Refuge de la Douve

Refuge de la Douve sits at 2,500m in the Chaîne de la Vanoise, east of Modane. Approach from Modane via the Vallée de l'Arcelle: allow 4–5 hours on foot following marked paths through larch and alpine meadow. The hut serves as a base for peaks in the surrounding massif and sits at the intersection of several established hiking routes. Snow blocks the lower approaches until late May most years.
The refuge is a small mountain shelter with 5 beds across simple dormitory accommodation. It operates year-round but sees regular use only from June to September when snow coverage is minimal. The hut has no running water—melt snow or collect from streams nearby. You bring or cook your own food; there is a stove for heating. The warden visits periodically during summer months. Expect basic shelter rather than hospitality.
Contact the Parc National de la Vanoise office in Modane for current access conditions and warden presence. Book via direct contact only; there is no online system. July and August require advance notice. Winter ascents are possible but demand winter mountaineering skills and self-sufficiency.