Chalet-Refuge de Chamoissière

Chamoissière sits at 2,106m in the Hautes-Alpes, accessed from the Vallée de la Guisane near Gresse-en-Vercors. The main approach takes 2.5 hours on foot from Gresse village via a steady forest trail that gains 700m. The hut works as a basecamp for ridge walks into the Parc National des Écrins and loop hikes across the Vercors plateau. Winter access depends on snow conditions. The location is remote enough to feel quiet but accessible enough for a weekend trip from Briançon (50km south).
The refuge operates as a working mountain farm and guesthouse year-round except mid-November to mid-December. It sleeps 16 in shared dormitories and has a handful of private rooms. Meals are table d'hôte style—expect hearty mountain fare cooked by the owners. There's no electricity or running water indoors, so standards are basic. You'll have pit toilets and hand-pumped water. It's managed by FFCAM volunteers and fits the working-refuge model rather than purpose-built hut infrastructure.
Book directly with the keepers by phone (04 76 34 86 87). July and August fill fast due to nearby Parc des Écrins traffic; aim for 4–6 weeks ahead during summer. June and September are quieter and offer equally good hiking. The hut closes for 2–3 weeks around Christmas. Half-board rates run €45–55 per person. Cash only. No mobile signal—call ahead from a village.