Rifugio Francesco Gonella

Rifugio Francesco Gonella sits at 3,073m on the Italian side of Mont Blanc, accessible from the Vallée de la Thuile. The approach takes 3–4 hours from Rifugio Maison Vieille (2,540m), following a steep trail through alpine meadows and scree. This is serious terrain: crampons and an ice axe are standard kit in early summer. The hut sits directly on the Mont Blanc massif climbing route, making it a staging point for ascents of Gran Paradiso and Mont Blanc approaches via the southern ridge.
The rifugio offers 24 beds in small dorms. The Italian management (CAI—Club Alpino Italiano) provides hot meals and drinking water. The hut operates year-round but is most reliably staffed June through September. Winter access requires mountaineering experience and carries objective avalanche and rockfall risk. Facilities are basic: no showers, no mobile signal, and power is limited. Expect cold nights even in July. The hut kitchen handles dietary requirements if notified in advance.
Book directly by phone with the hut manager. July and August fill 4–6 weeks ahead, particularly for groups planning Mont Blanc traverses. May and June are quieter but weather is unpredictable. July onwards is settled. Phone contact details are available through the CAI website (cai.it) or through the Vallée de la Thuile tourist office. Arrive with cash (card payments are unreliable). The hut sits in both the Parc National de la Vanoise (French side) and Gran Paradiso National Park boundaries—check regulations if planning off-trail mountaineering.