Baraque de Boulac
1.0
1,500m
Hautes-Alpes, France
About
Baraque de Boulac sits at 1500m in the Hautes-Alpes, on the eastern flank of the Dévoluy massif. You reach it from the Gorges de Varaïte by a steep forest trail that gains 700m in roughly 2.5 hours. The route starts near the hamlet of Sigoyer and climbs through beech woodland before breaking into open alpine pasture. The hut sits on a broad col with good views across the Dévoluy toward the Écrins range to the east. This is a solid base for winter mountaineering on the Pic de Bure (2709m) and summer scrambles across the massif.
Baraque de Boulac is a small, self-catering refuge run by FFCAM. It has around 20 places split between a dormitory and smaller rooms. Water comes from a spring; there is no electricity. You cook your own meals on gas stoves. The hut opens year-round for self-sufficient parties, though winter access can be difficult after heavy snow. Summer weekends and school holidays draw hikers tackling the Chaîne du Dévoluy traverse, so book ahead for July and August.
Contact FFCAM directly through their website or call ahead to confirm current conditions and availability. Winter visits require self-sufficiency: bring a sleeping bag, stove fuel, and enough food. The hut is exposed to north winds, so expect it to be cold even in summer.
Baraque de Boulac is a small, self-catering refuge run by FFCAM. It has around 20 places split between a dormitory and smaller rooms. Water comes from a spring; there is no electricity. You cook your own meals on gas stoves. The hut opens year-round for self-sufficient parties, though winter access can be difficult after heavy snow. Summer weekends and school holidays draw hikers tackling the Chaîne du Dévoluy traverse, so book ahead for July and August.
Contact FFCAM directly through their website or call ahead to confirm current conditions and availability. Winter visits require self-sufficiency: bring a sleeping bag, stove fuel, and enough food. The hut is exposed to north winds, so expect it to be cold even in summer.
Frequently Asked Questions
Book 2–3 months ahead for summer weekends; this hut is less crowded than major Ecrins refuges, so spontaneous visits are often possible outside July–August.
Baraque de Boulac is staffed June to September for summer hiking and mountaineering; it's also accessible in winter for ski touring and winter climbing, though you must be self-sufficient.
Start from Sigoyer in the Gorges de Varaïte and hike the steep forest trail; it's 700m elevation gain over roughly 2.5 hours through beech woodland to the col at 1500m.
Expect basic mountain hut conditions: dormitory beds, simple meals if staffed, and water on-site; no showers, so plan accordingly.
No—the 700m forest approach is steep and relentless, and this is primarily a mountaineering base for winter ascents of Pic de Bure (2709m) and ski touring; only go if you're fit and experienced in alpine terrain.
Quick Facts
- Season
- –
- Total
- Dormitory
- Emergency
- Private rooms
Facilities
Contact & Booking
- Phone
- Website