Top 6 mountain huts around Briançon in Hautes-Alpes
Hiking, skiing, snowshoeing, climbing, mountain biking... Winter or summer, there are a thousand and one reasons to discover the Southern Alps, and above all their refuges! The Hautes-Alpes department has around forty of them. Some are easily accessible, while others are several hours' walk away in the high mountains. Here's our selection of favorite refuges accessible from Briançon: real havens of peace for mountain lovers, with privileged access to unspoilt valleys and emblematic peaks (like those of the Écrins or Clarée massifs).
N.B. You can find all public transport solutions from Briançon on the montaltigo.fr website!
1. Refuge de Buffère (Clarée valley)
In the upper Clarée valley lies a charming alpine chalet, the refuge de Buffère, which has been open winter and summer since 1990. Refuge Buffère can be reached on foot or by ski touring from the village of Névache. It's the ideal stopover for your itinerant hikes on the Tour du Thabor, or your base camp for a contemplative and rejuvenating stay, solo or with the family!
Altitude: 2076 meters.
Open: late December to mid-April (winter) and mid-June to mid-September (summer).
Capacity: 42 places in small rooms in two chalets.
Access: from Briançon, a shuttle bus will take you to Névache (line 7 Briançon-Névache). Then, from Névache, you can reach the refuge on foot in summer (approx. 1h30 walk, +516 m ascent) or by ski touring* or snowshoeing in winter (1h30 to 2h on snowshoes).
Photo : © Cédric Tempier - Last-ditch efforts in dreamy landscapes
*Of course, for all your outings - ski touring, snowshoeing, etc. - we strongly advise you to be accompanied by a professional, by contacting a local mountain guide office! You can find a list of mountain guides in Clarée via this link.
Photo : © Cédric Tempier - Alpine chalet near the refuge
Why do we love it?
- For its environmental commitment: solar showers, dry toilets...
- Because it's the first refuge in France to have a carbon footprint!
- For its “cocooning” atmosphere and comfort: electricity, hot showers, lounge area with library and games...
- For its healthy, refined cuisine (using organic and/or local produce). Benjamin tasted the coral lentil velouté, the vegetable tart and the small spelt risotto from the Hautes-Alpes. “That day, everything was very good and mostly vegan!”
- For his homemade alcohol-free ginger beer, Benjamin's favorite!
Photo : © Patrick Domeyne - The magic of snow-covered landscapes around the refuge in winter
To discover around the refuge de Buffère
In winter
If you like ski touring, the Buffère refuge is an ideal starting point, whatever your level:
- For snowshoe enthusiasts and cross-country skiers: the Col de Buffère (and its exceptional view!)
- For intermediate skiers: La Buffère Trace (a signposted but unsecured itinerary that takes you to the Echaillon ridge), Crête de Baude or traversée de l'Echaillon
- For advanced skiers: Vallon de Cristol, Le Grand Aréa
Find out more about these 6 ski touring itineraries here !
Photo : © Cédric Tempier - La Buffère Trace: a hike tested and approved by Tolt!
Our founder Benjamin has also tested for you a superb 2-day ski touring micro-adventure in the Hautes-Alpes from Paris!
To find out more, click here:
Photo : © Cédric Tempier - Micro-adventure ski touring in the Hautes-Alpes!
In summer
In summer, a number of easy hikes are also available from the refuge:
- 1-hour walk: Lac de Privé
- 1h30 hikes: Crête de Baude, Col de Buffère
- 2h walks: Côte Rouge, lakes and Col de Cristol (easy, 1h30 from Buffère to the large Lac de Cristol and 2h to Col de Cristol).
More walks to discover here !
If you're lucky, you'll come across a wealth of biodiversity along the way: roe deer, stag, marmot, chamois, ibex, squirrel, boreal tit...
2. Refuge Laval (Clarée valley)
Still in the magnificent Clarée valley, refuge Laval - completely rebuilt in chalet style - is a perfect base camp for discovering the superb scenery of the Cerces massif.
Altitude: 2010 mètres.
Open: late January to mid-April (winter) and mid-June to mid-September (summer), for stays of up to 4 days.
Capacity: 38 people, divided into 6 upstairs dormitories.
Access: 5-minute walk from the Laval parking lot in summer (please note that the road is restricted in summer, so you'll have to take a shuttle bus). From Ville-Haute, via the hiking trails in summer (approx. 3h walk, +430 m ascent). In winter, from the Ville-Haute parking lot in Névache, by ski touring, cross-country skiing or snowshoeing along the snow-covered road (approx. 3h).
Photo : © T. Poinas - The warmth of the Laval refuge in summer
Why do we love it?
- For its warm ambience in front of the beautiful masonry stove (“Tulikivi”) and its comfort (hot showers, clothes dryer that works in summer and winter...),
- For its generous cuisine and tasty homemade desserts,
- For its location: nestled against a rock, at the bottom of the upper Clarée valley, and at the start of all the most beautiful hikes!
Photo : © Alpes photographies - The superb colors of the Haute Clarée in autumn!
What to discover around the refuge de Laval
In summer
It's the ideal base camp for hikes between the Cerces and the Thabor:
- Easy hikes: Lac long et rond des Muandes (1h30 one way), Lacs de la Clarée (2h one way)
- Medium hikes: Lac des Béraudes (1h30 one way)
- Difficult hikes: Mont Thabor (4h/5h one way), Pointe des Cerces (4h/5h one way)
In winter
This is the ideal place for snowshoeing, cross-country skiing or ski touring. You can find 3 ideas for winter itineraries from the refuge here.
3. Refuge de Chamoissière (Alpe map)
Departing from Villar d'Arène or the Col du Lautaret, the refuge de Chamoissière is just as suitable for a sporting weekend as a contemplative one. Situated in the heart of the Alpine pastures on the Plan de l'Alpe, at the foot of the glaciers and at the gateway to the Ecrins National Park, this superb chalet refuge was created from an old sheepfold restored using traditional ecological materials, and is self-sufficient in terms of renewable hydro-wind-solar energy.
Altitude: 2106 meters.
Open: mid-March to early May and early June to mid-September.
Capacity: 22 people in rooms + a chalet-bivouac for 2 people + a comfortable tent on stilts for hikers.
Access: from Briançon, a bus (line LER 55) will take you to the Col du Lautaret or Villar d'Arène. You can then access the Chamoissière refuge from the Col du Lautaret road via the Belvédère de l'Homme: - Allow 1h30 to 2h for the ascent along the path from Arsine (+506 m ascent). If you're starting from Villar d'Arène (bus drop-off point), add 30 minutes to your walking time. - via the Crevasses path from the Col du Lautaret, only in summer: approx. 1h30, with a slightly vertiginous but easy passage, equipped and maintained with cables (caution: dogs are not allowed).
Photo : © Thibaut Blais - Le refuge en hiver : l’occasion de découvrir les raquettes ou le ski de rando !
Why do we like it?
- For its comfort: heated bathroom, hot showers, large dining room seating 20 with wood-burning stove.
For its terraces all around the chalet, where you can enjoy views of the peaks from dawn to dusk (with superb views of Roche Méane and Les Agneaux).
What to discover around the Chamoissière refuge
In summer
Numerous hikes are available from the refuge, including:
- Les Sources de la Romance (3h round trip and 150 m D+)
- Les lacs glaciaires d'Arsine (3h round trip and 430 m D+)
- Access to the Adèle Planchard (4h30 and 1150m D+) and Pavé (3h30 and 850m D+) refuges
For a list of hikes accessible from the refuge, click here!
In winter
The refuge is also the starting point for a number of ski touring routes in winter:
- Le Pic de Chamoissière (3207m): return trip
- Pic de Neige Cordier (3614m): round trip
- Le Sommet des Agneaux (3664m): round trip
- La Grande Ruine (3765m): round trip
- Le Vallon du Pavé
4. Refuge du Chardonnet (Clarée valley)
In the heart of the upper Clarée valley, on the border between forest and alpine pastures, at the foot of the limestone cliffs of the Cerces, nestles the refuge du Chardonnet. This base camp is ideal for nature lovers, hikers, skiers and climbers. You can spend the night here, or simply enjoy its panoramic terrace and homemade, organic, local cuisine.
Photo : © Thibault Blais - The Chardonnet refuge in winter
Photo : © Thibault Blais - The Chardonnet refuge in summer
Altitude: 2227 meters.
Open: January to April and June to September.
Capacity: 39 people.
Access: In summer, from Névache (Ville Haute), a 3-hour hike takes you up 630 meters to reach the refuge. First cross the Clarée at the Outre bridge to the Rately bridge, then head for Foncouverte. You can also take the Haute Vallée shuttle bus (July and August) to the Fontcouverte parking lot. From there, it's just 1.5 hours to the refuge! In winter, you must leave from Névache (Ville-Haute).
Why do we like it?
- For its comfort: the refuge offers small dormitories for four to six people (sheets are provided - but don't forget to bring a meat bag!) as well as hot showers and indoor sanitary facilities.
- For its generous homemade cuisine (Tolt tells us that the truffle and porcini ravioli are excellent).
- For its ideal location in the heart of the Chardonnet valley, at the foot of the limestone cliffs!
What to discover around the refuge du Chardonnet
The refuge du Chardonnet is the starting point for a wide range of hikes, both summer and winter, from day trips to itinerant tours.
In summer
In summer, several passes and itineraries are possible from the refuge, including the Col du Chardonnet, the Tour des Cerces and the Col des Béraudes. It's also an ideal base camp for climbing in the Cerces.
- Easy hike: Col du Chardonnet, 1h30 one way from the refuge. From Foncouverte, you can also do a 6 km loop that takes you through the refuge and back to Foncouverte in around 2h30.
- Medium hike: from the refuge, it takes (only) 4 km and 460 m of ascent to reach the Crête de Chardonnet, an ascent of around 1h30.
- Difficult hikes: if you're more experienced, you can do a loop from the refuge and climb the Col de Béraudes. You'll pass by the beautiful Lac de Béraudes. This loop takes just under 7 hours, covering no less than 16.7 km and 1,020 m of ascent!
In winter
If you like ski touring, there's no shortage of opportunities for adventure. You can head for the Pic Ombière or the Grande Manche, between towering cliffs or up the slopes of the Cerces.
You can also take your snowshoes up to the Col du Chardonnet: allow 2 hours for the ascent and 1h30 for the descent, for a distance of around 7 km!
Photo : © Cédric Tempier - Tolt and his fellow adventurers, from the Chardonnet refuge!
5. Refuge du Galibier (Col du Galibier)
Near Briançon and Serre-Chevalier, on the border between the Hautes-Alpes and Savoie (Valloire), the refuge Galibier owes its name to the mythical Col du Galibier, 100 meters higher up. The refuge is guarded in summer and winter, after a climb of around 2 hours (580D+) in breathtaking surroundings.
Photo : © Cédric Tempier - The Galibier refuge, on the route des Grands Cols, 100 m from the summit of the legendary Galibier pass
Altitude: 2556 meters.
Open: summer and winter.
Capacity: 5 dormitory rooms.
Access: by ski touring or snowshoeing in winter, from the parking lot beside the D1091, via the old Mandettes road (more info here); by bike or on foot in summer, from Saint Michel de Maurienne via Savoie or from the Col du Lautaret via the Hautes-Alpes (more info here).
Why do we like it?
- For the Beau Refuge bar-restaurant, with its local cuisine, craft beers (Galibier) and splendid views from the terrace,
- For the incredible plunging view over the Serre Chevalier valley and peaks (such as the Pic Blanc and the Trois-Évêchés).
What to discover around the Galibier refuge
In summer
Numerous trails and hikes are accessible from the refuge:
- the Petit Galibier Ouest
- the descent to the Serre Chevalier valley (old Galibier route)
- Grand Galibier: 8.2 km / 750m ascent (classified as difficult)
- Pic Blanc du Galibier: 4.7km / 427m ascent (classified as difficult)
In winter
Ski touring :
- Pic Blanc du Galibier
- Petit Galibier Ouest
- Tête noire (or tête des mandettes)
- Goléon refuge via Col de la Charraz
- Arves' refuge des Aiguillesvia the Argentière ridge
- hike to the massif Clarée-Thabor refuge
Snowshoeing:
- climb to the Galibier road pass
- loop to Col Géographique (Sarde milestone) du Galibier
6. Clot des Vaches refuge (Cerces massif)
Let's finish off this top tip with the efuge du Clot des Vaches: a brand-new mountain refuge in the Serre Chevalier valley! A real cosy nest, it guarantees optimum comfort in the sumptuous Cerces massif.
Photo : © Office de tourisme Serre Chevalier Vallée Briançon - The pretty Clot des Vaches refuge
Altitude: 2250 meters.
Opening: open almost 10 months out of 12 (more info here)!
Capacity: 30 people.
Access: approx. 1h30 walk from the Pont de l'Alpe parking lot (accessible by shuttle bus from the valley's villages).
Why do we like it?
- For the special attention paid to the environment: photovoltaic panels, local materials (“Bois des Alpes” label), recycled insulation, Gold-level “Bâtiment Durable Méditerranéen” label...
- For the educational value of the 13 information panels designed to help hikers discover the flora and fauna (and the history of the Chardonnet mines): a fun way for young and old alike to learn about biodiversity and local history!
Read also:
- The most beautiful towns and villages in the Hautes-Alpes
- What to do around Briançon?
And to find out more, visit our dedicated Briançon's guide!
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