Cabin Forestière de Fontfroide

2.7

Cabane Forestière de Fontfroide

1,540m Hautes-Alpes, France Write a review
Easy

About

Cabane Forestière de Fontfroide sits at 1540m in the Hautes-Alpes, deep in the Parc National des Écrins. You reach it from the Vallée du Fournel via a hiking path that takes 2–3 hours depending on your fitness and the snow line. The cabin serves as a base for scrambling routes, day walks through alpine meadows, and access to higher peaks in the massif. Winter approaches are harder; check conditions before attempting travel in December through March.

The cabin sleeps 5 people in simple dormitory or mixed arrangement. It has a wood stove for heating, basic kitchen equipment, and cold running water. Bring your own food, fuel, or contact the guardian beforehand if provisions are needed. There are no meals provided, no showers, and no electricity. The season is June through September; winter use requires advance arrangement with the Parc National des Écrins. This is a true mountain refuge, not a staffed hut—expect self-sufficiency and an early start if you're summiting nearby peaks.

Book through the Parc National des Écrins office in Gap or contact local hiking clubs affiliated with FFCAM (Fédération Française des Clubs Alpins et de Montagne). July and August are busy; aim to confirm your stay 4–6 weeks ahead. Outside peak season, a phone call to the guardian days before arrival usually secures a bed. Bring a headtorch, a warm sleeping bag, and water purification tablets.

Frequently Asked Questions

Contact the refuge manager directly as far ahead as possible; with only 5 beds, availability is extremely limited and booking windows vary.
Open year-round, but winter access (December–March) is difficult and requires avalanche awareness; summer is June to October for reliable conditions.
Hike from Vallée du Fournel on a marked path; allow 2–3 hours depending on fitness and snow coverage.
Simple dormitory with 5 beds total; bring a sleeping bag and expect basic, communal accommodation.
Not ideal for beginners; the remote location, tiny capacity, and winter access difficulty suit experienced hikers planning scrambles or peak attempts.

Location

45.0896, 5.8669
Directions OpenStreetMap

Plan your visit

Get directions

Need a hotel nearby?

Staying in Hautes-Alpes before or after your hike? Compare hotels on Booking.com.

Search hotels in Hautes-Alpes

Booked through Booking.com — we may earn a commission at no extra cost to you. More

Don't forget to book

This hut takes bookings direct, so beds go to whoever asks first. Tell us your dates and we'll email you when it's time to reserve — with the hut's contact details.

We can't watch this hut's availability — it books direct. Give us your arrival date and we'll email you when it's time to get in touch, with the hut's phone and email.

Independent of the hut and its alpine club. We never book or hold beds — the reminder just tells you when to get in touch, with the hut's own contact details.

HutLists Score

2.7
Overall
Facilities
Access
Season

Based on facilities, access, and how reliably the hut is open.

Quick Facts

Managing club
PNF
Total
5

Activities

Hiking Mountaineering

Featured In

Free Packing Checklist

Get the printable Alpine Hut Packing Checklist, plus route guides and booking tips.

Stayed here? Write a review

Your rating

What would you want to know before walking up? Conditions, food, the warden, the walk in.

Location data is removed from photos automatically.

Uploading…

Only so we can reach you if we have a question about your review.

Reviews are checked before they appear.

Nearby Huts

Baraque de Boulac

1,500m 1.6 km away

Cabin de Pré Gaudet

3.1 km away

Cabin Forestière des Descendues

1,240m 3.5 km away

Cabin des Clots

1,370m 5.4 km away
selected

Compare huts
Score
Elevation
Beds
Difficulty
Meals