Ancolie Bleue

Refuge de l'Ancolie Bleue sits at 2,641m on the Plateau d'Emparis, a high limestone terrace east of Grenoble. You reach it from the hamlet of Entraigues (15 minutes southeast of Vizille) via a rough track suitable only for 4WD vehicles—most hikers take the marked trail from Entraigues, which takes 3.5 to 4 hours. The hut serves as a natural base for traversing the plateau and accessing peaks like Mont Aiguille, Pic de la Grave, and the Chaîne de Belledonne. Day hikes radiate in all directions across open grassland and limestone scree.
The refuge is small and basic, with capacity for around 20 people in dormitory-style rooms. The guardian serves meals (dinner and breakfast included with overnight stays), and water comes from a spring. There is no electricity or hot showers. The hut operates seasonally from June to September, weather dependent. Winter access is possible only on foot or ski. This is not a destination for comfort; it exists for mountain access and self-sufficiency.
Book by phone well ahead for July and August—weekends fill quickly. Outside high summer, booking a few weeks in advance is usually sufficient. Call to confirm water availability and weather conditions before heading up, especially in early June or late September when conditions can change rapidly. The guardian lives on-site and can provide current trail conditions and advice on longer mountain traverses.