Refuge de Chavan
4.3About
Refuge de Chavan sits at 1600m in the Haute-Savoie, serving hikers working the trails around the northern Préalpes. The hut lies on the route between Vallée Verte and the Chaîne du Reposoir massif. Most parties approach via the Vallée Verte valley, reaching the refuge in 2–3 hours on foot. Winter access is unreliable; use this hut for summer and early autumn hiking.
The refuge holds 14 beds across simple dormitory rooms. The warden provides a cooked evening meal and breakfast; bring a packed lunch or eat early before departing. There is running water and basic toilets. Showers and WiFi are not available—this is a working mountain refuge, not a hotel. The building runs from mid-June through September, depending on snow conditions and staffing. Book meals when you reserve your bed.
Phone ahead to confirm availability and reserve both your bed and dinner. July and August fill quickly, especially weekends; contact in May or June for summer dates. The warden speaks French primarily. Arrive by mid-afternoon to eat dinner at a reasonable hour. The refuge sits on a working farm, so respect the property and keep noise low in the evenings.
The refuge holds 14 beds across simple dormitory rooms. The warden provides a cooked evening meal and breakfast; bring a packed lunch or eat early before departing. There is running water and basic toilets. Showers and WiFi are not available—this is a working mountain refuge, not a hotel. The building runs from mid-June through September, depending on snow conditions and staffing. Book meals when you reserve your bed.
Phone ahead to confirm availability and reserve both your bed and dinner. July and August fill quickly, especially weekends; contact in May or June for summer dates. The warden speaks French primarily. Arrive by mid-afternoon to eat dinner at a reasonable hour. The refuge sits on a working farm, so respect the property and keep noise low in the evenings.
Frequently Asked Questions
Call ahead directly—the refuge takes reservations by phone and fills quickly in July and August, so aim for at least a month ahead for peak season.
Open June to September; winter access is unreliable, so stick to summer and early autumn.
Approach from Vallée Verte valley on foot—the hike takes 2–3 hours to reach the refuge at 1600m.
The warden provides cooked dinner and breakfast; there are no showers or WiFi, so bring a packed lunch and be ready to rough it.
Yes, the 2–3 hour approach and low elevation make it accessible for reasonably fit hikers new to Alpine refuges, though the basic facilities mean you need to be comfortable without mod cons.
Location
46.1826, 6.5632
HutLists Score
4.3
Overall
Facilities
Access
Season
Based on facilities, access, and how reliably the hut is open.
Quick Facts
- Managing club
- FFCAM
- Total
- 14
Facilities
Meals served
Contact & Booking
- Phone
- +33 4 50 73 09 35; +33 9 88 99 63 79
- Website
- http://www.refuges.info/point/3740/refuge-garde/chablais/refuge-de-chavan/
Activities
Featured In
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