[3] The hut is located on the sunny southern side of the Wilder Kaiser ridge on a grassy terrace high above the villages of Ellmau and Going with an outstanding view that, on clear days, takes in the Großvenediger.

On fine summer days, the Grutten Hut is a popular destination for hikers and an important base for mountaineers and climbers, who can set out from here on numerous Alpine tours to the summits of the Wilder Kaiser.

The Grutten Hut was built in 1899 on its present site by the Alpen Turner Kränzchen Section and Carl Babenstuber and was ceremonially opened on 14 July 1900.

In 1922 a separate sleeping block, the Josef Dorn Haus was built and in 1925 the then manager of the hut, Hans Eisenmann, created a climbing area through the Wilde Gschloß, the present-day Jubiläumssteig.

During the Second World War the Grutten Hut was commandeered, and it remained closed until 1951 after the border opening when there was a great influx into the Tyrol.