Refuge de Mévonne

Refuge de Mévonne sits at 1,960m in the Chaîne de la Umbra, east of Samoëns in the Haute-Savoie. The main approach is from Samoëns village: follow the GR5 trail towards Lac de Gers, then branch towards Mévonne. Expect 2.5 to 3 hours from the village car park. The route gains 800m steadily through forest and pasture. Winter access is unreliable above 1,500m; the hut operates year-round but Alpine snow blocks approaches from November through April.
The refuge takes 40 guests in simple dormitory rooms. Meals are served in the common dining area: the warden prepares substantial dinners and breakfasts using local ingredients. No showers are available, but there is a cold-water washbasin outside. The hut has a wood stove for warmth and a small bar area. It operates continuously, though mid-week visits outside summer receive fewer prepared meals. This is a walker's hut, not a climbing base, with routes to Lac Blanc and Mont Buron nearby.
Book directly by email or phone at least two weeks in advance for July and August. The hut fills on weekends year-round. Email contact is preferred for reservations and menu requests; phone calls are best for immediate inquiries. Autumn brings fewer visitors but reliable weather for valley hiking. The warden closes the hut only for one week in early November for maintenance.