Metzeler-Hut

The Metzeler-Hütte sits at 1,848m in the Appenzell Alps near Dornbirn, Vorarlberg. From Dornbirn town, take the Karren cable car up to 1,400m, then hike 1.5 hours northeast to the hut. The trail is well-marked and gains 450m steadily through mixed forest before opening to alpine pasture. This approach combines cable car convenience with genuine mountain hiking. For a longer approach, walk from Ebnit (1.5 hours) or combine the hut with traverses toward the Säntis massif.
The OeAV-managed hut offers 28 beds split between single and multi-bed rooms. Half-board is standard: hearty evening meals focus on regional Austrian fare, and substantial breakfasts fuel the next day's walking. The hut sits on a working dairy farm, so expect pastoral views across the Appenzell foothills toward Vorarlberg's farming country. Water is reliable from the spring. The hut opens from May through October; July and August draw families and school groups heavily.
Book directly with the hut from March onwards for summer weekends and July dates. Contact via the OeAV website or call ahead. Weekday stays in May, June, September and October are quieter and easier to arrange. The hut suits walkers seeking accessible alpine terrain without remote exposure.