Rastkogelhütte

Rastkogelhütte stands all alone high in the Tux Alps, on a sunny ridge above Hippach-Schwendberg in the Zillertal. It's a working alpine hut with beds and a kitchen, run by the German Alpine Club. The terrace faces south looking out across the valley to the snowy peaks of the Zillertal Alps. The view is amazing, especially early in the day before the afternoon haze thickens. You can capture the hut itself by hiking up to the Sidanjoch, about half an hour above, where you get the roof and terrace in the foreground with the whole mountain range tucked behind. Rastkogelsee lies a couple of hours further on, good for reflections on a still morning. The hike in crosses open pasture that turns rust and gold through late September. Getting up here is easy by hut standards. You can drive the Zillertaler Höhenstraße toll road to the small car park and then the hike is only about an hour. Although it is uphill, the effort is well worth it for the amazing views. A bus from Hippach stops on request at the third hairpin if you'd rather not drive. The hut opens for a summer season and a winter season but closes in between, so check before heading up here during spring or fall to see if it has opened for the season. The open and closing dates for each season change every year based on the weather. Make sure to book ahead if you want to be there for the light at both ends of the day. (Hippach-Schwendberg, Tyrol, Austria)