Demanding
About
Cabane de la Guinchée stands at 1,664m in the Alpes-Maritimes, deep in the backcountry between the Vallée de la Vésubie and Vallée de la Tinée. Access is on foot only: 4–5 hours from the Pont de Turini car park via the GR5, or 3–4 hours from Belvédère via the Gorges de la Maglia and Col de la Lombarde. This is serious terrain, not a waymarked day walk. Snow can block routes until May.
The cabin is a basic refuge: 2 beds, a wood stove, and a hand pump for water. There is no guardian, no meals served, and no electricity. You bring all food and fuel. The season runs June through September, though the exact opening depends on snow melt. Winter access is dangerous and rarely attempted. The hut works best as a high camp for climbers targeting peaks in the Parc National du Mercantour, or as a stopping point on a multi-day traverse.
Book well ahead if you want the beds; space fills quickly in July and August. Contact the FFCAM section Mercantour or check with the Maison du Parc in Saint-Martin-Vésubie for current conditions and keys. Expect to carry everything in and out, including all rubbish. Water is reliable from the spring, but purify it or boil it first.
The cabin is a basic refuge: 2 beds, a wood stove, and a hand pump for water. There is no guardian, no meals served, and no electricity. You bring all food and fuel. The season runs June through September, though the exact opening depends on snow melt. Winter access is dangerous and rarely attempted. The hut works best as a high camp for climbers targeting peaks in the Parc National du Mercantour, or as a stopping point on a multi-day traverse.
Book well ahead if you want the beds; space fills quickly in July and August. Contact the FFCAM section Mercantour or check with the Maison du Parc in Saint-Martin-Vésubie for current conditions and keys. Expect to carry everything in and out, including all rubbish. Water is reliable from the spring, but purify it or boil it first.
Frequently Asked Questions
Contact the hut directly as far ahead as possible—it has only 2 beds and no guardian, so availability is limited and arrangements must be made privately.
Accessible from June onwards once snow clears; routes may be blocked until May. There is no staffed season or guardian.
4–5 hours from Pont de Turini car park via the GR5, or 3–4 hours from Belvédère via the Gorges de la Maglia and Col de la Lombarde; foot access only.
2 beds, a wood stove, and a hand pump for water; no guardian and no meals served—bring all food and be self-sufficient.
No—this is serious backcountry terrain with unmarked sections, route-finding required, and a long approach; experience in Alpine navigation is essential.
Location
43.8487, 6.6126
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HutLists Score
1.2
Overall
Facilities
Access
Season
Based on facilities, access, and how reliably the hut is open.
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