Refuge de Boules
3.6About
Refuge de Boules sits at 1698m in the Alpes-Maritimes, on the eastern flank of the Mercantour massif. The hut sits above the Vallée de la Vésubie, roughly 4.5 hours' walk from the hamlet of Roquebillière via the GR5 trail. The approach climbs steadily through mixed forest and opens onto alpine meadow in the final hour. You can also approach from the north via Belvédère (5 hours), a longer route that feels less travelled.
The refuge is tiny: 3 beds across two small rooms. Meals are basic—expect soup, pasta or polenta, cheese, and fruit. The guardian (when present) provides water and cooking facilities; you'll cook your own main course or eat packed food if the hut is unstaffed. No shower. The hut sits on a key mountaineering access point for routes into the Mercantour and toward Mont Bégo (2872m). Winter access is unreliable; the hut operates roughly May to September depending on snow conditions and the guardian's schedule.
Contact the FFCAM section for the Vallée de la Vésubie before planning—the hut's staffing is irregular and advance notice improves your chances of finding the door unlocked. Numbers can change; check locally in Roquebillière or Belvédère. This is a working mountaineer's shelter, not a tourism destination. Bring a sleeping bag and expect self-sufficiency.
The refuge is tiny: 3 beds across two small rooms. Meals are basic—expect soup, pasta or polenta, cheese, and fruit. The guardian (when present) provides water and cooking facilities; you'll cook your own main course or eat packed food if the hut is unstaffed. No shower. The hut sits on a key mountaineering access point for routes into the Mercantour and toward Mont Bégo (2872m). Winter access is unreliable; the hut operates roughly May to September depending on snow conditions and the guardian's schedule.
Contact the FFCAM section for the Vallée de la Vésubie before planning—the hut's staffing is irregular and advance notice improves your chances of finding the door unlocked. Numbers can change; check locally in Roquebillière or Belvédère. This is a working mountaineer's shelter, not a tourism destination. Bring a sleeping bag and expect self-sufficiency.
Frequently Asked Questions
Book at least 2–3 months ahead, especially for July and August; the hut has only 3 beds so it fills quickly.
The refuge is typically open June to September, depending on snow conditions and staffing—contact ahead to confirm.
From Roquebillière, take the GR5 trail for 4.5 hours (steady climb through forest then alpine meadow); alternatively approach from Belvédère in 5 hours.
The hut offers basic meals and has 3 beds in two small rooms; bring a sleeping bag and expect minimal comfort.
No—the 4.5-hour approach is steady but relentless, and the tiny capacity makes it a destination for experienced hikers or mountaineers doing longer routes in the Mercantour.
Location
44.1612, 6.5078
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3.6
Overall
Facilities
Access
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Based on facilities, access, and how reliably the hut is open.
Quick Facts
- Managing club
- FFCAM
- Total
- 3
Facilities
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