Eckbauer

Eckbauer sits at 1,457m on the eastern flank of the Wetterstein range above Garmisch-Partenkirchen. Most hikers reach it from the town in 2 to 2.5 hours via the direct forest trail, or take the cable car to Hausbergspitze (1,338m) and walk the ridge east in 1.5 hours. The hut anchors the Reintal valley approach to Zugspitze, making it a solid waypoint for multi-day traverses across the Wetterstein or a base camp for summiting Germany's highest peak from the south.
The OeAV-managed refuge has capacity for around 180 guests split between main dormitory rooms and a handful of doubles. The kitchen serves filling three-course dinners, a good breakfast buffet, and packed lunch orders. The bar runs late and the wood-paneled sitting room gets busy on weekends. Water comes from a mountain spring. Bring a sleeping bag liner—linen hire is available but costs extra. The hut opens year-round, though high-altitude conditions shut serious approaches December through March.
Book at least 3 months ahead for July and August weekends. The hut fills fast during the school holiday weeks in both Bavaria and Austria. Call ahead for mid-week availability, which is generally relaxed. Reserve online or by phone through the OeAV website. The hut serves a major hiking region, so expect crowds on decent-weather Saturdays between June and September.