Le Pas de l'Ane

Le Pas de l'Ane sits at 2,346m in the Hautes-Alpes, accessed from the Vallée de la Guisane near Guillestre. The approach takes 4–5 hours from Pont de l'Alpe, following the GR 54 trail through open pasture and sparse larch forest. The final stretch climbs steeply to the col. Access is reliable from June through September; snow blocks the route before late May. This is a serious day's walk but not technical.

The refuge holds 60 beds split between dormitory rooms and a handful of doubles. Meals are served daily: a fixed dinner menu and breakfast. There are showers on-site (a rarity at this altitude), and the warden maintains a small shop with basic supplies and emergency kit. The hut opens year-round but staffing is limited outside summer months, so call ahead if visiting outside June–September. Winter and shoulder-season visits require self-sufficiency and avalanche awareness.

Contact the hut directly by phone before booking, especially for groups or off-season dates. July and August are busy; reserve at least 4 weeks in advance. The hut sits on the GR 54 circuit, so expect steady foot traffic in summer. Half-board rates are standard. The location works well as a base for day walks across the high Guisane plateau or as a night-stop on longer multi-day traverses.