Tschafon Hut

Tschafon Hut, also known as Schutzhaus Tschafon or Rifugio Monte Cavone, sits in a quiet meadow above Tires in South Tyrol. It works both as a quiet local getaway spot with views of the Vjolet Towers and the Rosengarten peaks, and as a convenient gateway to the Catinaccio group via Rifugio Bolzano, Rifugio Alpe di Tires and Passo Principe.

Don't expect your traditional SAT rifugio. The family-run refuge feels traditional without feeling rough. Its careful renovation, cozy wood-paneled rooms and genuinely comfortable shared spaces make it one of the nicest mountain huts we've stayed in. Outside, horses graze around the hut while goats, rabbits, chickens and a productive garden give the place the feeling of a tiny mountain farm.

Much of the food comes directly from that garden or is made by the family, from homemade jams and breakfast spreads to dumplings, cheese boards and strudel. The hut is reachable only on foot, but the short forest hike from Lavina Bianca makes it an approachable destination for lunch, an overnight escape or a base for exploring the trails above Tires.