La Poutouille

Refuge de la Poutouille sits at 1446m in the Chaîne de la Forclaz, above the Val d'Illiez in Haute-Savoie. The main approach is from Trémorgin: follow the marked trail climbing steadily southeast through forest and open meadow for 2 hours and 45 minutes. The hut works as a base for winter ski touring and summer hiking across the northern Chablais massif. You can also reach it from Col de Coux in 3 hours, a longer but less crowded route. Trail conditions are reliable year-round, though snow closes the approaches above 1200m from November to May.
The refuge is a small, simple operation with around 30 beds in mixed dormitories. Meals focus on hearty mountain food: evening menus typically run €18–22 for three courses. Breakfast costs €8. They serve hot drinks and snacks throughout the day. Solar panels provide basic power; water comes from a spring. The hut has no showers. Toilets are outside. The FFCAM-affiliated refuge opens mid-June through mid-September for summer hiking, and again from December through March for ski touring. Outside these windows, contact the guardians first.
Book 4–6 weeks ahead for July and August weekends, earlier if you're planning a group visit. Phone or email the refuge directly; they sometimes accept walk-ins outside peak periods but don't count on it. July and August are busiest. June and September offer quieter conditions and reliably good weather.