Cabanes du Talon
2.5
Alpes-Maritimes, France
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About
Cabanes du Talon sits at 1,920m in the Alpes-Maritimes, deep in the Parc National du Mercantour. The hut lies in the upper Vallée de la Gordolasque, accessed from the village of Saint-Martin-Vésubie via a rough track and then hiking. Most parties hike in via the GR5 or approach from the Refuge de la Madone de Fenestre, a 4–5 hour trek that gains 800m. The site works as a basecamp for traverses across the Mercantour and as a staging point for ascents of Cime du Diable (2,687m) or scrambles along the ridges toward the Italian border.
The refuge operates as basic mountain shelters with sleeping capacity around 20 people across multiple small buildings. Expect dormitory-style bedding and a cookhouse where you prepare your own meals; there's no staffed kitchen or meals service. Water comes from meltwater and streams nearby. The hut has no shower or heating—bring a sleeping bag rated for cold nights even in summer. Open roughly late May through September, depending on snow melt. The site is unguarded outside peak season.
Book through the Parc National du Mercantour or contact local guides in Saint-Martin-Vésubie; the hut has no resident guardian or direct booking line. Arrive self-sufficient with food, fuel, and water purification. July and August see frequent use; plan your supply approach accordingly. The site attracts fewer people than valley huts, but its remoteness and basic facilities demand solid mountain judgment.
The refuge operates as basic mountain shelters with sleeping capacity around 20 people across multiple small buildings. Expect dormitory-style bedding and a cookhouse where you prepare your own meals; there's no staffed kitchen or meals service. Water comes from meltwater and streams nearby. The hut has no shower or heating—bring a sleeping bag rated for cold nights even in summer. Open roughly late May through September, depending on snow melt. The site is unguarded outside peak season.
Book through the Parc National du Mercantour or contact local guides in Saint-Martin-Vésubie; the hut has no resident guardian or direct booking line. Arrive self-sufficient with food, fuel, and water purification. July and August see frequent use; plan your supply approach accordingly. The site attracts fewer people than valley huts, but its remoteness and basic facilities demand solid mountain judgment.
Frequently Asked Questions
Book 2–3 months ahead for July and August; spring and autumn are less crowded and need less advance notice.
Cabanes du Talon operates June to September, though conditions can close access earlier in spring or later in autumn.
Hike from Refuge de la Madone de Fenestre (4–5 hours, +800m gain) or via the GR5; approach trailhead at Saint-Martin-Vésubie village.
Basic mountain hut with dormitory beds; meals and water are provided but facilities are minimal—bring a sleeping bag and expect rustic conditions.
No—the approach hikes are steep and exposed, and the hut is a mountaineering basecamp for experienced hikers tackling 2,600m+ peaks and scrambles.
Location
44.2845, 6.6696
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2.5
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