About
Cabane du Vallonet sits at 2,437m in the Parc National des Écrins, in the Vallouise valley south of Ailefroide. The approach takes 3–3.5 hours from Ailefroide village on a well-marked trail that gains 950m steadily through larch forest and alpine meadow. The cabin works as a base for climbs on Pic Coolidge (3,774m) and other granite peaks in the Ailefroide massif, or as a waypoint for traverses linking the Écrins valleys. Summer access is reliable by foot; winter approaches are serious and technical.
The cabin is a simple stone structure run by the FFCAM with capacity for 30 people in dormitories. Meals are provided: dinner and breakfast when the guardian is present. Water comes from a reliable spring. The toilet is outside. The cabin opens mid-June to late September depending on conditions and staffing. It fills quickly in July and August on settled weather weekends. The guardian may be absent mid-week in shoulder season, so confirm before arrival if you need meals.
Book directly with the FFCAM Ailefroide section or through the Parc National des Écrins office. July and August require booking at least 4–6 weeks ahead. June and September are quieter. Most climbers arrive Friday or Saturday; mid-week ascents have fewer people on the peaks and more available beds.
The cabin is a simple stone structure run by the FFCAM with capacity for 30 people in dormitories. Meals are provided: dinner and breakfast when the guardian is present. Water comes from a reliable spring. The toilet is outside. The cabin opens mid-June to late September depending on conditions and staffing. It fills quickly in July and August on settled weather weekends. The guardian may be absent mid-week in shoulder season, so confirm before arrival if you need meals.
Book directly with the FFCAM Ailefroide section or through the Parc National des Écrins office. July and August require booking at least 4–6 weeks ahead. June and September are quieter. Most climbers arrive Friday or Saturday; mid-week ascents have fewer people on the peaks and more available beds.
Frequently Asked Questions
Book 2–3 months ahead for July and August; earlier dates are usually available with less notice.
Open June to September; staffed weekends in June and daily from mid-July through August.
Hike 3–3.5 hours from Ailefroide village, gaining 950m on a well-marked trail through larch forest and alpine meadow.
Dorm beds, basic meals (dinner and breakfast), and a water source; no shower or hot water.
The approach hike is feasible for fit hill walkers, but the cabin is primarily a mountaineering base for climbers tackling the Ailefroide granite peaks.
Location
44.4878, 6.8435
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