Cabin de l'Écuelle

Cabane de l'Écuelle sits at 2,228m in the Alpes-de-Haute-Provence, a tiny refuge serving hikers and mountaineers working the high passes and peaks of the southern French Alps. Access is on foot from the Vallée de l'Ubaye. The hut is a 4–5 hour walk from the nearest road-end trailhead, making it a serious day's approach through alpine terrain. This is working hut country, not a tourist destination.
The cabin sleeps 4 people in a single room and offers basic shelter, water, and a stove for cooking. There are no caretakers, no meals, and no services—you bring all food and fuel. The hut is open year-round but only usable in summer and early autumn when snow clears and the approach is passable. Winter access requires winter mountaineering skills. Facilities are minimal: an outdoor toilet and a small internal water source.
This is a climber's refuge, not a booking hut. There is no telephone contact or online reservation system. Access is first-come, first-served. Register in the visitor book and pay the honesty box (around €5–10). Check conditions locally in Barcelonnette before heading out, as storms and snow can render the approach dangerous. The hut is managed informally by local mountain users and the FFCAM. In July and August, expect others but never crowds—the isolation and lack of facilities keep numbers very low.