If you’re searching for a quiet, authentic, and genuinely special mountain hut experience in South Tyrol, but still want something on the nicer, more comfortable side, then Tschafon Hut (Rifugio Monte Cavone), also known as Schutzhaus Tschafon, might be for you!
I actually wasn’t planning on staying here at all. But lucky for me, one of my closest friends, Emma, reached out right after I moved to Italy. She told me she was going on a Euro trip with a friend and that they were spending a weekend in the Dolomites. When she sent me the name of the hut they had booked, I couldn’t believe it – it was less than two hours away from us. Of course I was going to do everything I could to meet up with them.
Emma had emailed the hut directly at info@schutzhaus-tschafon.com to reserve their room, so I did the same and asked if they had anything available for the same nights. They wrote back pretty quickly with:
Unfortunately, we are already fully booked during the requested period. The only option would be to share the room with them, as there would be another bed.
Lucky for me, my friends didn’t hesitate to let me crash with them, and the room ended up having exactly three beds. Perfect. So that’s how I ended up getting to experience this little refuge in the mountains.
How to Get to Tschafon Hut (Tiers, South Tyrol)
Public transportation to Tschafon Hut (via Bolzano)
Emma had done a ton of research beforehand when she found this place. They were staying in Bolzano, and Tschafon Hut is close enough to reach by public transportation. So yes, you absolutely don’t need a car to get here.
Parking at Lavina Bianca (car access + car camping)
But since we have one, we might as well use it. We set out from Trento in the morning and 50 minutes later, we were picking up Emma and her friend, Julia, in Bolzano. After another 30 minutes on a windy mountain road we arrived in the town of Tires . You can hike up to the hut straight from Tires but we decided to go from the Lavina Bianca parking lot since we had a car. It saves you some elevation and we also heard it’s a good car camping spot so we decided to check it out.
The rumors were right and the parking lot is indeed perfect for car camping. There are plenty of spots and a nice-ish bathroom. Even at that time, the very end of the season, there were still a few vans parked there.
Tschafon hut approach GPX
We thought we could follow the road further but we were wrong. Shortly after the parking lot, there is a no-entry sign and you can’t go any further. Be aware. So that’s where we ditched the car and sent David on his merry way (there was sadly no room for him in the hut). Instead, he “planned” a different solo hike for that day.
Now, about this fairy-tale place.
Tschafon Hut: What It’s Like
Dolomites views from Tschafon Hut (Rosengarten/Catinaccio + Sciliar)
Tschafon Hut is a family-operated mountain refuge in South Tyrol that sits at 1,737 meters (5,700 feet) between Alpe di Siusi, the dramatic Sciliar, and the legendary Rosengarten/Catinaccio peaks. After hiking up from Tiers on an overcast and rainy day, we were absolutely mesmerized by how charming it was.
From the horses majestically roaming the land to the feeling of sitting above the clouds, you really have to experience it firsthand to understand just how extraordinary this place is.
For reference, we went from September 26th–28th. This particular weekend was very rainy and cloudy, which was funny because the weekend before had absolutely perfect weather with sunshine and clear skies (ideal for our 3-day trad climbing course!).
But honestly, the overcast weather didn’t take anything away from the trip. If anything, it made our stay at Tschafon Hut (Rifugio Monte Cavone) even cozier.
It ended up being perfect weather for curling up inside with wine and cheese and yapping with the girls. There was another group of local South Tyrolean girls staying there too, also on a little mountain getaway. A few of them brought their doggos, which made the whole place feel extra warm and fun.
There were also two couples spending the weekend there and a big family, so truly, this hut works for any occasion: girls trip, couple’s retreat, family reunion, solo escape, really just anyone needing mountain calm… whatever vibe you want, it fits! Just make sure to book several months in advance.
Staying Overnight at Tschafon Hut: Rooms, Showers & Common Areas
Our first night there was Friday, September 26th. The hike up isn’t bad at all, but since David dropped us off a bit closer, we ended up taking a shorter route. Because it was so cloudy, we didn’t get any views on the way up… but we did pass some ridiculously cute sheep, which honestly made up for it.
Once we arrived at the hut, we settled into our room, unpacked our packs, and started exploring. The inside of the hut is GORGEOUS. Genuinely, this is the nicest rifugio I’ve ever stepped foot in. You can immediately tell how much care and attention went into creating and maintaining this place. Every detail feels so intentional. The rooms and the bathroom were also extremely comfortable, which is definitely not something you can always count on when you’re staying in mountain huts in the Dolomites.
Farm animals, garden, and slow-living vibes at Schutzhaus Tschafon
The property is big! We spent hours wandering around and exploring the farm. This was mostly because we got completely distracted by all the ADORABLE animals. They have chickens, goats, bunnies (including baby bunnies), pigs, horses, cats, and a whole garden. If you’re an animal lover, this place is absolute heaven.
There’s also a huge outdoor area with picnic tables and chairs to relax, plus a volleyball court and a play area for kids. Needless to say, even though the weather was gloomy on our first day, we still had plenty to see and do, and it ended up being such a fun, cozy, glorious start to the trip.
Morning at Tschafon Hut: Sunrise, Weather & Breakfast
The second day was where things got exciting. We woke up early naturally after an amazing night’s sleep, and when we opened the window, we nearly screamed!! You could finally see the pointy peaks peeking through the clouds… yay, the Dolomites had finally made their dramatic reveal!
Don’t get me wrong, it was still cloudy, but the clouds were moving fast. Every few minutes the sky would open just enough to show off a ridge or a tower, and we soaked in every second of it. It honestly made the views feel even more special, like we had to wait for them, like the mountains were teasing us before giving us the full show.
And then breakfast… wow. Breakfast at Tschafon Hut is included, and it’s exactly what you want before a hike. Simple, fresh, and perfect. They serve coffee, tea, homemade jams prepared by Bernadette, butter, several types of bread, speck, and cheese. Absolutely delicious, wholesome food that hits the spot and gives you the perfect fuel for the day ahead.
10 km Scenic Ridge Loop from Tschafon Hut through the Dolomites
For our hike we decided to do a 10 km loop that took us through the ridges south-east of Monte Pez / Schlern (2563 m) . The first half was the ascent and we had about 620 meters of elevation gain. At some point the trail opens up completely when you reach the top of the range, and the views are insane. You can see so much from up there, including Monte Pez and Rifugio Bolzano / Schlernhaus on one side and the peaks of the Catinaccio group on the other side.
Scenic 10K loop GPX
Almost exactly halfway through the hike, there is a hut called Sesselschwaige . This hut is so cute and quirky!! The owners are beyond friendly and immediately made us feel welcomed. It was the best sight because at this point we were pretty hungry and the weather also decided to take a turn for the slightly worse.
It was very damp out with light rain and a lot of mist. Not exactly the best hiking weather, however, it was awesome for eating a bowl of warm soup and sipping on hot coffee!
This rifugio has so much character. From the rock with sunglasses on next to the old boom box, to the outdoor squirrel made of acorns. Oh and did I mention there’s a random outdoor tub? I bet that’s perfect for cooling off in the summer!
It was such a friendly and relaxing break. After we finished our soup and paid, we were offered a Zirbenschnaps, which is a popular homemade liquor in South Tyrol made from pinecones.
The hike back was very different from the first half. Not only because it was mostly downhill, but also because the beginning portion of the trail is made of logs. While it’s a very scenic section, it was super slippery in the rain. Luckily there are rails for most of it, so we hung on tight and all made it down unscathed.
We eventually made it back to our beloved Tschafon Hut and were so happy to take off our wet clothes and get cozy in the downstairs dining room. We ordered more cheese and wine before dinner, plus a slice of their yummy homemade strudel, and spent the rest of the afternoon winding down, playing games, and being completely mesmerized by the views outside.
Talk about the perfect post-hike evening. I would choose this as my routine post-hike reset if I could. We definitely worked up an appetite after the hike, so you could say we were pretty excited for dinner.
The night before, we saw some of the other guests eating dumplings that looked absolutely divine, so we knew we had to try them. The cheese dumplings were to die for. Oh my goodness… all of the food here is so delicious, I honestly can’t emphasize that enough.
Dinner did not disappoint. And with that, we hit the hay fast. We were so exhausted, yet so content. We slept like babies.
The next morning David hiked up early to the hut to meet us for breakfast. After another delicious breakfast spread, we packed up, hiked back down to the parking lot, and drove Emma and Julia to Bolzano so they could catch their train to Venice.
After dropping them off, David and I decided we weren’t ready to leave the area yet. We stuck around for another hike and even tested out the car camping situation nearby (more on that in another post!).
Prices, Booking Tips & Why Schutzhaus Tschafon is Special
You can read more about this incredibly special place on their website, and I also want to highlight a few things that make Tschafon Hut even more special — especially if you’re someone who appreciates thoughtful, sustainable places.
One of the first things we noticed was how beautifully the hut has been renovated. The family chose to rebuild it using local materials and traditional techniques, keeping everything simple and authentic while still making it incredibly comfortable. It feels rustic, but not rough, and you can sense how much intention went into preserving the character of the original hut.
And then there’s the food. Truly farm-to-fork in the most literal sense. Almost everything you eat comes straight from the garden behind the hut: leafy greens, herbs, radishes, watercress, wild garlic, and whatever else is growing that season. In winter, they even make their own speck and Kaminwurzen and smoke them over juniper. The meals taste clean and homemade, and you can actually see the owners harvesting in their garden while you’re there.
The views are unbelievable, even on a cloudy day. From the terrace you can see the Rosengarten, the Vajolet Towers, the Sciliar, Latemar, and endless layers of forest and meadows. It’s easily one of the best viewpoints in the Tiers valley.
The rooms themselves are very cozy but intentionally unplugged. There’s no electricity inside the rooms, which gives the stay a peaceful, retreat-like feeling. You can shower with fresh spring water in a shared open-air stall with a panoramic view, and there’s a spacious common bathroom inside the hut as well. They do have a charging station in the main room, so you’re not completely cut off.
Tschafon Hut is also entirely family-run, and you feel that from the moment you arrive. Three generations live and work here together. Bernadette and Josef handle the cooking and the garden, Barbara and Georg take care of guests and manage the hut with so much pride, and if you’re lucky, you’ll see the youngest generation outside playing with the bunnies. Talking with Barbara in the dining room about the history of the hut and how much they’ve tried to preserve (like their original fire oven) was one of the most memorable parts of our stay.
Prices for staying overnight at Tschafon Hut (2025)
So, if you’re thinking of staying overnight, here’s a quick idea of what it will cost. Prices for 2025 are €60 per person for a sleeping bag spot with breakfast, €66 if you prefer sheets, and €72–85 per person (depending on group size. If you stay in the panoramic hay barn, which I genuinely hope to come back and experience one day. Dogs are allowed in the hut but not in the hay barn are €18/day. Food and drinks are very reasonable and exactly what you’d expect for the area.
