Cabin des Martinaux

Cabane des Martinaux sits at 1672m in the Chaîne de Belledonne, east of Grenoble. Reach it from the village of Pinsot (road access via Saint-Pierre-de-Chartreuse). The trail climbs roughly 700m over 2.5 to 3 hours depending on your pace and route choice. The hut lies on the GR55 long-distance path and serves as a logical halt for walkers traversing the range. Summer conditions (June to September) make this a straightforward day-hike destination or overnight stop.
The cabin is a simple affair—unmanned and unstaffed. It provides basic shelter, sleeping capacity for a handful of people on mattresses or wooden benches, and a wood stove for warmth. Bring your own food, water, and sleeping bag. No meals, no electricity, no running water. The hut depends entirely on self-sufficiency and respect from users. It remains open year-round, though winter access requires snowshoe or ski skills and mountain sense.
This is a refuge for hikers who want neither plumbing nor company—ideal for groups planning a night out without the logistics of a staffed hut. Check conditions with the local FFCAM club or the Pinsot mairie before heading up, especially outside summer. No booking system exists; arrivals are first-come, first-served. Carry a headtorch, spare fuel, and a map—GPS alone will let you down in cloud.