The Albert Appel-Haus is a large mountain hut standing right at the heart of the Tote Gebirge (Dead Mountains), close to the border between Styria and Upper Austria. It sits at the crossing point of numerous trails, including the E4 European long-distance path and the Via Alpina, making it a true hub for hikers exploring this vast limestone range.

Perched at 1638 m on the Henaralm, the hut looks out over a wide high valley on the edge of the range's huge karst plateau, surrounded by several neighboring alpine pastures. The scenery here is stark and beautiful - pale limestone ridges, open grazing land, and the striking rock formation known as the Redender Stein (1900 m) nearby. In summer, it's a magnet for long ridge hikes; in winter, the whole basin turns into a silent, snow-covered wilderness.

How to reach the hut

• From Grundlsee (732 m) - approx. 4 hours
• From Altaussee (719 m) - approx. 4 hours
• From the Loserstraße/Altaussee car park (1600 m) - approx. 4 hours via the Karl-Stöger-Steig (a steep, partly exposed path, moderate to demanding)
• From Offensee (655 m) - approx. 4 hours
• From Almsee (589 m) - approx. 6 hours

Practical information

• Altitude: 1638 m
• Operated by the Österreichischer Touristenverein
• Third overnight stop on the Welser Höhenweg, the five-day east-west traverse of the Tote Gebirge from Hinterstoder to Bad Ischl (53.9 km)
• Close to the Henaralmhütte (15 min), Wildenseehütte (30 min), and the lakes Henarsee and Wildensee, each about an hour away

Every August, a mountain mass is held near the hut - a tradition dating back to its founding in 1928.