Dalfazalm

The Dalfazalm is a privately run mountain hut (Schutzhütte) and working alpine pasture in the Rofan Mountains of Tyrol, Austria. It sits at 1,693 metres above sea level in the municipality of Eben am Achensee, above the village of Maurach on Lake Achensee. The name "Dalfaz" is of Rhaeto-Romance origin and roughly means "there where they make hay", a reference to its centuries-old use as a hay meadow and grazing ground. The oldest building on the site is a dairy hut (Sennhütte) dating from 1664, which today displays historic milk-processing equipment. Contemporary records of the alm's early history were lost in a fire that destroyed the valley archives, but the site is known to have been used as pasture since prehistoric times: in the 1930s a herdsman found a bronze dagger blade dating to the Middle Bronze Age, which together with an old high trail from Maurach to the northern shore of Lake Achensee is taken as evidence of ancient grazing use. The hut is a classic Tyrolean alpine inn (Berggasthaus) offering simple meals, drinks and overnight accommodation. Guests can stay in cosy double rooms or in a traditional lager (dormitory), and the alm hosts celebrations such as birthday parties and "Hüttenabende" (evening events in the hut). The Dalfazalm is run by the Moser family — Georg and Renate Moser with their daughters Katharina and Anna, supported by grandmother Hanni, who looks after the family farm in the valley. It is a genuine family business in which everyone helps to look after the alm and its guests. The Dalfazalm is a popular destination for hikers and mountain bikers. It can be reached on foot from the top station of the Rofan cable car in about 45 minutes, from the valley station via the Durrach-Alm in about two hours, from Buchau past the Dalfazer waterfall in about two hours, or from Achenkirch via the Kotalm and the Steinerne Tor in about four hours. From the hut, climbers can ascend the Hochiss (2,299 m, about 2.5 hours, with access to the five-peak via ferrata), the Rotspitze (2,067 m, about 1.5 hours) and the Klobenjoch (2,041 m, about 1 hour), or continue to the Erfurter Hütte in about one hour. The alm is typically open from early May to early November; the official website lists opening from 1 May to 8 November 2026. The buildings were expanded and rebuilt between 1981 and 1984 to their present form, after visitor numbers rose following the construction of the Rofan cable car in the 1950s. Some of the roofs are laid in the traditional Legschindel style, in which wooden shingles are placed without nails on wooden poles and weighted down with stones. The Dalfazalm remains a working farm: from spring until the Almabtrieb (the ceremonial driving down of cattle in autumn), milk cows, young cattle, pigs and sheep graze on its mountain pastures.

The Dalfazalm is a privately run mountain hut and alpine pasture in the Rofan Mountains of Tyrol, Austria, at an elevation of 1,693 metres in the municipality of Eben am Achensee. The name "Dalfaz" is of Rhaeto-Romance origin and means roughly "there where they make hay". The oldest surviving building on the site is a Sennhütte (dairy hut) from 1664, which today houses an exhibition of historic milk-processing equipment. Contemporary written records of the alm's history no longer exist because all documents archived in the valley were destroyed in a fire. Archaeological evidence indicates that the alm area was used as pasture in prehistoric times. In the 1930s a herdsman found a bronze dagger blade on the Dalfazalm territory, dated to the Middle Bronze Age. This find, together with an old high trail from Maurach to the northern edge of Lake Achensee, is regarded as evidence of prehistoric grazing use of the alpine meadows. For centuries the Dalfazalm served as a seasonal pasture for cattle and other livestock. With the construction of the Rofan cable car (Rofanseilbahn) in the 1950s, visitor numbers increased noticeably, and the existing alm buildings no longer offered sufficient capacity. Between 1981 and 1984 the Dalfazalm was expanded and rebuilt into its present form. Today it operates as a Berggasthaus (mountain inn) offering food, drink and overnight accommodation, while continuing to function as a working farm. From spring until the Almabtrieb in autumn, milk cows, young cattle, pigs and sheep graze on its mountain pastures. The hut is run by the Moser family — Georg and Renate Moser and their daughters Katharina and Anna, with grandmother Hanni managing the family farm in the valley. The Dalfazalm is a popular destination for hikers and climbers, reachable from the Rofan cable car top station in about 45 minutes on foot, and serving as a base for ascents of the Hochiss (2,299 m), Rotspitze (2,067 m) and Klobenjoch (2,041 m), as well as a stop on the way to the Erfurter Hütte. Some of the alm buildings have roofs in the traditional Legschindel style, with shingles laid without nails on wooden poles and weighted with stones. The alm is typically open from early May to early November; the official website lists opening from 1 May to 8 November 2026.

• 2026

  Official website lists opening from 1 May to 8 November 2026.

• 1984

  Completion of the expansion and rebuilding of the Dalfazalm.

• 1981

  Start of expansion and rebuilding of the Dalfazalm into its present form.

• 1950

  Construction of the Rofan cable car (Rofanseilbahn) leads to a noticeable increase in visitor numbers.

• 1930

  A herdsman finds a Middle Bronze Age dagger blade on the Dalfazalm territory, evidence of prehistoric grazing use.

• 1664

  Oldest surviving building, a Sennhütte (dairy hut), is built; it now displays historic milk-processing equipment.

A traditional, family-run alpine hut and working pasture offering rustic Tyrolean hospitality, panoramic views of the Karwendel and Lake Achensee, and a base for hiking and climbing in the Rofan Mountains.

• Alpine hut dining

  Traditional Tyrolean meals and drinks served at 1,693 m.

• Overnight accommodation

  Cosy double rooms and a traditional lager (dormitory).

• Hüttenabende and celebrations

  Evening events and private parties such as birthday celebrations.

• Working alpine pasture

  Seasonal grazing of milk cows, young cattle, pigs and sheep; historic dairy equipment on display.

1. 1Almhütte in Maurach am Achensee | Tirol - Berggasthaus Dalfaz Almdalfazalm.at
2. 2Dalfazalm – Wikipediade.wikipedia.org
3. 3Dalfazalm – Wikidatawikidata.org