hikers were wearing a T-shirt only, enjoying the sunshine.
We took a seat on the sunny terrace, ready to order our “Gipfelbier” (=beer at the peak).

There is a small playground and some sunbeds next to the Zittauer Hütte.

A few meters to go!
Finally, we can take a well-deserved rest

Lunch at the Zittauer Hütte

An absolute highlight of our hike was the lunch in the Zittauer Hütte. They serve delicious food – we ordered the Kaspressknödelsuppe (soup with cheese balls, the best!), Wiener Schnitzel and a Kaiserschmarrn to finish off.

Everything we tried was delicious and the staff of the Zittauer Hütte was kind and welcoming.

A must-try: Kaspressknödelsuppe
Wiener Schnitzel, another classic
Kaiserschmarrn – a traditional sweet treat
Gipfelbier on the terrace, overlooking the glacier

Food/Drink Prices at the Zittauer Hütte:
Beer/Wheat Beer: 5,20 EUR/5,70 EUR per half liter
Coffee: 2,90 EUR
Kaspressknödelsuppe (Cheeseballs Soup): 10,90 EUR
Goulash Soup: 6,70 EUR
Sausages with Bread and Mustard: 6,40 EUR
Wiener Schnitzel with Potatoes and Cranberries: 15,80 EUR
Kaiserschmarrn (Traditional Dessert): 13,20 EUR
Apple Pie, Home-Made Cake: 5,10 EUR

Vegetarians: If you are vegetarian, ask the staff for the best option suiting you. You might be served with a special meal.

Unterer Gerlossee Lake

I am a fan of mountain lakes and this hike did not disappoint.

Just next to the Zittauer Hütte is a beautiful mountain lake, the Unterer Gerlossee (Lower Gerlos Lake). Take a rest at the shore of the lake and enjoy its beauty. My dog even swam in it – although the lake temperature must have been close to 0 degrees.

As the name indicates, there`s another lake nearby, the Oberer Gerlossee (Upper Gerlos Lake). It takes an additional 30 minutes to reach it. Unfortunately, when we went, we were too tired (and too full) to hike any further.

The Lake Unterer Gerlossee is located next to the Zittauer Hütte — Unterer Gerlos Lake, Next to the Zittauer Hütte

The Zittauer Hütte Hike – Our Experience

Briefly: this day hike was one of the best I have ever done and I will never forget it.

The landscapes varied greatly along the whole trail. I was amazed at the countless waterfalls. In addition, it was the very first time I saw a glacier in real life.

From the hiking point of view, we found the Zittauer Hike fairly easy and enjoyable. I advise you to pack some sweets with you. You will use up a lot of energy during the hike.

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Hiking Back to Finkau

After taking a rest and having lunch at the mountain hut, we started our descent back to the starting point, following the same hiking route (route no. 540). It took us around 2,5 hours to get back to the Finkau Hotel.

Hiking back to the Finkau Restaurant

Good to know about the Hike

Hike and Bike Route to the Zittauer Hütte

Cycling enthusiasts can enjoy and shorten the duration of this trail as a hike and bike trip until the end of the Wildgerlos Valley road. The bikes can be locked and left at the cable car.

After that, follow the hiking trail on foot towards the Zittauer Hütte – the hiking from this point will last one hour.

Good to know: there is a e-bike charging station next to the Finkau Restaurant.

Things to do at the Finkau Hotel

The Finkau Hotel is nested in beautiful alpine settings. On clear days, you can see the 3300m high peaks and the Wildgerlos Glacier from the parking lot.

Next to the Finkau Hotel is a lake and a playground for children. It is a paradise with pigs, rabbits, goats, cows, alpine flowers, waterfalls, and water streams.

There is also a small self-serving crystal shop to buy a souvenir. The mountain crystals cost between 5-15 EUR per piece.

You can see the glacier from the parking lot
A cow at the lake next to the Finkau Hotel

What to Pack for the Hike

The must-haves for the Zittauer Hütte Hike:

At least 2 liters of water – and refill it at the countless freshwater possibilities
Some snacks to support your blood sugar levels – you can have a delicious lunch at the Zittauer Hütte
Sunscreen – It is a must, during most of the hike you will get direct sun with no shade
Hat and Sunglasses – to protect from the sun
Cash – although card payment is accepted at the Hütte, it was not working when we visited

Optional:

Hiking Poles – good to have if you have knee problems

Hiking with a Dog

Before starting the hike, we were unsure what to expect and whether our dog could manage this hike. Luckily, the hike turned out to be dog-friendly. The best part was that during most of the hike, there were waterfalls and rivers, so we did not even need to pack additional water for him.

Good to know: It`s worth mentioning that there are cows on the trail, so please take extra caution. Cows tend to get curious about dogs and might even start to walk after them. I always believe they must feel that our labrador is a cub, so they always react upon seeing them.

Hold your dog on a short leash and try to go through the cows when other people are nearby.

My dog loved every second of the hike
An 8-year-old labrador hiking in the Alps

Where to Stay

There are several options to stay around the area.

Finkau Hotel/Restaurant: You can stay in the Finkau Hotel/Restaurant at the Starting Point. It looks cozy and they serve delicious food, specializing in game meat, using locally sourced ingredients.
Booking in advance is necessary.

Zittauer Hütte:
If you want to maximize your experience in the Alps, stay in the Zittauer Hütte at 2328m altitude.
You won`t be disappointed. I checked and the Zittauer Hütte looks spotless and cozy.
Check how to book and what to bring with you. Dogs are allowed to stay overnight.

Zillertal Alps:
In the Zillertal Alps and around Gerlos and Krimml, there are several great accommodations to stay at.

If you stay in the area, you can receive a SommerCard* at your hotel which enables you to attend several guided tours free of charge or with a great discount in the Hohe Tauern National Park.

*more information about the SommerCard

Overnight Stay in a Camper Van

It´s possible to stay overnight at the parking lot next to the Finkau Restaurant. The parking places are limited to 5 camper places. The beauty of the area had such a big impact on us that we stayed altogether 6 nights and there was always a spot available.

Overnight Stay Cost in a Motorhome:
– 20 EUR (but the ticket is always valid until midnight)

Facilities included in the price:
– Toilette in the restaurant
– Electricity (there are 3 sockets available)
– Water refill station
– Chemical Toilette Emptying

Good to know: There are no showers and no shops near the restaurant. If you plan to stay for more nights, stock up on food before arrival.

View from our window
Morning Coffee at the lake

Alternative Places to Visit Nearby

The Zittauer Hütte is in a wonderful area – a fairy tale place full of waterfalls. If you come and visit the Zillertal Alps, there are also other places in the area worth visiting.

FAQ-s about the Zittauer Hütte Hiking Trail

The hike could be classified as moderate.The difficulty comes from the steepness of the last section and the 900-meter elevation gain.
If you are used to hiking in the Alps, you can do this hike with ease.

There are no real dangerous sections along the hike. Two third of the hike can be (optionally) completed using a biking trail. The last section will be a steep rocky surface, but the absolute good thing is that there are no slippery sections and no erosion.
Of course, you need to be always careful where you step to avoid any possible injuries.

The best time to hike to the Zittauer Hütte is between the end of June and late September, when there is little to no snow along the trail.

Yes! It is better to book in advance. Although I did not see the rooms, the bathroom and the restaurant looked spotless and cozy. It`s a good idea to stay for the night (I want to do the same soon). The Zittauer Hütte is also ideal for hut-to-hut hiking.

Although I did not stay in the Zittauer Hütte for the night, I slept at the Stöhrhaus, another mountain hut located in the Bavarian Alps in Germany. It was an experience I will never forget.

Delicious and reasonably priced! They serve the typical Hütte-food, such as Wiener Schnitzel, Kaspressknödelsuppe, Goulasch, and Kaiserschmarrn.
They also serve a wide range of alcoholic and non-alcoholic beverages.

The Zittauer Hütte also has an open terrace, overlooking the Unterer Gerlossee (Lake).

If your children are big enough (above 6 years old) and used to hiking, they can manage it. I saw a couple of kids hiking with their parents on the trail. There were also many babies being carried on the back of their parents.

Our 7-year-old labrador loved this trail very much. A big plus was that there were always little streams along the trail, so we did not need to pack extra water for him.

Although it is not forbidden, the Unterer Gerlossee next to the Zittauer Hütte is freezing cold. Our dog had fun swimming in it, though.