Steinplan Schutzhaus

Steinplan Schutzhaus sits at 1670m on a gentle ridge in the Sölk Valley (Sölktal) in Styria. Reach it from Sölk-Bad in roughly 2.5 hours on a well-marked trail that gains 450m steadily through forest and alpine meadow. The hut is also accessible from the Preber area to the south, making it useful for through-routes in this quieter corner of the eastern Austrian Alps.

The hut is managed by Naturfreunde and offers 40 beds in simple rooms. Meals are available daily during opening season—expect solid Austrian fare rather than refined cooking. The facility has running water, basic shower access, and a small common room. Opening times run roughly mid-May through late September, though weather and staffing sometimes shift these dates. The hut works well as a base for day walks across the Sölk Valley ridges or as an overnight stop on longer routes linking the Preber massif to higher peaks further west.

Book directly with the hut by phone or email. July and August weekends fill several weeks ahead, but weekday slots remain available through June and September. The hut is popular with Austrian walking groups, particularly Naturfreunde members, so contact them well in advance for larger parties. Single hikers and small groups can usually find space with shorter notice outside peak season.