Cabin Forestière du Bois-Durat

Cabane Forestière du Bois-Durat sits at 1585m in the Hautes-Alpes, serving hikers and mountaineers working routes in the upper Durance valley. Reach it from the village of Châteauroux-les-Alpes via a steep forest track; allow 2–2.5 hours on foot. The cabin works well as a base for day walks into surrounding pasturelands and as a waypoint on longer traverses. The setting is working forest rather than alpine meadow, so expect mixed terrain and solid tree cover.
The cabin is basic. It sleeps around 15 people in a mix of dormitory and smaller rooms. Meals are available if you book ahead—order dinner and breakfast when you reserve. Water comes from a spring; heating is wood stove. The outhouse is outside. This is a refuge forestier run by the local authority, not a mountain hut with the infrastructure of a CAF refuge. Open year-round, though winter access depends on road conditions. Phone ahead in winter.
Book direct with the managing office in Châteauroux-les-Alpes or contact the Mairie. Advance reservation is essential, especially in summer and during school holidays. Phone ahead rather than relying on email for confirmation, particularly outside peak season. The hut fills quickly because it's accessible by car (though you'll walk the last stretch) and serves local hiking groups.