Refuge de l'Alpe du Pin

Refuge de l'Alpe du Pin sits at 2,000m in the Écrins massif, above the village of Orcières-Merlette in the Hautes-Alpes. Reach it on foot from Orcières (1,450m) via a steady 2.5-hour climb through larch and spruce forest. The hut serves as a staging point for day trips to Col de Cabre (2,413m) and traverses across the eastern Écrins. Mountain bikers use the access road in summer. Snow typically blocks the route from November through April.
The refuge operates year-round with 30 beds in simple dormitory rooms. The guardian serves hearty dinners and breakfasts; bring your own packed lunch or order in advance. Water comes from a spring. Toilets are basic but functional. This is a working mountain hut, not a hotel—expect stripped-down comfort suited to active hikers. Wi-Fi and mobile signal are unreliable.
Book ahead July through September and during school holidays (especially Easter). Contact the hut directly by phone or email to confirm availability and pre-order meals. Many visitors make this a one-night stop on longer Écrins crossings rather than a destination in itself. Arrive before dark. The guardian occasionally closes for maintenance in shoulder seasons, so verify opening dates before planning your trip.